Bill Russell Ruth plays his first game for the Boston Celtics.

The Celtics beat the St. Louis Haws 95-93 in Boston Garden, as Russell scores 6 points and grabs 19 rebounds. The Celtics made Russell the second pick in the 1956 draft after acquiring the pick by trading Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagen to the Hawks. Russell’s professional debut was delayed because he had recently led the U.S. Olympic team to a Gold Medal in Melbourne, Australia.