Havlicek, John J.

Havlicek, John J. hăvˈləchĕk [key], 1940–2019, American basketball player, b. Martins Ferry, Ohio. He attended Ohio State Univ. and was a star forward on the team that won (1960) the NCAA title. Nicknamed “Hondo” and known for his stamina and versatility, the 6 ft 5 in. (196 cm) Havlicek spent his entire professional career (1962–78) with the Boston Celtics. He became famous as a “sixth man,” exploding off the bench to play either forward or guard with equal skill, and was pivotal in eight of the Celtics' NBA championships (1963–66, 1968–69, 1974, and 1976). Havlicek scored 26,395 points, averaging 20.8 per game, and played in 13 consecutive NBA All-Star games. He was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984.

See his memoir, Hondo (with B. Ryan, 1977).

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