Bringing Celtics Style to Los Angeles

In 1971, former Celtics great and new Los Angeles Lakers Coach Bill Sharman needed to elevate the team: the Lakers had lost seven NBA Finals in 10 years, including six to the Celtics. One of Sharman’s first hires was his former teammate K.C. Jones as an assistant coach. Jones brought Boston’s fast break system to the Lakers and the press took note, with one reporter saying, “the offense has jelled and [Wilt] Chamberlain has done more than his share starting the fast break with a pass in the style of Bill Russell.” The changes worked as the Lakers won the 1972 NBA World Championship title, their first in 18 years. Jones would join the Celtics organization in 1977 as an assistant coach before his promotion to head coach in 1983.