John Havlicek

Opting for basketball, Havlicek quickly established himself as a dynamic force for the Boston Celtics, playing his entire 16-season career with the franchise from 1962 to 1978. Early in his tenure, he revolutionized the ‘sixth man’ role, becoming instrumental in the Celtics’ dynasty of the 1960s and contributing to eight NBA championships, including consecutive titles in 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1966. A defining moment from this period was his clutch steal in the final seconds of Game Seven of the 1965 Eastern Conference Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, a play famously immortalized by announcer Johnny Most. He also secured two more championships in 1968 and 1969.

Over his distinguished 16-season career, Havlicek amassed an impressive array of individual accolades. He was named an NBA All-Star an astounding 13 times between 1966 and 1978, earned four All-NBA First Team selections (1971, 1972, 1973, 1974), and seven All-NBA Second Team selections. Demonstrating his two-way dominance, he also received five NBA All-Defensive First Team selections (1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976) and three NBA All-Defensive Second Team selections. Upon his retirement in 1978, Havlicek concluded his playing career as the Boston Celtics’ all-time leading scorer.

Havlicek’s enduring legacy in basketball has been recognized through numerous prestigious honors. He was named to the NBA 35th Anniversary Team in 1980 and subsequently enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984. Further cementing his place among the sport’s elite, he was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996 and, more recently, was included in the esteemed NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. His contributions were also recognized with his induction into the Croatian-American Sports Hall of Fame in 2022, underscoring his lasting impact on the game.