*On this date in 1964, the first all-black National Basketball Association squad started a game. The Boston Celtics, on Christmas Day of that year, defeated the Pistons 118-106. But the game produced an injury to Tommy Heinsohn.
With a game, the following day against the St. Louis Hawks, head coach Red Auerbach needed to replace Heinsohn in the starting lineup. The legendary coach turned to Willie Naulls, a former All-Star near the end of his career. Naulls joined Sam Jones, K.C. Jones, Tom Sanders, and Bill Russell in the lineup.
