Revisiting the Wild Draft Day Trade That Sent Bill Russell to the Celtics

01 June 2020 04:54
San Francisco star Bill Russell figured to go No. 1 overall in the 1956 NBA Draft, but a combination of subterfuge, homesickness, and ice skating forced a draft day trade that made Russell a Boston Celtic. After the Celtics essentially bribed the Rochester Royals with an Ice Capades performance to pass on Russell (no, seriously, this happened), he was taken No. 2 overall by the St. Louis Hawks. The Hawks promptly flipped Russell to the Celtics in exchange for Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan. In.

Source: 90min