The Luck of the Irish Runs Out

While Lucky the Leprechaun hoped to sprout another championship in the 1969-70 season, the retirements of Bill Russell and Sam Jones were too much to withstand and the Celtics missed the playoffs. Things were worse off the court as new ownership began missing payments, forcing Red Auerbach to pay some bills personally, while rumors swirled that the Celtics would move out of New England. This ownership turmoil continued on and off for the rest of the 1970s.