BP MARKOWITZ MOURNS PASSING OF BASKETBALL LEGEND RED AUERBACH

“Brooklyn mourns the passing of Arnold ‘Red’ Auerbach, Brooklyn born basketball legend on and off the court who brought the Brooklyn attitude to everything he accomplished. Although Red made his mark with the Boston Celtics— winning an unprecedented 8 consecutive NBA championships from 1959 to1966— it was in Brooklyn that he began his love affair with the game of basketball, playing point guard at Eastern District High School in Williamsburg and on the All Brooklyn Team of 1935. With his trademark cigar and Brooklyn attitude, Auerbach was a trailblazer who helped define the fledgling NBA as a coach, general manager, and club president showing the skill that made him and his teams champions. Having built his legacy as one of the architects of professional basketball, Arnold ‘Red’ Auerbach was proof that Brooklyn is the place where legends are made and dreams come true and he will be missed.”

- Borough President Marty Markowitz