R.I.P John Havlicek
John Havlicek, who won eight NBA titles in his 16 seasons with the Boston Celtics in the 1960s and 70s, died in Jupiter, Florida on April 25th, 2019 at the age of 79.
Havlicek played college basketball at Ohio State, and won an NCAA title with that team in 1960. He was the Boston Celtics’ number one pick in the 1962 NBA draft, and played from the 1962-63 through the 1977-78 seasons, all with Boston. The 6 foot 5 inch Havlicek was both versatile–playing both shooting guard and small forward–and durable, playing less than 75 regular season games just once (and that was 71) and played all 82 in his final season at age 37. He averaged 20.8 points per game in the era before the three point basket. Havlicek was a 13 time All-Star, and is a member of both the College and Naismith Memorial Basketball Halls of Fame
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Kudos to you for acknowledging this basketball legend who, unfortunately, outside of Boston is a relatively unknown star.
Although I’m from the Pittsburgh area, I grew up a Celtics fan and watching “Hondo” as a child inspired me to become a better basketball player by doing whatever was asked of me on the court – score, rebound, defend the best player on the other squad, etc.
Havlicek was the epitome of being a “team player”. It’s ill-timed that he passed this week because w/ all of the pomp & circumstance that the NFL draft is garnering, he’s barely been mentioned on the sports channels. Perhaps that’s fitting for a guy like him, however – he never sought after the limelight nor wanted/expected any publicity or special recognition. He was an un assuming man who preferred to allow his game to do the talking for me.
Great basketball player and an even GREATER person, he will be missed…