OUR FABULOUS FIVE-by Eric D.Graham
On Dec.26, 1964, despite all the racial tension throughout the country, the legendary Celtics coach Red Auerbach was the first NBA coach to send an all Black starting line-up on the court during a NBA game.
That team consisted of K.C. Jones, Sam Jones (from NCCU), Willie Naulls, Bill Russell, Satch Sanders, and a young John Thompson. Not surprisingly, that Celtic team went on to win the NBA Championship in 1965 and 1966.
But, we weren't impressed by the Celtics. Why? Because, at E.E. Smith High School in 1964, we had our OWN starting five, which had the fans in Duplin County going crazy with their sharp-shooting and dazzling dribbling skills in one of the best Gymtorium in the county.
Our starting five for the Wildcats in 1964 included: (left to right) Samuel Middleton, Joesph Moore, Linwood Davis, Willie Smith, John E. Kenan and coach Charles McKoy.
Sidebar: Boston's all-Black starting line-up in 64' is one of the main reasons why many older Black men still cheer for the Celtics today along with the fact that the Celtics -from (1957 to 1969), won the NBA Finals 11 out of 13 times, including eight consecutive championships.
