Vintage NBA: JOHN HAVLICEK

John "Hondo" Havlicek is an American retired professional basketball player who competed for 16 seasons with the Boston Celtics, winning eight NBA championships, four of them coming in his first four seasons.
In the National Basketball Association, only teammates Bill Russell and Sam Jones won more championships during their playing careers, and Havlicek is one of three NBA players with an unsurpassed 8-0 record in NBA Finals series outcomes. Havlicek is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of the game and was inducted as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984.

[@eddierivera8556]

From the first time I saw Havlicek play, I became a huge fan, I had his picture on my wall. Love you Hondo RIP

[@watchmanonthewall14]

Lakers fan here. Hated the Celtics. Still do. But as a very young kid, I met Havlicek after a Celtic game 2 loss to the Lakers in the 69 Finals. He was mobbed for autographs. In the stampede, my very young, tiny brother started to get trampled. Hondo stopped everyone and got them to back up. He helped my brother up and asked him whether he was alright. He was very gentle and polite about the whole thing. Then we got his autograph. It is this kind of thing that makes Hondo an even better person than the great basketball player that he was. RIP

[@Mrd9960]

Wow great story man!👍

[@geraldstewart7377]

I had a lot of respect for him as a player and a man .... Rest in peace Hondo!!!

[@Michael_Page]

If I was a kid in Hondo's era, he would have certainly been my favorite player. Arguably the most underrated player of all time. Elite scorer. Elite defender. Elite motor. Elite leader. Elite winner. RIP.

[@JosePremo0813]

Too underrated for sure

[@felixmadison5736]

John Havlicek became my favorite player from the first time I saw him during his rookie season of 1961-62 when he played in all 80 games. 'Hondo' was an even better person than basketball player which is saying something! Havlicek had using the back board down to a science! Nobody shot the bank shot off the glass better than Hondo!

[@hopeandlorensboykchasteen5348]

Havlicek, what a great player he was, l haven't forgotten!

[@Zach-gq9cw]

Rest in peace Hondo

[@winnhill3736]

I loved Hondo and was 1 of my favs.I loved his work ethic by constantly moving to help the offense work.I also remember him playing with a hurt shoulder in the playoffs against the Knicks.

[@fredflintstone2958]

I thought he would live forever...this feels so wrong..

[@fredflintstone2958]

@slip satch Still feels weird to me....how about you?

[@buckchile614]

@@fredflintstone2958 I would have thought that he'd live to be a 100

[@josecolon2201]

Rip no17 Hondo Havlicek

[@jdftwo1]

Lot of great Celtic players. They play the game like chess players

[@bradtdarius]

With all due respect to Larry Bird, Havlicek and Russell are my all-time favorite Celtics.

[@mikes3827]

@brad56t darius03 No need to "apologize" in admitting that. Heck, I think Larry Bird is the greatest ALL-AROUND basketball player in NBA history, but as much as I loved Bird, Dennis Johnson was/is my all-time favorite Celtic.

[@wilsonstone935]

Brad - ive watched 60s games and Havlicek's incredible assists to Russell remind me of Bird n Walton in 86, they had great chemistry

[@Mrd9960]

@M STUFF IT UP YOUR ASS IDIOT!!!

[@lloydkline1518]

Larry bird was super great basketball player:: too trash talker; larry bird got in fight with dr.j ;; bill lambeer fight with larry bird

[@lloydkline1518]

❤ tommy heinhson ;; sam jones !bob cousy etc etc

[@delvindelvintumbling8452]

Hondo rules

[@jimclancy6715]

Hondo Memory - watching him score 20+ pts in a playoff game against the Knicks while playing left-handed due to a separated shoulder - including free throws - see anyone do that lately ?

[@Milordvega]

None! The game was Game 5 of the 1973 Eastern Finals. The Knicks eventually won, which was too bad for Boston. Boston actually went 68-14 that season

[@wilsonstone935]

He scored 54 against Atlanta in series right before Knicks -if he'd been healthy they'd won in 73 too

[@danrode104]

John Havlichek was the best small forward in NBA history. From a knick fan.

[@lloydkline6946]

I remember when John havlicek was king of the nba basketball 🏀

[@buckchile614]

I think he'd be more of a shooting guard in today's NBA

[@lloydkline1518]

@@buckchile614 it doesn"t matter john havlichek played mid 1960s / mid 1970s ; i hear john havlichek was hurt during 1973 semi championship willis reed / ny knick vs dave cowen/ boston celtic ;; series??

[@nathanc30]

Uh Bird, LeBron,Dr.J, Dominique?

[@manny4552]

​@@nathanc30 havlicek was certainly better than wilkins

[@thewaymouth]

It's all over but the shouting: Hondo, gimme a break! ...Nelson, Cowens and Havlicek on a fast break through Bradlees! (The Super Sights and Sounds of the Seventies are calling me back home to Boston and my best decade. Thanks for the sweet run, John.)

[@delvindelvintumbling8452]

So true bro

[@bigdave1579]

I remember watching this game when I was a freshman in high school. I was a Bucks fan, but Hondo was making impossible shots. I had to beg my mom to stay up late on a school night to watch it.

