John Havlicek 13 All-Star Selections
Havlicek stole the ball!
John Joseph Havlicek ( HAV-lih-chek; April 8, 1940 – April 25, 2019), often nicknamed Hondo, was an American professional basketball player who spent his entire 16-year career with the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Havlicek won eight NBA championships — one of three NBA players with an unsurpassed 8–0 record in the NBA Finals series — and was voted the NBA Finals MVP in 1974.
- Role
- Small Forward / Shooting Guard
- Era Span
- Late 1960s to Mid-1970s
- Status
- Hall of Fame Inductee (1984)
- Legacy
- Celtics All-Time Leading Scorer
Lore & Background
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. Havlicek is known for his stamina and his hustle as well as his abilities.
In Their Own Story
The arena vibrates with the electric hum of an All-Star break, hardwood gleaming under blinding lights as John Havlicek wipes sweat from his brow following a grueling defensive stop. He isn't merely participating; he is conducting the symphony, eyes scanning the floor with the tactical precision of a veteran general. When the crowd erupts as he drives the lane, it's not for personal glory but to draw defenders and find an open teammate, embodying the selfless hustle that earned his thirteenth nod. In this gathering of superstars, Hondo doesn't just stand out; he owns the moment, proving that relentless energy often shines brighter than pure flash.
Reader's Guide
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. Following his retirement, his number 17 jersey was retired by the Celtics. Havlicek was inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984.
Did You Know?
- Havlicek was a three-sport athlete at Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio, earning All-Ohio honors in all three sports during his senior year.
- He was drafted by the Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Pipers of the ABL, and the Cleveland Browns of the NFL in 1962.
- Havlicek revolutionized the 'sixth man' role in the NBA, coming off the bench for the Celtics during his early years.
- His nickname 'Hondo' was inspired by the 1953 movie of the same name starring John Wayne.
More in Championships & Records
Elsewhere in the Boston Celtics universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record