After a brief account of the National Basketball Association's formative period, which ended in 1954 when the 24-second shot clock changed the game forever, Pluto describes the exciting events in basketball during 1956-66, when the Boston Celtics dominated the league. Unlike many comparable histories in which the superstars have declined to participate, this one includes contributions from Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Red Auerbach and dozens of other players.