I'm so glad I was able to follow John Havlicek's career from day one. He quickly became my favorite Celtic. There will never be another player and person like the great Hondo Havlicek. DAMN! I miss watching him play! I was 29 years-old when I watched this live on television, and as a lifelong Celtics/Havlicek fan,I wept like a baby.
we lost one of the best this week, John Havlichek was a generational talent, he was a special, honorable man and one of the greatest to ever bounce a ball, thank you John Havlichek for all you have given us, thank you
And what a killer, iconic transition all-timer, Celtics anchor of even the new era and ironman, 16 years in the old and burdening NBA, 16 years of being an automatic bucket and Celtics centerpiece of the new formation with Cowens and the other Cs icons.
RIP to this Celtics legend..im here after hearing about his death watching old interviews and highlights...great basketball player and a great man ...a Celtic forever !!!
IDK why but I thought of John today, he was so loved in Boston. Great players retired from the Celtics then and he was being genuine when he commented on the faces in the crowd. The Boston fans have owned their seats for several decades. I miss the old Garden and John. RIP.
That's how I (and a LOT of Celtics' fans) felt about Magic Johnson. I/we HAAAAATE the Lakers, but as much as we feared Magic as a player, it was tough to dislike him. Then when Magic and Bird shot that Converse commercial and discovered they had a LOT in common and became such great friends, Magic further endeared himself to most Celtics' fans. But Hondo might have been the absolute best when combining a TRUE class act and good person with being a great player. Can't blame anyone for liking Hondo.
John Hondo Havlicek is probably the most underrated player of all time. Not only is he the third or 4th best SF of all time... but he's one of the top 10 best players of all time.
Ray Petree And Boston writer Bob Ryan once pointed out "Havlicek is not only a top 10 forward of all time, he is a top 10 guard as well." He pretty much split his time in first half of his career. Who else could say that?
He's arguably the best Shooting Guard to ever play for Boston, and people are just too stubborn sometimes to admit that. Like Red Auerbach said he was the guts of team... and until Larry Bird... he was the one who truly epitomized what it meant to be a Boston Celtic.
John Havlicek was a player who could do it all. An all time great! Great defensive player. Great shooter. A "clutch" performer. I met him and Dave Cowens once. Got to have a beer and conversation by happenstance at a charity event. Both are down to earth and extremely humble. Hard to believe that such a great athlete is an even better person.
I'm 65. I was at this game with some buddies up in the cheap seats. It was an incredibly emotional day. WE were all slobbering idiots by the end of this speech. What they don't show is after this he ran on the court with his hand circling high...like he had a lasoo. It was awesome !! RIP Hondo !
Hondo was a good player and a GREAT competitor. No one outworked him on the floor. That's saying something considering who he played with and against. With John on the team, you never gave up. I recall many a game going into the second half or even the 4th quarter down 20 and just waiting for the Celts to do what they did. Close out games with gusto. Hondo was the heart of that during his Celtics era, as Bill was before him.
I am so sorry to hear of John Havlicek's passing, at age 79. The "Hondo" was fantastic. RIP John, and thank you for the wonderful Basketball memories! You will be forever missed!!!!
Was privileged to have attended Hondo's last game. As a kid, I would spend hours behind Cleveland School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa attempting to emulate his jump shot. He was my hero, in an age when Celtic basketball kept me going. RIP.
J78618 true cause he was just a season away from a future Rookie Of The Year future Super-star and a future Hall Of Famer, none other than Larry Legend himself, LARRY BIRD.
He would have taken Bird under his wing (no pun intended) the old Celtics were known for doing that with young players....Frank Ramsey did with Havlicek, Arnie Risen did with Russell, Cousy and Sharman did with Sam and KC Jones
He'd said he would have stayed couple more yrs if he knew they were drafting bird, and he could've -just watched Kevin mcchales 56 point game and they referred to a 53 point game by bird as then Celtic record -havlicek scored 54 in 73, u luv bird but what's up with that, they didn't even mention hav's game
It's amazing to watch this with Most and Auerbach and the rest having absolutely no idea that three years later they'd be hoisting another NBA championship. Things were so bleak for the Celtics at this point but Most still seemed to be very optimistic that things could change. That year the Blazers, Kings, Pacers, Knicks, and Warriors all had the chance to draft Larry Bird, and all five of them blew it big time. Sometimes I wonder if Portland had drafted Larry Bird, if they would have waited on Bill Walton much longer than they did. The Celtics got so lucky on that draft, and 8 years later they had another 3 titles to show for it. From 1957-1986, the Celtics never went longer than 5 years between winning championships. There will never be another 30 year era like Red Auerbach had.
