Purnell recalls time with Auerbach

CLEMSON, S.C. - When Clemson coach Oliver Purnell had the chance to learn from Boston&#39;s Red Auerbach 20 years ago, he made sure he took it.<br> <br> Purnell was an assistant coach at Maryland when Auerbach was scouting the late Terps star Len Bias.<br> <br> ``I spent some time with him,&#39;&#39; Purnell said Tuesday. ``Sat by his knee, if you will and just listened to everything he had to say.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Auerbach, the coach and administrator who was the soul of the Celtics for decades, died this past Saturday at 89. He was buried Tuesday.<br> <br> Auerbach lived in Washington, D.C., and was friends with Maryland coach Lefty Driesell. Friendship has its benefits as Auerbach was key to bringing Bias to the Celtics in the 1986 draft, Purnell remembered. Bias died from a cocaine overdose less than two days after getting selected by the Celtics. Auerbach believed that Bias would&#39;ve been a perfect complement to Larry Bird&#39;s teams and may have kept Boston&#39;s championship run going beyond the mid-1980s.<br> <br> Purnell remembered Auerbach would stop by to watch practice and chat with Driesell. Auerbach never made his opinions about Bias public. Soon, though, it was clear that Auerbach was watching Bias ``like a fox.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> ``He was obviously watching Lenny for years and realized what a tremendous talent&#39;&#39; Bias was, Purnell said.<br> <br> Purnell enjoyed his time around Auerbach.<br> <br> ``He had an unbelievable personality that he drew people to him and people listened to him and that knowledge was able to spread,&#39;&#39; Purnell said.<br> <br> The Clemson coach said Auerbach&#39;s reach could be seen in the careers of stars like Bob Cousy and Bill Russell, who each went on to coach and stay involved in the NBA.<br> <br> Just as importantly, Purnell said Auerbach was critical in opening up pro basketball to all races. Auerbach drafted the first black basketball player, hired the first black basketball coach and was the first to go with a starting five that was all black ``at a time when that was unheard of,&#39;&#39; Purnell said.<br> <br> ``The guy&#39;s contributions are unbelievable,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> Yet, when you spoke to Auerbach it was as if you were talking to a basketball fan, Purnell said. ``He was so in love with the game and was always anxious to give you his wisdom,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> Purnell tries to educate his college players as much as he can about pioneers like Auerbach. It can be difficult, though, in a world where Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James are considered NBA veterans.<br> <br> ``We&#39;ll talk about Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain or bring up a name not even that old and ask these guys, &#39;Do you know who that is?&#39; `` Purnell said.<br> <br> Invariably, a player will chime in, ``Coach, I&#39;m not that old.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> But young people don&#39;t usually seek information about the past, so coaches have a responsibility at times to teach them, Purnell said.<br> <br> ``This is an opportunity because the NBA, the sporting world has taken the time to honor a guy the way he should be,&#39;&#39; Purnell said.