*On this date in 1964, the first all-Black National Basketball Association squad started a game. On Christmas Day of that year, the Boston Celtics defeated the Pistons 118-106. But the game produced an injury to Tommy Heinsohn.
With a game against the St. Louis Hawks the following day, 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. In the lineup, Naulls joined Sam Jones, K.C. Jones, Tom Sanders, and Bill Russell.
