John Havlicek's (29pts/8asts/4rebs) Last Game

The last game of a basketball legend - John "Hondo" Havlicek. The seven minute standing ovation the Boston Garden crowd gives him is truly remarkable, I even had to cut it a little bit, so it wouldn't last for too long. The standing O might even be more spectacular than the actual game. Hondo doesn't shoot particularly well, but I guess what matters in this kind of a game is that the C's win and even at the age of 38 Havlicek fills out the stat sheet. April 9, 1978.

[@randysandberg5615]

An all-time great. Nothing flashy, no trash talk, didn't complain publicly about anything. Nobody had a bad word to say about him. A WINNER.

[@rodneytate5259]

He left it all on the court. A great basketball player. Rest in Peace Hondo !!

[@philiptv2]

Rest in peace, Hondo.

[@johhnny13]

You can see the love and respect the fans and his teammates have for him. But also the love he has for the Celtics. RIP Hondo

[@warwick802]

And just 1 year later, arguably a top 10 player and probably the best player of the Celtics was drafted. RIP John "Hindo" Havlicek.

[@SuperOlds88]

Havlicek was simply a winner.

[@billm3706]

My first sports hero. Rest in peace John. I will always remember you.

[@davidjudah4578]

I watched this game live as a child. This is one of my first memories of watching the NBA. As a brother, Hondo has so much respect. I really should not have to mention that I"m a black man but I want to put this in context when people falsly make this claim that blacks did not respect white ball players. I actually became a fan of the NBA from watching Hondo. Sure I loved Dr. J and others during that period but you had to respect Hondo.

[@jeortiz-luis4288]

amen

[@senseichess8688]

Yes sir I started watching in 1969 and I recall all the black fans..players.. and my black friends had a ton of respect for havlicek

[@woj5924]

that's the great thing about sport, you can respect character and skill and that what really counts

[@manny4552]

@@woj5924 yes indeed

[@US_ARMY_25_INF._DIV.]

John said later if he had known that Bird was coming he would have kept playing...he quit due to the Celtics not being good and having some real bad guys in the late 70s who were drug addicts and had bad attitudes ....

[@Amick44]

An honor and joy to watch him play. He, Baylor, West and Robertson, set the tone for great all around stars to come in Magic, Larry and MJ.

[@eddierivera8556]

I remember this game I cried Hondo was my favorite player. RIP Mr.Havlicek

[@manny4552]

I watched it too I grew up in buffalo

[@US_ARMY_25_INF._DIV.]

John said later if he had known that Bird was coming he would have kept playing...he quit due to the Celtics not being good and having some real bad guys in the late 70s who were drug addicts and had bad attitudes ....

[@polytide51]

I thinnk every father would like thier son to play like Havlicek - hustle, no whining or bitching, humility, and a real team player.

[@BokuGlack]

RIP to a legend.

[@benlujan288]

Amen!

[@johnflanagan9153]

Barely into retirement, " Hondo " would scrimmage with the Celtics at Helenic collage at the Celtics practice facility; During training camp in the fall of 1979, coach Bill Fitch and Red Auerbach tried to convince a nearly 40 year old Havlicek to come out of retirement to play with rookie Larry Bird. John's skills had not waned, and he was in tremendous shape, but he declined. He later said if he knew Larry Bird was going to be the player he would prove to be, he would have accepted their offer of returning as a super-sixth man. He would have made an already great team even better.

[@wilsonstone935]

Id luv to go back and make that happen, just 1 yr together -tho was interesting seeing marivich and bird playing together, Pete wasn't himself but there were some brilliant moments

[@ericthomas917]

They would have won the championship that year if he did

[@TRJ2241987]

Maravich destroyed the 1980-81 Celtics at training camp, and Bill Fitch got angry about it and basically forced Maravich into retirement. Bill Fitch had a personal dislike for Maravich for some reason. He even didn't like the way Pete physically looked.

[@andrzejzborowski4920]

And they would probably have won 1980 championship or at least reached the finals.

[@senseichess8688]

@@ericthomas917 yes indeed

[@jingqi9106]

Even without all the modern training methods, private chefs, and recovery methods, Havlicek played outstanding basketball into his late thirties. Hondo didn't just have all-time great stamina during a game in which he moved non-stop, he had incredible stamina in terms of his longevity. Hondo is also one of the most clutch players ever and one of the greatest players of all-time.