[@delvindelvintumbling8452]

Rip Hondo havlicek

[@AntonioWhite-ef4ue]

Havilcek...Great human being and basketball player...Boston Celtics is one my top 3 favorite teams, my favorite player for the celtics is the "Chief" Robert parish, but also Bill Russell and John "Hondo" havilcek as well

[@suttonsplash14]

I love this series thanks!

[@waltwilliams7063]

2:58 excellent to see such a joyous paul "no layups" silas.

[@colinmccann3824]

RIP Hondo

[@DrJohnnyJ]

Can't believe he didn't live forever.

[@lloydkline1518]

John havlliceck forever on youtube

[@manny4552]

I hear ya

[@jingqi9106]

Michael Jordan won 6 titles. John Havlicek won 8.

[@jamesd.lethgo6988]

HEY BUD YOU MADE MY DAY MANY TIMES CAUSE YOU WERE A GREAT SPIRIT GIVEN TOO US BY GOD CAUSE OF ALL THE GIFTS HE GAVE YOU

[@rustyquoin]

Everything for me then was the Celtics. Rewatching this 74 game against the Bucks with Kareem and double overtime’s, was incredible. It’s almost like it was made up, or it was a Hollywood movie, because the true story could not be that dramatic. But it happened just like that, and it happened again and again. This game was incredible, but playoffs back then were almost mystical. I was always a Boston fan, andI I love those players who made life so exciting for me as a young person... Dave Cowens, Jo Jo white, and especially Johnny Havlicek. But when Kareem was traded to LA, oh boy, things hit the roof. The Lakers vs. The Celtics.

[@buckchile614]

Winning a game six in Boston must have been almost as sweet for Kareem as finally winning a game seven at the Garden.

[@buckeyewill2166]

The original Energizer Bunny in the flesh

[@williamweiss6128]

Loved John H!! Wait, also loved Lew when he dethroned Wilt. But, Willis, Unseld, Dr J, Issel, ABA greats.

[@steverenom.299]

Connie Hawkins........

[@calql8er]

Excuse me. Is this supposed to be about John Havlicek or Chris Mullen?

[@user-dv3do1od2r]

Oscar chocked down the stretch

[@krocodockle2544]

How many points would he have if he had been playing with a 3 pt line??

[@manny4552]

Great point

[@JosePremo0813]

Hondo my boi

[@thomasayer7511]

Love ya 17

[@garythompson9663]

How many players today(.........or any day for that matter!!!) could play every minute game after game after game!!!!!

[@wilsonstone935]

He played 58 minutes 2yrs later in the Phoenix game at 36

[@salaarfaiz3877]

Rip

[@youtuber3328]

to be TOTALLY honest i did do and/or probably will SOMEWHAT like john havlicek and he was elite

[@allenmollitor9188]

Here is an interesting fact; Havlicek parents rented a house from Phil and Joe Niekro's parents in Wheeling , Ohio. John, Phil and Joe were very competitive people testing each other on many times.

[@brandonmccomas5363]

He was a Buckeye in College

[@richardb1791]

You know, in Boston, we didn't really call him Hondo so much.

[@johnwhite2576]

lest be frank- Havlicek never got the respect and wont because of his skin color and style and vibe- his handle was weird, and had few moves,but he was ridiculously effective versatile, efficient and clutch...a winner..getting specific nobody shot a better leaner or used the glass better.

[@loydkline]

Jeff Mellon I hear had a great bank shot

[@keythjones9588]

Wheeling Ohio ✊🏿

[@ShunyamNiketana]

Was he ever timed in the mile run? I'll bet he could run it in sub-4:50.

[@garyduff8739]

It must be better than that. I ran 4:57 in high school as a mediocre baseball player who ran a lot when I wasn't on the bench.

[@lloydkline7245]

I remember john havlicek he is my hero the original Larry bird,

[@malikcotta9409]

The Cleveland Browns wanted him as a quarterback not a ride receiver

[@terryburns7500]

True, the Browns wanted him as a receiver. However, Woody Hayes spent 4 years trying to talk him into playing QB for the Buckeyes. And he had a LOT of pro interest in baseball coming out of high school, played 3 year of baseball at Ohio State.

[@manny4552]

He tried out for the browns at wide receiver

[@LazlosPlane]

STEVE ALLEN not Jack Paar was the original host of the "Tonight Show." Sloppy, inexcusable mistake.

[@delvindelvintumbling8452]

Chris mullin is the Left handed version of havlicek

[@fliegelalan]

Chris Mullin was no Hondo. Havlicek was the best 6 man I ever witnessed. Loved him at The Ohio State University too.

[@delvindelvintumbling8452]

So true brother

[@lloydkline3265]

@@fliegelalan wow, you saw John havlicek, John havlicek was a super star great role player ,chris Mullin was just a legendary great shooter

[@danrode104]

No he's not..

[@delvindelvintumbling8452]

To me he is

[@giantobsession3993]

Sorry, but Larry Bird joined the Celtics the next season.

[@jdftwo1]

I’ll take one Havlicek over ten lebrons,

[@eyewatch2see77]

REAL old school fans would take 1 Havlicek over 1 Jordan

[@senormedia]

Barry is a terrible commentator

[@andrewbaroch2141]

Who cares about TV shoes Get back to Hondo.