One other thing about John Havlicek. Somewhere along the line, might have been after he retired, but maybe much earlier, detailed physical tests were done on him, especially regarding his lung and heart power. He had an incredibly slow heart rate, was known to hardly EVER sweat. But what powered his incredible stamina were his INCREDIBLE LUNGS. Docs estimated that his lung capacity was nearly double that of an average American guy. He once played 58 minutes, in other words ALL 58 minutes, of a double OT playoff game.
He and Secretariat had something in common. Each one was a tremendous PHYSICAL FREAK. Hondo because of his lungs, Secretariat because of his heart. Autopsy of Big Red shortly after he passed away in 1989 (I think) revealed that his heart was close to double the size of a normal thoroughbred.
Boston has had the distinct fortune to not only have a compilation of SO many great pro athletes, but with both John Havlicek and Bobby Orr, two of THE most humble, decent, and selfless human beings of ANY athletes anywhere. RIP Hondo. You'll forever be a legend on and off the court.
Mike S...you were lucky to have been able to see their careers, Havlichek was the first player that ever wrote me back, I was in 5th grade, 1976. He inspired me on the court and in life like he did millions of other kids , he was a special man who just happened to be a great, great basketball player. One of the greatest to ever lace up, he was a gift to us all , thank you John Havlichek for your passion and smiles, a role model for humans, not just basketball players, he played LIFE the right way. Honorable, classy, humble and as a player he was absolutely RELENTLESS, 8 rings in 16 years, not a typo, EIGHT in 16 yrs. We loved you John Havlichek, thank you.
@@oracleyoda5805 I never saw Hondo or Orr live, but I was 10 when Hondo & the Cs won it all in 1976. When I say that Hondo and Orr were/are two of the best human beings, I say that without a Boston bias. The thing is, I've never, EVER heard a bad word uttered about either guy. They were/are almost saint-like in how they live(d) and in treating others.
Havlicek was a winner . Never took a minute off relentless on both ends of court all the time . And I never saw anyone steadily improve his game throughout their careers . I’m not sure why he retired!
Thanks for this night. ....... John was the energizer ...... I remember being at the Garden An the person who took me..... I was a kid....10-11... As we snuck down to the good seats.... He said....watch "Hondo".... He is constantly in motion.... Running thru screens.....over an over....again....an again Thank God he picked Boston the Celtics over the Cleveland Browns/football.....as he was drafted in 1963.... The rest is History. .....Thanks for All you gave us John....
He started his career when the league still had alot of white players and he ended his career when the league was overtly dominated by black players.He didnt discriminate he ripped all the white and black players apart equally.
U gotta point, and I luv ur comments btw, I'm about the biggest Havlicek fan there is, since I watched him in the early 70s -but just an observation, alot of times in mid 60s Havlicek would be the only white Celtic on the court, with the 2 Joneses, Sanders and Russell, the 60s NBA was pretty mixed,but he could certainly be incredible in any era
The ovation he got was way over 7 minutes but was cut to seven on the various youtube videos apparently.They had a farewll party for him in every city in the 16th or last season.He said if he had known that bird would come aboard he would have stayed and run two more years to run one with bird.He was still playing at a very high level at age 38.
I got to see him play when the Celtics came to San Antonio. I think he had 31 pts that game against Gervin & Co. can't believe that was 42 years ago! RIP Hondo
Somehow this is my first time seeing this vid. I WAS AT THAT GAME!!! Poor Hondo retired just before Bird and within a few years Chief (Robert Parish for you non-Celtic fans) and McHale came along. Celtics STUNK in the 1977-1978 and 1978-79 seasons. But my friends and I were there to honor Hondo. He was so SELFLESS that even though the crowd AND HIS TEAMMATES AND WHOEVER THE HEAD COACH was then WANTED him to put up some quick shots, he passed the ball on something like their first 6 possessions. Finally his teammates refused to move, forcing him to put up a shot. And I think he sank it. Of course, the crowd went nutso. He actually had a terrific 2nd half or at least 4th period. Crowd was screaming in celebration. (more ...)
His first basket in the NBA was a dunk. As I remember it, he never again dunked in his career. But fans and writers hoped his final baskey would be a dunk for a perfect bookend to his career. LOL But as I remember it, Buffalo Braves (now the L.A. Clippers) pivot man wasn't playing along. He blocked John's attempt for a dunk. Might have been Marvin Barnes.
I was stationed in Yakima, WA and we watched the second half in a Sears in the mall. I was the only Celtics fan and loved to rib my buddies. John never showed panic.
The ultimate teammate. No one has mentioned what a great passer he was. Drew tough defensive assignments as well. The complete player; what I wouldn't give to see him play again.
Washington Bullets won championship that year because Boston wasn't there! LOL. Wizards Fan since 1977. But I still love John Havlicek even though he played for Boston. R.I.P. John
I dont know how many shots he missed but he scored over 26 000 regular season points and added what in the playoffs about three and a half thousand?Thats when traveling and palmingwas called often unlike today, with severe hand checking prevelent,no three pointers recordedand he hit alot,and going to college for 4 years.Plus he didnt long huge minutes in his first few years as mick mentioned.
I saw Hondo play, and his tenacity reminds me of Paul Pierce in many ways. I wore Hondo's number as a kid playing basketball, and thought he was the best. Was he better than Bird or Paul Pierce? I don't know. I think Russell has to be considered the greatest Celtic.
havlicek was in 2nd tier of great nba players after russell, bird, wilt, mj, majic, kareem, leEgo....great all around player and never got tired. 3rd best celtic ever
Those "old" Boston Celtics teams were truly awesome defensively. They already had three of the greatest defenders in NBA history IMHO (OK, I am biased, but please wait to hear about whom I am referring) with Bill Russell (certainly number one EVER in that regard), Satch Sanders, and K.C. Jones. Then when John joined them in autumn 1962, they had FOUR of the greatest ever defenders. It was downright UNFAIR nearly always at the end of close games. If the opponent had the ball, Red Auerbach would be sure to have the above 4 guys on the court. After the other team lost possession (lol), most often because of a missed shot and a Boston rebound, Red would call timeout and replace K.C. with great clutch shooting guard Sam Jones, and Satch with their best shooting forward. Then after Celtics scored (lol), another timeout and back into game would come Satch and K.C. But Hondo would always be on court ....
@@Mrd9960 Larry Bird was the best total basketball player ever to put on a uniform. Havlicek's tenacity and effort was second to none. But Bird was just flat out unbelievable.
+fernmann7 Yeah but in 1965 who saved the season in that 7th game vs Philly? It wasn't Bobby Orr............In key playoff moments Hondo made the key basket, made the right play, pulled down the important rebound .....won 7 NBA Titles. Orr won two but could have won 5. Orr and his club CHOKED in 1969, 1971 and 1974. Celtics won titles in 1969 and 1974. Hondo .....Russell and Sam Jones stood out. The hockey team had no players like these
+JAY DAVIDSON Did any team, in any sport, equal the C's in those days for teamwork and success? Of course not. So why are you trying to make any comparison whatsoever? Basketball is not hockey. Dryden stoned the B's in 71, just like Bernie Parent did in 1974, when Orr's knee, by the way, was gone. Maybe you didn't realize it, but goalies can do that in a series. Orr, by himself, turned on all of New England to hockey. He's regarded by many as the greatest of all time, even by WG. You're incredibly weak. Come back at me when you have something, son.
Be interesting had he played two more years. Wonder how that 80 team would have done? Especially had they not acquired Maravich who shot them to death in the Philly series. I think they could have made it to the Finals. Granted Hondo didn't get injured.
ALL I hear is how great BOBBY ORR was. Let the record stand........................... ORR ..................two Championships...................HONDO ..................7 NBA titles AND I WAS A BRUINS SEASON TICKETHOLDER FOR 25 YEARS !!!!!!!!!!!!!
+JAY DAVIDSON C'mon, Orr was the greatest of all time. Hondo was fantastic, but not in Orr's realm. The C's dynasty was legendary, the Big Bad Bruins were a case of what-might-have-been. The WHA and perhaps Orr's knees prevented more than two Stanley Cups. A 54-year-old B's fan from New Bedford.
One thing though.....It was...and still is....a lot harder to win the stanley cup than the nba title....especially back then.....most of Havlicek's 7 titles happened when there were a LOT less teams and TWO divisions.....plus the fact....the Bruins also had to deal with the greatest NHL franchise in HISTORY (The Canadiens)....AND...as great as Havlicek was....look at what he had around HIM....and look at what Orr had around HIM....and one final thing....Bobby Orr was a DEFENSEMAN....it's not like he was a Mario Lemieux or a Wayne Gretzky...just saying
Right after this came Larry Bird then McHale who were old school 1 team players like Hondo and Cowens and all the greats before them. Now? Basketball is so lame.
This speech was so coma-inducing that CBS decided not to hire Hondo to do color for their NBA broadcasts. Prior to this speech, CBS was going offer a spot to Hondo (they had been using Rick Barry, who was still active as a player, for the playoffs) but they changed their mind after listening to this dirge which made Euclidean geometry exciting in comparison.
Yeah guys like havlicek and west were popular with media fans and other players but rick barry was not for afew reasons,yet he was a great great player too.If west .havlicek,and barry ran today no one would outplay them.Jordan,kobe and james are great but they never played against many players as good as these three or baylor and robertson.
I'm so glad I was able to follow John Havlicek's career from day one. He quickly became my favorite Celtic. There will never be another player and person like the great Hondo Havlicek. DAMN! I miss watching him play! I was 29 years-old when I watched this live on television, and as a lifelong Celtics/Havlicek fan,I wept like a baby.
True Legend!!!
Rest In Peace Mr.John"Hondo"Havlicek!!!🌹🌹🌹❤❤❤✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
we lost one of the best this week, John Havlichek was a generational talent, he was a special, honorable man and one of the greatest to ever bounce a ball, thank you John Havlichek for all you have given us, thank you
I grew up watching John play basketball and enjoyed his many
talents as a player. I also him
for his many other qualities. He
Truly was a great man!
From a laker fan RIP John havlicek a celtic icon
@LucKySun 🙏🏿
Man! He was a great great clutch player and a good humble man.
the most likeable celtic ever
@@jeortiz-luis4288 No doubt, together with another lovable great like Red Auerbach.
Kudos to you for recognizing Havlicek's talent aside from winning or losing games.
The most underrated NBA player in history. The guy was great on and off of the court.
And what a killer, iconic transition all-timer, Celtics anchor of even the new era and ironman, 16 years in the old and burdening NBA, 16 years of being an automatic bucket and Celtics centerpiece of the new formation with Cowens and the other Cs icons.
❤ honodo
As far as major greats go, yes. John and Moses Malone. Top 20 players who too often get overlooked.
To hear someone say if he had a son like John he'd be the happiest man in the world cannot be a higher compliment. WOW
RIP to this Celtics legend..im here after hearing about his death watching old interviews and highlights...great basketball player and a great man ...a Celtic forever !!!
John Havlicek was the bridge from the Celtics of the 60s to the Larry Bird era.
Iconic anchor.
Forget Larry bird:: ❤️ John harlichek
Technically Dave Cowens but man Hondo was the greatest of his era
IDK why but I thought of John today, he was so loved in Boston. Great players retired from the Celtics then and he was being genuine when he commented on the faces in the crowd. The Boston fans have owned their seats for several decades. I miss the old Garden and John. RIP.
As a kid growing up, there were a lot of things I didn't like about the Boston Celtics, but I always liked John Havlicek
That's how I (and a LOT of Celtics' fans) felt about Magic Johnson. I/we HAAAAATE the Lakers, but as much as we feared Magic as a player, it was tough to dislike him. Then when Magic and Bird shot that Converse commercial and discovered they had a LOT in common and became such great friends, Magic further endeared himself to most Celtics' fans.
But Hondo might have been the absolute best when combining a TRUE class act and good person with being a great player. Can't blame anyone for liking Hondo.
Hes a class act and is not overrated.Hes one of the best 14 or 15 players who ever lived.
Absolutely.
John Hondo Havlicek is probably the most underrated player of all time. Not only is he the third or 4th best SF of all time... but he's one of the top 10 best players of all time.
Ray Petree And Boston writer Bob Ryan once pointed out "Havlicek is not only a top 10 forward of all time, he is a top 10 guard as well." He pretty much split his time in first half of his career. Who else could say that?