[@senseichess8688]

Well said

[@US_ARMY_25_INF._DIV.]

John said later if he had known that Bird was coming he would have kept playing...he quit due to the Celtics not being good and having some real bad guys in the late 70s who were drug addicts and had bad attitudes ....

[@jingqi9106]

@@US_ARMY_25_INF._DIV. Bird playing with Hondo would have been fun to see.

[@jaydenjank3879]

R.I.P to a legend

[@dubbrown5594]

Might be the most underrated player in NBA history

[@TheCarrinanj]

What a thrill to watch this again! He was my favorite player growing up.

[@manny4552]

Mine too

[@hguntupalli]

What a way to go out..True legends

[@MoMoJohnny]

Havlicek was amazing! Really underrated, could do everything at a high level. Top 3 SF ever.

[@trystan2833]

watch these highlights than watch literally any hugh school player today and try saying that again

[@senseichess8688]

@@trystan2833 you are a clown

[@senseichess8688]

Yes indeed

[@manny4552]

@@trystan2833 lol ok skippy

[@manny4552]

@@trystan2833 go play with your marbles

[@AntonioWhite-ef4ue]

GREATEST PLAYER TO EVER WEAR A CELTIC UNIFORM!!! GOD BLESS, JOHN "HONDO" HAVLICEK

[@Huffnutz17]

This was also Hall of Famer Dave Bing's final NBA game.

[@Amick44]

+Huffnutz17 Ironic, two all time greats finishing it up same game. You can see how Bing looked for Hondo throughout the game, too. Both all time class, as well as all time great players.

[@Amick44]

+Huffnutz17 If Bing had finished up in Detroit, where had his really great yrs, it would have been similar for him there. But Detroit was floundering as often, Bing wanted out, was sent to Washington on the down side of his career. Finished with Boston and had a decent yr. He looked for John in this game in particular. Class and greatness in both stars like few before or since.

[@espark1089]

+Mick A it's called coincidental. not ironic

[@Amick44]

+espark1089 Nonetheless, Bing was a great player as well. Hate to see each star go out on a non playoff team.

[@wilsonstone935]

@@espark1089 no offense to mick, but that is such a common mistake I've noticed these days -since that damn song came out misusing the word -kudos to hav's last game incredible career, always liked bing too

[@manny4552]

I watched havlicek out play julius erving,oscar robrtson,, jerry west,and rick barry afew times too.All of these guys would be huge stars today,trust me.

[@manny4552]

Im from buffalo and he did what he always did to my buffalo braves for 8 years.He ripped them apart,especially in the playoffs.

[@BasketballJones48021]

Still doing it big at 38. What a great all-around player Hondo was, a top 5 SF all-time.

[@Amick44]

+BasketballJones48021 Yes and likely a top 10 all time guard as well. Excelled at both positions like no other. West, Magic and Jordan probably could have done so as well. They weren't asked to, though.

[@govols2214]

BasketballJones48021 1. Bird 2. Lebron 3. Baylor 4. Dr. J 5. Either Hondo, Durant, Pippen, or Wilkins. I could see where you have him top 5

[@housesports000]

BasketballJones48021 hey dont forget about Bird as well

[@alexhughes4294]

Top 15 player of all time

[@Amick44]

@slip satch agree. It's just that Celts we so deep they could afford to bring him off the bench early and let hin grow into bigger roles. He didn't put up West, Robertson like scoring totals til close to mid career. But the rest of the game was there.

[@Milordvega]

I remember that the standing ovation at the beginning went like over 10 minutes. And that in the final quarter, Havlicek went wild, scoring around 17 points including 10 in the final 2 minutes all on fastbreak layups. One of the greatest farewell games in sports history.

[@manny4552]

Yes indeed

[@US_ARMY_25_INF._DIV.]

John said later if he had known that Bird was coming he would have kept playing...he quit due to the Celtics not being good and having some real bad guys in the late 70s who were drug addicts and had bad attitudes ....

[@IsaDRayM]

He was Larry Bird before Larry Bird was.

[@Chooify]

You mean Larry Bird was Hondo before there was Hondo.

