Bob Ryan Ranks Every Celtics Owner Ever — And One Nearly Destroyed the Franchise

Bob Ryan has covered the Boston Celtics under every owner since Walter Brown — the founder who mortgaged his own house to keep the team alive. In this episode, Bob goes through all of them, era by era… including the one owner who nearly destroyed the franchise. John Y. Brown traded THREE first-round picks to the Knicks for Bob McAdoo — without telling Red Auerbach. Red was so furious he nearly took the Knicks job. Imagine Celtics history if he had. Bob covers it all: • Walter Brown, the founder who paid for the team out of his own pocket • The revolving-door 70s: Ballantine Beer, Irv Levin, and the franchise swap with Buffalo • John Y. Brown — the man Red couldn’t forgive • Harry Mangurian, the underrated owner who let Red rebuild • The Gaston years and the leaky Garden roof • Wyc Grousbeck’s championship era • Bill Chisholm’s record $6.1 billion purchase — and what it means for the banner 18 core 🔔 Subscribe for Celtics history from the man who covered every era of it 👇 Who’s the best owner in Celtics history? Worst? Drop it below. 📌 Chapters: 0:00 — Walter Brown: The Founder Who Mortgaged His House 2:10 — The Revolving Door: Beer Companies & Franchise Swaps 4:45 — John Y. Brown: Three Picks, No Phone Call 7:30 — How Close Red Came to the Knicks 9:15 — Mangurian: The Owner Nobody Remembers (But Should) 11:40 — The Gaston Era & the Old Garden 14:00 — Wyc, Banner 17 & 18 16:20 — Bill Chisholm’s $6.1 Billion Bet 0:00 - Intro 1:32 - John Y. Brown Era — The Craziest Transaction in Celtics History 2:52 - Walter Brown & the Dynasty Years 4:27 - Harry Mangurian Steps In and Signs Larry Bird 5:42 - The Grousbeck Era: Stability, Championships & the 2010 Game 7 6:32 - Bob's First Years Covering the Celtics (1969–76) 8:11 - The Dave Cowens Player-Coach Disaster Season 11:19 - M.L. Carr & the Locker Room Turnaround 11:52 - PrizePicks 13:18 - The Don Gaston Era & the Dark Years 14:25 - Bob's Verdict Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices