John Havlicek All-Time Scoring Record
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.
Quick Facts
- Role
- Small Forward; Guard
- Record status
- Held from 1978 until surpassed by Robert Parish in 1986
- Key attribute
- Unmatched Stamina and Clutch Scoring
Lore & Background
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.
Reader's Guide
Havlicek was a 13-time NBA All-Star, 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. He is known for his stamina and his hustle as well as his abilities.
Did You Know?
- 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 steal in the closing seconds of the 1965 Eastern Conference Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers is one of the most famous plays in NBA history.
More in Championships & Records
Elsewhere in Boston Celtics
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced