John Havlicek was an American professional basketball player best known for being a member of the American professional basketball team Boston Celtics. It did not take long for John to be recognized as one of the most valuable players in the team after he was drafted by the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1962. He rose to fame and became one of the court’s head-turners in every game after he competed for 16 seasons and won 8 NBA championships. In addition to his legendary gaming history, he was one of the only 3 NBA players who acquired an unmatched record of 8-0 in the NBA Finals series.
He was inducted as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984 and was being looked up to by many as one of the greatest players in history. A few years before his retirement, Havlicek was able to strike and acquire more points in the NBA. He was the Celtics’ all-time leader in most of the games played during the 1970-71 season wherein his average score per game was at 28.9 points. During the 1974 NBA Championship, Boston Celtics defeated the Western Conference champion Milwaukee Bucks at 4-3 and Havlicek was named the NBA Finals MVP at the time.
Age
John was born on April 8, 1940.
Died
John Havlicek died at the age of 79 on April 25, 2019, in Jupiter, Florida. He had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease during his final years and died just 17 days after celebrated his 79th birthday.
Sun Sign
Aries
Nationality
Education
He went to Bridgeport High School, Bridgeport, Ohio, United States. After high school, he attended the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio and graduated in 1962.
In the early 1990s, John went to the University of Virginia for a basketball scholarship.
Manager
He did not have any personal manager or agent back then. John was drafted and represented by both Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) in 1962.
Position
- Small forward
- Shooting guard
Shirt Number
17 – Boston Celtics
Girlfriend / Spouse
John Havlicek had dated –
- Beth Havlicek (1967-2019) – John Havlicek started a relationship with Beth when they were both attending the Ohio State University. The couple tied the knot in 1967. They had a son named Chris and a daughter named Jill.
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- Tall Stature
- Downward Pointed Nose
- Square-shaped Jawline
Brand Endorsements
John Havlicek had appeared in the TV commercials for popular brands such as Diet Rite Cola.
Best Known For
Having played for Boston Celtics in NBA
First Basketball Match
John Havlicek made his first professional debut as part of the Boston Celtics in the 1962-63 season for the NBA World Championship Series.
First TV Show
Other than the broadcast of his basketball matches, he made his first TV show appearance as ‘Himself’ on the talk show The Joey Bishop Show in 1969.
John Havlicek Facts
- He was a three-sport athlete at Bridgeport High School.
- He was the first player to score 1,000 points in 16 consecutive seasons during the 1970-71 season.
- John finished his career being the Boston Celtics’ all-time leading scorer.
- Due to his exceptional defensive skills, he was well-praised and was named to 5 NBA all-defensive teams.
- In his 16-year gaming career, he was named to 13 all-star teams, making him one of the most respected professional basketball players in history.
- He was selected as one of the “50 Greatest Players in NBA History” in 1997.
- He was labeled the 14th best player of all-time in the Book of Basketball: The NBA According to the Sports Guy by .
- His jersey number was worn by his fellow Hall of Famer Chris Mullin to honor him as one of the greatest players in NBA history.
- He invested his money on Wendy’s fast food chain after his retirement from the basketball industry.
- He was not active on social media.
Featured Image by Unknown / / Public Domain
Facts of John Joseph Havlicek
- Gender Male
- full nameJohn Joseph Havlicek
- middle nameJoseph
- nicknamesHondo
- birthplaceMartins Ferry, Ohio, United States
- Date of Birth April 08, 1940
- Age 84 years 4 months
- Horoscope Aries
- Lucky Number 8
- