John Havlicek Retirement

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Lore & Background

Havlicek is known for his stamina and his hustle as well as his abilities. During his career with the Celtics, he became known for stealing the ball to save the game–and the Celtics' playoff hopes–near the end of game seven in the 1965 Eastern Conference Finals. Havlicek served as captain of the Celtics from 1969 to 1978, and was named NBA Finals MVP in 1974.

In Their Own Story

The transition from active player to retired legend saw Havlicek's number 17 raised to the rafters of the Boston Garden shortly after his retirement in 1978. This gesture acknowledged a career where he played every single game during the 1967–68 and 1968–69 seasons, averaging over 45 minutes per game in the latter postseason. His leadership as captain guided the team through the late 1960s dynasty, overcoming a 3–1 deficit against the 76ers in 1968 to defeat the Lakers in the Finals. In 1974, Havlicek was named NBA Finals MVP, adding another layer to his accolades that included five All-Defensive First Team selections and seven All-NBA Second Team nods. His retirement left a void of sheer endurance; coach Red Auerbach had once called him "the guts of the team." By the time he stepped away, Havlicek had averaged over 20 points per game in his final seasons and maintained an unbroken record of excellence that made his jersey retirement a necessary tribute to a player who never stopped moving.

Reader's Guide

A swingman, Havlicek played college basketball for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 1959 to 1962, winning an NCAA championship in 1960. He was selected by the Celtics in the 1962 NBA draft and played with the team until his retirement in 1978. A 13-time NBA All-Star, Havlicek was named to the All-NBA First Team four times and to the All-NBA Second Team seven times. He was also named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team on five occasions and to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team three times.

Did You Know?

• Havlicek won eight NBA championships.
• He was voted NBA Finals MVP in 1974.
• His number 17 jersey was retired by the Celtics.
• He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984.