[@IsaDRayM]

Not sure what you mean. Im not saying that Hondo was better than Bird. He's more of a middle class version of Bird, but their play styles are strikingly similar

[@joshuanavarro4289]

IsaDRayM yep

[@lloydkline7245]

IsaDRayM i think that rick berry was john john havlicek was more of a super great role player was mvp once

[@43msd]

IsaDRayM he would kill Bird gtfoh.😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Amick44]

He is underrated. Many folks don't realize his 1st 6 yrs or so, he was the 6th, who still logged plenty (28-32) mins. Only reason his scoring and other totals weren't near the top til late 60's. He is right there with Oscar, Baylor and West. And possibly a superior defender as well.

[@manny4552]

Good points

[@JohnnyRodgers3]

Hes not a better defender than west for sure...or a better passer than Oscar, west or Baylor....he wasn't a better rebounder than Oscar or Baylor...or as good of a scorer as any one of them(imo) but he was damn good and could anyone of them a run for their money

[@manny4552]

@@JohnnyRodgers3 well he certainly played on a defensive level on a par with west.. and he was at least on par with Oscar and Baylor in rebounding... And in 16 years he scored over 30 000 points counting playoff points.. which is more than Baylor Oscar and west all did in their respective careers.. and of course none of these guys shot threes and they all certainly had the range to.. havlicek is still the leading point scorer in Celtics history... 8 and 0 in the finals... As you noted he was a great player.. who frankly sometimes gets forgotten about it seems

[@Amick44]

@@JohnnyRodgers3 Fair enough. In other words, they're all amongst the very best.

[@manny4552]

@@JohnnyRodgers3 as i say I watched a ton of games live on tv it in person in buffalo .. and if all the guys who played from 1969 till 1976

[@moneyclaude2500]

R.I.P to A True legend.

[@briandonahue9647]

He could have played a couple more years. He was in incredible shape.

[@senormedia]

Imagine if he and Cowens had hung around into the early Big Three years. What a bench. Add in Pete and who's stopping that bench?

[@senseichess8688]

Your right

[@kyletorres202]

he could have played at least another season with Larry Bird.

[@reginaldpeters5142]

Hondo havlicek they don't make em like him no more. guts heart and determination he was !

[@hadmiar8]

UNDERRATED!

[@krocodockle2544]

I wish we could see him starting alongside Jayson Tatum. Would be beautiful

[@manny4552]

I read somwhere havlicek and bird locked the doors at a gym and went one on one with each other during birds rookie season on several occasions.No one saw or filmed it but it happened im pretty sure.

[@user-dv3do1od2r]

I remember watching this game over at my grandmother's house as a kid. I think this was the same day Gervin & David Thompson had epic scoring days.

[@theunthinkable1021]

Rest in Peace, Mr. Havlicek.

[@manny4552]

Havlicek would tear todays players apart.And i know because i watched him play for years..Incredible stamina and his game had no weaknesses.Dont even think of trying to compare ginonbli or garnett to him.

[@wilsonstone935]

He averaged 29 in 71

[@BryanX64]

So not only was this Havlicek's last game it was the Brave's last in Buffalo

[@cynthiashearer5710]

A class act

[@manny4552]

He was great at everything on the court for 16 years.His game had no weakness.Its just that simple.

[@korgond]

This is more ovation than Bird's retirement

[@manny4552]

He was like having another coach on the squad he had great court sense like larry bird did.I thought he might try coaching but he didnt.

[@cumulonimbus583]

Can’t believe I love, Bird more than this man. I’m only 20 but I love sports and study this team of mine and I can see why, John is so loved. He’s my second favorite. Just above Russell.

[@wilsonstone935]

Cool you know ur history

[@wilsonstone935]

CM, -try and find some early games of Havlicek and you'll see more birdlike qualities in him -he was single game high point scorer before McHale n bird in 86, Havlicek scored 54 against Atlanta in 73

[@lllXRocKsAndRoll]

want those warm up jackets to come back

[@manny4552]

These people are a trip trying to compare guys like jeff hornacek or latrell sprewell to havlicek.Its a joke.

[@Amick44]

+manny4552 It's only cause they will never be another (Havlicek). While this sounds contradictory, I would say Rip Hamilton is a better comparison.

