Celtics legend Sam Jones passes away at 88
Former Celtics guard Sam Jones passed away Thursday night, according to multiple reports. Jones was 88 years old.
Jones played his entire career with the Celtics, after the franchise selected him 8th overall in the 1957 NBA Draft. He won 10 titles between 1957-1969.
The 1965-1965 season was Jones’ best. He averaged 25.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, and scored a team-high 37 points in the Celtics’ Game 7 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals – also known as the “Havlicek stole the ball” game.
A central part of the early Celtics’ dynasty, Jones was a five-time All-Star, made the All-NBA second team three times, and had his No. 24 retired by the franchise immediately following his career in 1969.
Jones was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984. He was included on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team last year.
Following his playing career Jones got into coaching. He led his alma mater North Carolina Central University in 1973-1974, then became an assistant with the Utah Jazz. Later in life, he became a substitute teacher in Maryland.
