"Sustained Excellence" is a periodic series looking back at the Celtic dynasty in general, and in particular, the 50th anniversary of Bill Russell's coaching debut season.
Precisely 50 years ago, on Saturday, October 15, 1966, the National Basketball Association officially launched its third decade of Sports Entertainment with a full slate of five games. I say “officially” only because, for nearly three weeks, there had been going on a lengthier, more barnstorming poo-poo platter of pre-season tune-ups than the league’s current business model requires or than today’s player would stand for. A promotional advertisement for a Royals-Lakers tilt – Oscar v Elgin, not too shabby – somewhere in the Pacific Northwest teased a preliminary scrimmage between the teams’ rookies and other long shots.