Boston Celtics Great John Havlicek Dead At 79

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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) Boston Celtics great John Havlicek has died at the age of 79 Thursday.

He died from complications from Parkinson's Disease in Jupiter, Florida.

Considered one of the team's all-time leading scorer, Havlicek completed 16 seasons with the Boston Celtics, winning eight NBA championships, four of them during his first four seasons.

The All-American Basketball Hall of Famer was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

Havlicek spent all 16 seasons of his NBA career with the Celtics and won eight NBA titles.

According to ESPN "Havlicek stole the ball," is considered one of most famed play-by-play cries in sports history, shouted by sports broadcaster Johnny Most in the closing seconds of Game 7 of the 1965 Eastern Conference Finals between the defending champion Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers.

In the video below Havlicek can be seen stealing the ball away from the 76ers pass in the final seconds of the game to win by one-point.

Full Statement From The Boston Celtics

John Havlicek is one of the most accomplished players in Boston Celtics history, and the face of many of the franchise’s signature moments. He was a great champion both on the court and in the community, winning 8 NBA championships and an NBA Finals MVP, while holding Celtics career records for points scored and games played. Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, he is enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame and his retired #17 hangs in the Garden rafters. His defining traits as a player were his relentless hustle and wholehearted commitment to team over self. He was extraordinarily thoughtful and generous, both on a personal level and for those in need, as illustrated by his commitment to raising money for The Genesis Foundation for Children for over three decades through his fishing tournament. John was kind and considerate, humble and gracious. He was a champion in every sense, and as we join his family, friends, and fans in mourning his loss, we are thankful for all the joy and inspiration he brought to us.

WBZ NewsRadio's Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) reports.


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