One of the greats
Playoffs. Celtics down by two. One second left. Havlicek is inbounding the ball from near half court. Two hand overhand pass. Ball goes right at the rim. Russell is waiting in mid air. Grabs the pass and dunks while in the air. Celtics win in overtime.
Great childhood memories watching Havlicek on TV, when he was the older star of the Celtics, along with the younger Dave Cowens.
He was the last link to the classic Bill Russell/Red Auerbach era to still be out on the court and creating magic in the 1970’s. Sort of like Paul McCartney being the only ex-Beatle who still had the energy and ambition to want to please crowds and grow as an artist.
Growing up in South Florida, where the Dolphins were the only legitimate pro sports team, watching Havlicek’s Celtics playing at the old Boston Garden seemed so Old World to me. I loved the Knicks/Bullets rivalry of that era (big Bullets fan at the time), but Havlicek and the Celtics were like High Priests.
Prayers to his family...Hondo, you will be remembered...Great player...
One amazing athelete.
IIRC, he had a resting heartbeat in the low 40s.
They used to say that he never broke a sweat, but I think that may have been an exageration.
Loved this guy. Got his autograph in the old Garden in the 70s when I was a boy.
He was just a step behind Larry Bird in talent which means he was outstandingly good. Google that crazy triple overtime game against the Suns & watch him play!
OMGosh, those guys were Kryptonite for my Lakers.
When the Lakers FINALLY beat the Celtics in the finals in ‘85, I called my dad from Arizona and said, “Well I guess Red Auerbach won’t be lighting up his cigar this year.”
Dad said, “I’m having one for him.”
My dad, who loved all things athletic, called Havlicek the greatest shooter the game ever produced. Said John’s eye and touch were gifts from God.
I looked up John’s hometown, Martin’s Ferry, Ohio, and that little town has produced some prize athletes and other notables.
Must have been something in the water.
• Alex Groza – gold medalist in 1948 Summer Olympics and star basketball player, brother of Lou
• Lou Groza (AKA “The Toe”) – Pro Football Hall of Fame kicker and offensive lineman with Cleveland Browns and Ohio State Buckeyes, brother of Alex
• John Havlicek – Hall of Fame basketball great for Ohio State and Boston Celtics; member of OSU’s 1960 championship team and Boston Celtics 1960s NBA championship dynasty
• Cecil Hobbs - scholar of Southeast Asian history
• William Dean Howells – realist author
• Johnny Lipon - Major League Baseball infielder and Cleveland Indians manager
• Joe Niekro - Major League Baseball pitcher from 1967–1988 for seven different teams, primarily the Houston Astros
• Phil Niekro - Major League Baseball pitcher inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997; both Niekro brothers grew up in Martins Ferry
• Tim Spencer – former football player for the NFL and USFL; running backs coach of Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• James Wright – Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and author
RIP.