In the spring of 1957, the Boston Celtics, led by coach Red Auerbach, won a National Basketball Association championship for the first time. Auerbach had been building the team throughout the 1950s, but was still missing what he considered an essential piece, a single player in the middle who could hoist the team on his shoulders by doing the dirty work of rebounding and playing defense. That man was Bill Russell.

By blending unselfish, yet talented players into a roster led by Russell's unconquerable will, Auerbach and the Celtics put together an unprecedented run of championships rarely challenged before or since in team sports. Between 1957 and 1969, Boston won eleven titles in thirteen seasons. Only when Russell retired did the era of dominance end.

Fifty years after that first championship, here is the story of one of sports' greatest franchises.