He's arguably the best Shooting Guard to ever play for Boston, and people are just too stubborn sometimes to admit that. Like Red Auerbach said he was the guts of team... and until Larry Bird... he was the one who truly epitomized what it meant to be a Boston Celtic.
Ray Petree top 10? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
RIP John Havlicek. Thank you for the memories!
John Havlicek was a player who could do it all. An all time great! Great defensive player. Great shooter. A "clutch" performer. I met him and Dave Cowens once.
Got to have a beer and conversation by happenstance at a charity event. Both are down to earth and extremely humble. Hard to believe that such a great athlete is an even better person.
I'm 65. I was at this game with some buddies up in the cheap seats. It was an incredibly emotional day. WE were all slobbering idiots by the end of this speech. What they don't show is after this he ran on the court with his hand circling high...like he had a lasoo. It was awesome !! RIP Hondo !
yeah I was there too. nine years old. god it was awesome. RIP Hondo.
I was a braves fan in the 1970s.. and he was in his thirties and he ripped us apart regularly
Hondo was a good player and a GREAT competitor. No one outworked him on the floor.
That's saying something considering who he played with and against. With John on the team, you never gave up. I recall many a game going into the second half or even the 4th quarter down 20 and just waiting for the Celts to do what they did. Close out games with gusto. Hondo was the heart of that during his Celtics era, as Bill was before him.
I am so sorry to hear of John Havlicek's passing, at age 79. The "Hondo" was fantastic. RIP John, and thank you for the wonderful Basketball memories! You will be forever missed!!!!
Rest in paradise 🔹♥️
Havlicek stole the ball! Havlicek stole our hearts...
Was privileged to have attended Hondo's last game. As a kid, I would spend hours behind Cleveland School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa attempting to emulate his jump shot. He was my hero, in an age when Celtic basketball kept me going. RIP.
This was also Dave Bing's last game. Unnoticed because of John's retirement.
It was, fitting in a way. A great player at Detroit, he was on the way out at Washington and Boston, but still pretty good.
Only one Hondo havlichek ; ❤ dave bing too ; metro detroit legend NBAcareer & business career
I wished John Havlicek's played at least one season with Larry Bird
J78618 true cause he was just a season away from a future Rookie Of The Year future Super-star and a future Hall Of Famer, none other than Larry Legend himself, LARRY BIRD.
He would have taken Bird under his wing (no pun intended) the old Celtics were known for doing that with young players....Frank Ramsey did with Havlicek, Arnie Risen did with Russell, Cousy and Sharman did with Sam and KC Jones
Wow, that would have been something..
He'd said he would have stayed couple more yrs if he knew they were drafting bird, and he could've -just watched Kevin mcchales 56 point game and they referred to a 53 point game by bird as then Celtic record -havlicek scored 54 in 73, u luv bird but what's up with that, they didn't even mention hav's game
Would have been fun to watch
He’s shooting baskets up there while Red is coaching and Johnny is calling the plays... Thank you for the dynasty..
Still two legends reunited, years after Hondo's death.
Btw bill russell is joining hondo in heaven battling wilt under the rim for rebounds.
RIP Mr Havlicek one of the greats in NBA and college basketball both thanks for all the memories.
Thank you for posting this. Phenomenal player and a gentleman.
It's amazing to watch this with Most and Auerbach and the rest having absolutely no idea that three years later they'd be hoisting another NBA championship. Things were so bleak for the Celtics at this point but Most still seemed to be very optimistic that things could change. That year the Blazers, Kings, Pacers, Knicks, and Warriors all had the chance to draft Larry Bird, and all five of them blew it big time. Sometimes I wonder if Portland had drafted Larry Bird, if they would have waited on Bill Walton much longer than they did. The Celtics got so lucky on that draft, and 8 years later they had another 3 titles to show for it. From 1957-1986, the Celtics never went longer than 5 years between winning championships. There will never be another 30 year era like Red Auerbach had.
+TRJ2241987 RED PLAYED CHESS,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,evreyhone else played checkers
My all-time favorite player John "HONDO" Havlicek!!!! GO CELTICS
A class act all around. One of the greatest basketball players of all time.
Talked like Mr. Rodgers, played like Jason Bourne. Could not be stopped.
Great sixth man, great starter, another Celtic legend.