[@davanmani556]

Mick A I would say Michael Cooper because he never broke down.

[@susanstamboulian646]

@@davanmani556 I'd say I'd compare Havlicek mostly to Shaq. LOL

[@DreDaDon16]

Sprewell would have been a GOD had he played in Havlichek era

[@manny4552]

​@@DreDaDon16 maybe but havlicek was a better player by far

[@knuckleheadnoogy3261]

God Bless John Havlicek!

[@davidwilliamson8861]

What an applause!!!!Chills!!!!

[@davidfranks3141]

Hondo had a great career and finished with Boston.It wasn't just about $$$,Boston was his life,mutual respect between fans,team and player.We miss that a lot today.

[@manny4552]

Yeah the a b a was trying to lure havlicek over for big money but he stayed in boston because of his respect for the team fans and auerbach.

[@Amick44]

True. With guys just chasing rings today. You can forget about mutual respect between teams, players and towns. But ..... life goes on.

[@entertainmentsportsandmore5783]

John Havlicek was the great superstar and hall of famer for the Boston Celtics during the 60s and 70s including Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Tom Heinsohn, Sam Jones, Don Nelson, Dave Cowens, Jo Jo White, the rookie season in 77-78 Cedric Maxwell (30).

[@Amick44]

+Nairda Osorbas He sure was. He bridged the era from Russell to Cowens. He was a major figure in each one. To say the least.

[@mwsharpe308]

I was at this game and I have the ticket to prove it.

[@johnkluge3421]

To put how good he was in terms modern Celtics' fans can understand; Havlicek was Gordon Hayward if Hayward was smoother, had a better jumpshot, played with the tenacity and defensive ability of Marcus Smart and had the professionalism and reliability of Al Horford. He was that good.

[@oracleyoda5805]

John Kluge...Gordon Hayward does not deserve to mentioned in the same sentence as John Havlichek. I appreciate you trying to inform people but Hondo was 5 times the player that Hayward could ever dream of being. 16 seasons , 8 RINGS, EIGHT, relentless scorer and defender, played the game the right way, he beat the logo ( Jerry West) any time he had a chance too and he lived a humble life. An ambassador of the game, he personified grace, class and athleticism. one of the greatest athletes that EVER laced up in ANY sport. He was a gift to us all, he set a standard of how an NBA player should play and behave in real life...a true role model. There is no one is the NBA close to him , the last was Manu Ginobli, but he also falls way, way short but he did things Hondo would do...win games.

[@wilsonstone935]

@@oracleyoda5805 thanks, I wish more people gave Havlicek the respect and acclaim he deserves

[@US_ARMY_25_INF._DIV.]

John said later if he had known that Bird was coming he would have kept playing...he quit due to the Celtics not being good and having some real bad guys in the late 70s who were drug addicts and had bad attitudes ....

[@manny4552]

There are stars and superstars pierce is a star havlicek was a superstar.He was an incredible athlete..He was more than athelete enough to be a huge star today.

[@vince065us]

Rest in peace,big man.

[@manny4552]

The game is not more pysical now and expansion has watered down the talent so much that the nba is full of guys playing now who would never make nba rosters in the 70s.

[@felixmadison5736]

Thank you God for John Havlicek.

[@CapAnson12345]

I read in Larry Bird's Autobiography he wished Havlicek had played a little longer so they could have played together. Bird was drafted two months after this game and COULD have played in the 1978-79 season (he opted to play as a 5th year senior). So it's not a completely ridiculous idea.

[@Amick44]

Sure. But thankfully, John knew when to hang it up. While he could STILL play. Like West, Dr J. Too bad Kareem didn't. Oops, I know some "stuff" is coming.

[@senormedia]

and Cowens, too

[@senseichess8688]

@@Amick44 well your right

[@fr6313]

Great video..Thanks for posting.As a kid growing up Havlicek was my favorite. It would have been great to have had Havlicek and Bird play together even for one season

[@senseichess8688]

Yes

[@clydecavalieri4511]

I get a kick out of Dave Cowens, a dominating center at 6' 9". Imagine if he was 2 or 3 inches taller!

[@fatova7190]

I was at that game. I was 10 and we had 8 season tickets , OBSTRUCTED VIEW. I didn't understand the game yet. When Bird came we still had seats until '85. It was worth almost passing out in the Garden with no AC to watch him. Thanks for the video and RIP Hondo.

