The numbers 1 and 2 have never, ever been worn by Celtics players, as they were retired before the Celtics even played a game in honor of Walter Brown (No. 1 - The first owner of the Celtics, and the most influential person in getting basketball to Boston) and Red Auerbach (coach, GM and eventual executive with the Celtics, and among the most recognizable face in basketball, until his passing in 2006). Auerbach was an instrumental part in every Celtics championship team, except for 2007-08.
Both Brown (A Catholic) and Auerbach (A Jew) were pioneers in basketball, as they selected the first ever black player in the NBA draft, in 1950 (Chuck Cooper, Duquense University), first all-black lineup (Bill Russell, KC Jones, Sam Jones, Tom Sanders and Willie Naulls) and named Russell the first black coach in NBA history, in 1966.
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