One other thing about John Havlicek. Somewhere along the line, might have been after he retired, but maybe much earlier, detailed physical tests were done on him, especially regarding his lung and heart power. He had an incredibly slow heart rate, was known to hardly EVER sweat. But what powered his incredible stamina were his INCREDIBLE LUNGS. Docs estimated that his lung capacity was nearly double that of an average American guy. He once played 58 minutes, in other words ALL 58 minutes, of a double OT playoff game.
He and Secretariat had something in common. Each one was a tremendous PHYSICAL FREAK. Hondo because of his lungs, Secretariat because of his heart. Autopsy of Big Red shortly after he passed away in 1989 (I think) revealed that his heart was close to double the size of a normal thoroughbred.
Boston has had the distinct fortune to not only have a compilation of SO many great pro athletes, but with both John Havlicek and Bobby Orr, two of THE most humble, decent, and selfless human beings of ANY athletes anywhere. RIP Hondo. You'll forever be a legend on and off the court.
Mike S...you were lucky to have been able to see their careers, Havlichek was the first player that ever wrote me back, I was in 5th grade, 1976. He inspired me on the court and in life like he did millions of other kids , he was a special man who just happened to be a great, great basketball player. One of the greatest to ever lace up, he was a gift to us all , thank you John Havlichek for your passion and smiles, a role model for humans, not just basketball players, he played LIFE the right way. Honorable, classy, humble and as a player he was absolutely RELENTLESS, 8 rings in 16 years, not a typo, EIGHT in 16 yrs. We loved you John Havlichek, thank you.
@@oracleyoda5805 I never saw Hondo or Orr live, but I was 10 when Hondo & the Cs won it all in 1976. When I say that Hondo and Orr were/are two of the best human beings, I say that without a Boston bias. The thing is, I've never, EVER heard a bad word uttered about either guy. They were/are almost saint-like in how they live(d) and in treating others.
Class act! Now I know why I admired John Havlicek so much growing up. Great player, dedication, and a super human being!
We have
Havlicek was a winner . Never took a minute off relentless on both ends of court all the time . And I never saw anyone steadily improve his game throughout their careers . I’m not sure why he retired!
Thanks for this night.
.......
John was the energizer ......
I remember being at the Garden
An the person who took me.....
I was a kid....10-11...
As we snuck down to the good seats....
He said....watch "Hondo"....
He is constantly in motion....
Running thru screens.....over an over....again....an again
Thank God he picked Boston the Celtics over the Cleveland Browns/football.....as he was drafted in 1963....
The rest is History.
.....Thanks for All you gave us
John....
He started his career when the league still had alot of white players and he ended his career when the league was overtly dominated by black players.He didnt discriminate he ripped all the white and black players apart equally.
U gotta point, and I luv ur comments btw, I'm about the biggest Havlicek fan there is, since I watched him in the early 70s -but just an observation, alot of times in mid 60s Havlicek would be the only white Celtic on the court, with the 2 Joneses, Sanders and Russell, the 60s NBA was pretty mixed,but he could certainly be incredible in any era
True!
@@wilsonstone935 yes sir I just came back aboard here.. I just bought the book johnny most wrote
The ovation he got was way over 7 minutes but was cut to seven on the various youtube videos apparently.They had a farewll party for him in every city in the 16th or last season.He said if he had known that bird would come aboard he would have stayed and run two more years to run one with bird.He was still playing at a very high level at age 38.
I got to see him play when the Celtics came to San Antonio. I think he had 31 pts that game against Gervin & Co. can't believe that was 42 years ago!
RIP Hondo
Somehow this is my first time seeing this vid. I WAS AT THAT GAME!!! Poor Hondo retired just before Bird and within a few years Chief (Robert Parish for you non-Celtic fans) and McHale came along. Celtics STUNK in the 1977-1978 and 1978-79 seasons. But my friends and I were there to honor Hondo. He was so SELFLESS that even though the crowd AND HIS TEAMMATES AND WHOEVER THE HEAD COACH was then WANTED him to put up some quick shots, he passed the ball on something like their first 6 possessions. Finally his teammates refused to move, forcing him to put up a shot. And I think he sank it. Of course, the crowd went nutso. He actually had a terrific 2nd half or at least 4th period. Crowd was screaming in celebration. (more ...)
His first basket in the NBA was a dunk. As I remember it, he never again dunked in his career. But fans and writers hoped his final baskey would be a dunk for a perfect bookend to his career. LOL But as I remember it, Buffalo Braves (now the L.A. Clippers) pivot man wasn't playing along. He blocked John's attempt for a dunk. Might have been Marvin Barnes.