[@benok8263]

Rest in peace Legend

[@JoshCConnor]

I saw Dave Bing, Pete Maravich, Cedric Maxwell, Robert Parrish, and Dave Cowens. What if everyone stayed and they drafted Bird 😳

[@mr.sinjin-smyth]

Robert Parrish don't come over until 1980.

[@mja91352]

For some reason, Havlicek never gets mentioned as one of the greatest ever. Bill Russell picke him first as a desire teammate. Nuff said.

[@manny4552]

Thanks mick a.Yeah havlicek was a badass.If you count playoff points he scored over 30 000 points in his career,Andd he would have had a ton more if there was a 3 point line in those days. He would rip ginoblli,pippen, and hornacek apart!

[@bobthornton5090]

The Buffalo player clapping really made my day, showing the class were missing in the NBA today.

[@Amick44]

Maybe Randy Smith. I believe it was Randy. I loved Randy, too. A GREAT athlete and basketball player. Fastest man in the league in the 70's who could actually play. He was a well deserved all star. Fine shooter, passer, defender. I felt he and the Pistol were the best all around guards in the league in the mid 70's.

[@senseichess8688]

@@Amick44 yes it was

[@manny4552]

Pierce is great but havlicek was in another class.Havlicek was in the same league as larry bird.

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

Red has seen them all come and go. I was at John's final game in Seattle.

[@kurtadams3021]

RIP Hondo. From a sixers fan

[@raypetree9372]

Seeing Bill Russell, Hondo and Larry play on one team together all in there prime would be the most interesting thing ever. The different personalities colliding, and so much will to win.

[@manny4552]

They would have been tough to beat,such smart smart and skillled guys.

[@Jiltedin2007]

The Braves last game in the NBA before they would move to San Diego to become the Clippers.

[@manny4552]

The legend

[@BCBlue]

When I played basketball as a kid, I wore Hondo’s number. That was in Southern California in 1972. I always loved watching him when Boston played L.A.

[@scottrichards3246]

I understand that John Havlicek in his last game against the Buffalo Braves, scored 29 points... However, the most remarkable thing in that game was that he scored 17 points in the last quarter... John John wore #17.... Who wrote that script noted the great Johnny Most during the broadcast of the game.

[@Milordvega]

Possibly the best retirement game ever, by any athlete: 1. Player was playing at home, for a team he played with his entire career (Jeter was not at Yankee Stadium in his last game; Gretzky was an Edmonton Oiler in his best years, not a New York Ranger). 2. The star played a great game in a win (Jordan's final game was a bad loss, ditto for Kareem - whose last game was a dud vs the Pistons - Wilt, Magic, Bird, Dr. J, etc. They lost their final games, in playoffs) 3. EVERYONE knew it would be his last game as he had announced his pending retirement (some athletes like Rod Carew, Tom Seaver, Bill Russell and Larry Bird announced their retirement after the season was over; some like Joe Theismann left due to major injuries). 4. It was the very last game of the regular season with the team not having any more games since the team wasn't making the playoffs (Ted Williams' Red Sox still had some games left on the road, even after Williams hit a home run in his final at-bat at Fenway; Kareem's final regular season game in 1989 vs. Seattle was great, but he was still playing in the playoffs afterwards). 5. It is ideal for an athlete to retire as a champion (John Elway, Ray Lewis, Jerome Bettis, Michael Strahan, Joe DiMaggio, Bill Russell, David Robinson, Ray Borque, Dominik Hasek, Pele, Landon Donovan, etc.) But for a retirement game, or final game in a career, it is best that a championship NOT be at stake. If so, the championship would have signified more than the game simply being the star's final game or possible final game. So it should be a no-bearing game. So in this game, all the focus was on Havlicek.

[@andresposso15]

Crazy how similar Kobe's last game turned out

[@lanceoneil1153]

this is exactly how kobe's last game ended up lol

[@Milordvega]

I put this comment up in 2015. Now I concede: Kobe's final game in 2016 was the most spectacular ever by a retiring legend. But I still love Hondo!

