Celtics legend and Basketball Hall of Famer John Havlicek dies at 79
Member of the Boston Celtics 1966 and 1976 Championship teams John Havlicek is honored at halftime of the game between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat at TD Garden on April 13, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
From the NBA Newswire at 985TheSportsHub.com
The Boston Celtics announced on Thursday night that legendary guard/forward and basketball hall of famer John Havlicek has passed away. He was 79.
Havlicek played 16 seasons in the NBA, all with the Celtics. He averaged 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 1,270 career games. He played seven seasons with Bill Russell. The pair won six NBA championships together in Havlicek’s first seven seasons, then Havlicek won two more after Russell retired with 11 rings.
“Hondo” is 13th all-time in the NBA in total points with 3,776 – 75 more than Magic Johnson. His most famous moment came in the 1965 Eastern Conference finals, when he stole Hal Greer’s inbound pass that went to teammate Sam Jones and sealed the series for the Celtics. They went on to win the NBA championship, their seventh in a row at the time.
Johnny Most’s unforgettable call “Havlicek stole the ball!” helped make the play one of the most iconic in NBA history.
Hondo, you set the bar.#ForeverGreen ☘️ https://t.co/aZ59fAoLlQ
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 26, 2019
Here is the complete statement from the team, via Celtics.com:
“John Havlicek is one of the most accomplished players in Boston Celtics history, and the face of many of the franchise’s signature moments. He was a great champion both on the court and in the community, winning 8 NBA championships and an NBA Finals MVP, while holding Celtics career records for points scored and games played. Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, he is enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame and his retired #17 hangs in the Garden rafters. His defining traits as a player were his relentless hustle and wholehearted commitment to team over self. He was extraordinarily thoughtful and generous, both on a personal level and for those in need, as illustrated by his commitment to raising money for The Genesis Foundation for Children for over three decades through his fishing tournament. John was kind and considerate, humble and gracious. He was a champion in every sense, and as we join his family, friends, and fans in mourning his loss, we are thankful for all the joy and inspiration he brought to us.”
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