As Dr. J who guarded him best. Enough said as to how good he was. Probably the most underrated great player in the game
John Havlicek was a great basketball player and master of the game. He was hustle personified. Never quit. Never stop. Rest In Peace Man Among Men.
I don't think that todays NBA stars can touch Hondo RIP you were truly in a class by yourself
Hondo and Cousy will always be my top 2 NBA players of all time.
What a beautiful moment… ❤️
My all time favorite basketball player till this day some of my friends still call me/HONDO absolutely loved Havlicek
RIP to a great man and real celtic legend
ALWAYS class!
That bank shot he made against Phoenix in that triple OT game 5.
I was stationed in Yakima, WA and we watched the second half in a Sears in the mall. I was the only Celtics fan and loved to rib my buddies. John never showed panic.
rest easy to a legend
Havlicek looked like a 70s pop singer
RIP John, Johnnie, and Red!
For he's a jolly good fellow, which nobody can deny.
The ultimate teammate. No one has mentioned what a great passer he was. Drew tough defensive assignments as well. The complete player; what I wouldn't give to see him play again.
"Havlichek Stole The Ball!!! Havlichek Stole the Ball!!!" Unforgettable leader, teammate, and man.
Thanks for the memories, Mr. Havlicek.
Rip. John Havlicek 8 consecutive championship
Washington Bullets won championship that year because Boston wasn't there! LOL. Wizards Fan since 1977. But I still love John Havlicek even though he played for Boston. R.I.P. John
One of the All time greats. Enough said.
As a Laker fan we love you Hondo havlicek rip
Rip Hondo havlicek we love you
Rest In Peace John Havlicek
Hustle and fundmentals are great ways to describe him incredible stamina and mad skills are two others,
Hondo Hondo he's my man
if he can't do it
no one can.
Legends Live 4 Ever.
I watched him outplay monroe,frazier, baylor,robertson,west,and barry afew teams.
I dont know how many shots he missed but he scored over 26 000 regular season points and added what in the playoffs about three and a half thousand?Thats when traveling and palmingwas called often unlike today, with severe hand checking prevelent,no three pointers recordedand he hit alot,and going to college for 4 years.Plus he didnt long huge minutes in his first few years as mick mentioned.
He scored over 26 000 points and another 6 000 in the playoffs.
Over 26,000 and the leading scorer of the best franchise of all time? I wouldn't say underrated he's the best scorer in franchise history.
I saw Hondo play, and his tenacity reminds me of Paul Pierce in many ways. I wore Hondo's number as a kid playing basketball, and thought he was the best. Was he better than Bird or Paul Pierce? I don't know. I think Russell has to be considered the greatest Celtic.
Paul pierce can not be compare Hindi eon eight championships he was a winner
My how the NBA has changed.
havlicek was in 2nd tier of great nba players after russell, bird, wilt, mj, majic, kareem, leEgo....great all around player and never got tired. 3rd best celtic ever
Wow he's so popular the fans wouldn't shutup and let him give his speech.
If i was him i'd say "hey shutup let me give my speech".
RIP John
John Havlicek My kind of people.
Havlicek was underrated. I think he scored over 24,000 points, in the top ten of all time.
John was a great man and athlete. Johnny Most too, who was in the video.
few time later Red drafted Indiana state junior ..Larry Bird
what a amazing career havlicek have :)
RIP John!
this guy doesn't get the "flowers' he desirves... 50 years later he still leads the Celtics in scoring.
and he did not have the three and did shot it from that land...
Those "old" Boston Celtics teams were truly awesome defensively. They already had three of the greatest defenders in NBA history IMHO (OK, I am biased, but please wait to hear about whom I am referring) with Bill Russell (certainly number one EVER in that regard), Satch Sanders, and K.C. Jones. Then when John joined them in autumn 1962, they had FOUR of the greatest ever defenders. It was downright UNFAIR nearly always at the end of close games. If the opponent had the ball, Red Auerbach would be sure to have the above 4 guys on the court. After the other team lost possession (lol), most often because of a missed shot and a Boston rebound, Red would call timeout and replace K.C. with great clutch shooting guard Sam Jones, and Satch with their best shooting forward. Then after Celtics scored (lol), another timeout and back into game would come Satch and K.C. But Hondo would always be on court ....
I'm Hurting!
omg i didn't know who that guy (Johnny Most) was until i heard him speak lol
Hondo was-The Coolest
John Havlicek was better than Larry bird
joe Williams john havlicek was a better role player than Larry bird he was mvp too
No i think they're equal, its not fair to say that, both were great players and clutch shooters.
@@Mrd9960 Larry Bird was the best total basketball player ever to put on a uniform. Havlicek's tenacity and effort was second to none. But Bird was just flat out unbelievable.
U don't mean Larry Joe Bird, AKA Larry Legend, AKA Basketball Jesus, AKA the three-time MVP, right? You must be referring to some other Larry bird
Well, then, ok he finally said he loved Boston. Greatest player of all time Celtic.
Watch the video of Orr's retirement at the Garden. An even longer ovation than this one.
+fernmann7 Yeah but in 1965 who saved the season in that 7th game vs Philly?
It wasn't Bobby Orr............In key playoff moments Hondo made the key basket,
made the right play, pulled down the important rebound .....won 7 NBA Titles. Orr won two but could have won 5. Orr and his club CHOKED in 1969, 1971 and 1974. Celtics won titles in 1969 and 1974.
Hondo .....Russell and Sam Jones stood out. The hockey team had no players like these
+JAY DAVIDSON Did any team, in any sport, equal the C's in those days for teamwork and success? Of course not. So why are you trying to make any comparison whatsoever? Basketball is not hockey. Dryden stoned the B's in 71, just like Bernie Parent did in 1974, when Orr's knee, by the way, was gone. Maybe you didn't realize it, but goalies can do that in a series. Orr, by himself, turned on all of New England to hockey. He's regarded by many as the greatest of all time, even by WG. You're incredibly weak. Come back at me when you have something, son.
what are you people arguing?? LOL! Larry had a full house and there wasn't s game!
This this celtic cosa nostra right here, now you had some clown who doesnt want to play for the celtics, played half-assed in the playoffs
Then the game was something. Ernie D kept feeding him the ball. It was crazy !
Be interesting had he played two more years. Wonder how that 80 team would have done? Especially had they not acquired Maravich who shot them to death in the Philly series. I think they could have made it to the Finals. Granted Hondo didn't get injured.
ALL I hear is how great BOBBY ORR was. Let the record stand...........................
ORR ..................two Championships...................HONDO ..................7 NBA titles
AND I WAS A BRUINS SEASON TICKETHOLDER FOR 25 YEARS !!!!!!!!!!!!!
+JAY DAVIDSON C'mon, Orr was the greatest of all time. Hondo was fantastic, but not in Orr's realm. The C's dynasty was legendary, the Big Bad Bruins were a case of what-might-have-been. The WHA and perhaps Orr's knees prevented more than two Stanley Cups. A 54-year-old B's fan from New Bedford.
One thing though.....It was...and still is....a lot harder to win the stanley cup than the nba title....especially back then.....most of Havlicek's 7 titles happened when there were a LOT less teams and TWO divisions.....plus the fact....the Bruins also had to deal with the greatest NHL franchise in HISTORY (The Canadiens)....AND...as great as Havlicek was....look at what he had around HIM....and look at what Orr had around HIM....and one final thing....Bobby Orr was a DEFENSEMAN....it's not like he was a Mario Lemieux or a Wayne Gretzky...just saying
He won 8
1269 games ranks first. Is he still first?
No. First is Robert Parish 1611 games
RIP HONDO
Sad that most kids these kids don't know about hondo :(
"HAVLICEK STOLE THE BALL"!!!!!
GOAT 🐐
Right after this came Larry Bird then McHale who were old school 1 team players like Hondo and Cowens and all the greats before them. Now? Basketball is so lame.
This speech was so coma-inducing that CBS decided not to hire Hondo to do color for their NBA broadcasts. Prior to this speech, CBS was going offer a spot to Hondo (they had been using Rick Barry, who was still active as a player, for the playoffs) but they changed their mind after listening to this dirge which made Euclidean geometry exciting in comparison.
Yeah guys like havlicek and west were popular with media fans and other players but rick barry was not for afew reasons,yet he was a great great player too.If west .havlicek,and barry ran today no one would outplay them.Jordan,kobe and james are great but they never played against many players as good as these three or baylor and robertson.
R.I.P. 2 an N.B.A. Great.