CENTRAL CHARACTER
 

The Wayne Embry Interview

 

By:  Michael D. McClellan | Monday, January 11th, 2004

 

 

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In 1966 Red Auerbach acquired you to provide backup support to the great Bill Russell.  The Celtics had just won their eighth consecutive NBA championship and Auerbach had retired as coach.  What was it like coming to Boston, and how did you feel when the Celtics failed to win a ninth consecutive title?
 
The first word that comes to mind is ‘joy’.  It was difficult to leave my friends behind in Cincinnati, but it was a pure joy to join the Celtics – especially after being beaten by them for so many years.  Just being there gave me an opportunity to win a championship, so I was very excited to be a part of that great tradition.  Of course we didn’t win it all that first year.  Still, I was struck by the way the team carried itself afterwards.  Everyone from Bill Russell to Sam Jones had the same mindset.  In their eyes they still considered themselves champions, and that had a tremendous effect on me.  Because of that confidence, we were able to go out the next season and reclaim the title.

 

 

 

Did you learn anything from Red in terms of running an NBA franchise?
 
Yes.  Red had a tremendous management style – it was at the foundation of his success as a coach and general manager.  I emulated that style in both the sports and business worlds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bill Russell and Sam Jones – what is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of each of these individuals?
 
Russell was the greatest competitor and the greatest winner in the history of professional sports.  The Celtics won eleven championships during his thirteen years with the team, which, in my mind, ranks as the greatest dynasty ever.  The New York Yankees may have won more championships, but those are spread out over decades.  To win 11 in 13 is an incredible accomplishment.

 

Sam Jones’ greatness continues to be one of the most underrated aspects of that dynasty.  He was superior to the vast majority of his contemporaries, but his greatness tended to get lost in the shadow of Russell and some of the other players on the team.

 

 

 

How did Russell the player differ from Russell the coach?
 
He was still Russell.  After Red retired in 1966, Russell convinced Red that he could handle being both a player and coach.  Red was smart enough to know that not just anyone could come into that situation and coach the Celtics in general, and Russell in particular.  Russell understood that, too, which is why he lobbied for the job.

 

 

 

 

The Celtics were back on top a year later, winning a tenth NBA championship.  What was it like for you to finally reach that pinnacle?
 
There was a great sense of relief.  After playing the game for so long, and after being frustrated by Russell and the Celtics all of those years, it was just a great relief to finally be able to win a championship.