[@lanceoneil1153]

+Ed Vega yeah, I know. I can't believe how accurate it was though lol

[@bionicbigfoot2790]

Ed Vega Awesome, thorough post- thank you for that

[@lbradshaw23]

im waiting for pierces last game at the garden especially if he passes hondo for first all time as a celtic i will definately get tickets to that game i saw him pass bird for second this year. this is an amazing way of honoring one of the greatest in celtics history an ovation that can be compared to other great players and moments like mjs final game in chicago.

[@senormedia]

Pierce's last game at the Garden didn't quite turn out as expected, did it?

[@elwin38]

I saw the 2nd half of this game. Also the last game for the Buffalo Braves. This was a down year for the Celtics for they were already out of the playoff picture(I think they won only 32 games this year). Look at rookie Cedric "Cornbread" Maxwell at 3:49.

[@tomtalley2192]

I remember watching this game, and the network left the game with 5 minutes left for what reason I can't remember. Probably for a movie of the week.

[@tomtalley2192]

After watching, I can see where they cut out of the game!!

[@michaeljoyner6470]

One of the best!💥

[@thegoldstandard55]

He played his entire career right before the Bird Magic rivalry and nba aba merger that catapulted the nba to thr big money game it became.

[@manny4552]

If havlicek would have ran with bird they would have torn the league apart!

[@manny4552]

He could shoot the lights out from anywhere with both hands,he was a great scorer. passer. defender. and.clutch player with superior court sense.He got alot of rebounds for his height.If he had one weakness its that he didnt drive too well with his off or left. hand.Great all around player.

[@joecap2919]

Hot wife!!!!!!

[@MarzanWorldwide]

RIP sir

[@bobdiepold2122]

great day and game, was there with my brother !!

[@manny4552]

That the great dave bing and the then rookie cedric maxwell on the celtics sideline.

[@manny4552]

I agree bob.I grew up in buffalo and watched many braves games.Swen nater,marvin barnes,bird averitt,bill willoughby,and randy smith were the brave starters that day.Barnes averitt and i believe nater all played in the aba while willoughby went into the nba right out of college,Smith had many battles with havlicek over the years.

[@ihowi3]

way to go vince!! 46 pts 16 rebounds 10 assists? wow!

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

In the Celtics decorated and storied history there are very few players more beloved than John Havlicek. Red Auerbach looks on very stoically, but he's seen all of the great ones come, and then go. Plus he just dumped a big salary from his payroll. (😁)

[@tomlew55]

I remember throwing a slipper at the tv when the network cut away for coverage of the masters. Hondo scored a bunch of points in the last minute and the garden went bezerk as we saw old men in green blazers ...a low point in broadcasting.

[@hadmiar8]

all their energy can't stop hondo from scoring!

[@mauricesullivan1565]

Rip Jhon H.

[@ghettogadget206]

Anybody know the music is in the CBS open? They also use it that year for the NFC Championship between Dallas and the Rams

[@Amick44]

Only Oscar had a total game in all areas like Havlicek in their era. Those two set the standard for the complete player. Excelled in most, virtually all areas. Baylor and West are right there too. And none were giants either. None over 6'5. All hit the boards, moved the ball around and scored with the best.

[@davidkahil5158]

brent mussberger, the voice of sports

[@hadmiar8]

i was saying it like that casue I really think he is underrated and if probably the 2nd greatest SF only to Bird.

[@oldsensei8350]

You may be right

[@manny4552]

Cowens and white were pretty damn good too

[@Amick44]

They were. And they're both underrated, too.

[@manny4552]

Not sure who scored most in his last game,But havlicek had a party in every nba city,a big sendoff in every town during the last half of that season.Other greats like west and baylor quit hurt and didnt give everyone notice enough to receive the accolades they deserved

[@BryanX64]

1:45 probably the first public video game ad ever lol

[@manny4552]

Can you imagine what would have happened if havlicek had stayed on 2 more years and ran with larry bird for a year or two? Wow!

[@manny4552]

If your a younger fan and you want to compare other players to havlicek who have similar numbers over a career.You might compare him to jerry west,kobe bryant,or larry bird.Of course bryant never played college ball..Dont even think about comparing him to dan majerle?

[@mynameisdub6232]

Does anyone know who the guy with the Afro and sunglasses is ? Always see him pictured next to Tommy and Satch on the bench during the 70’s 4:47