SPRINGFIELD, MASS. (Apr. 25, 2019) – John Havlicek, enshrined as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984, has passed away at the age of 79.
“The Basketball Hall of Fame family deeply mourns the loss and celebrates the life of John Havlicek,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “John was an incredible man, with a unique balance of modesty and competitive spirit. He was certainly a fan favorite in Boston and will be deeply missed in the basketball community.”
Havlicek popularized the integral role of the sixth man and is regarded as one of the best in NBA history. Modest and soft-spoken, he was a collegiate star at Ohio State, named an All-America and All-Big Ten selection in 1962. “Hondo” teamed with Larry Siegfried and fellow Hall of Famers Jerry Lucas and Bob Knight to land Ohio State in the 1960 NCAA championship. Havlicek established a style of constant movement on offense and defense that frustrated opponents and led him to a very successful professional career with the Boston Celtics. He was a 13-time NBA All-Star and eight-time NBA Champion, described by coach Red Auerbach as the "guts of the Boston Celtics."
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.