Ed Macauley harkens back to a time when the NBA was ruled by short white guys wearing short-shorts, floppy socks, buzz cuts and incredulous glares. In fact, he also symbolizes the end of those times. For 6 seasons Macauley, a towering 6’8”, controlled the paint for the Boston Celtics, from 1950-51 to 1955-56. Then, on April 29th, 1956 Macauley was traded – along with the rights to future hall-of-famer Cliff Hagan – to the St. Louis Hawks for the rights to some skinny, black guy from Louisiana. Of course that guy turned out to become the winningest athlete ever (seriously, ever…look it up), winning 11 titles in 13 seasons with the Celtics, and changing the NBA forever.

And all of that change is due in part to those little, short white guys with the floppy socks. Today we pay respect to one of them, as Ed Macauley passed away at the age of 83. So, amid this ridiculous lockout (“plantation” treatment? seriously. you’re gonna go with that, Kessler?), let’s take a moment and think back to a fledgling NBA where points where hard to come by, rebounds were abundant and players were just grateful to get on the court. Oh, what a time to be alive.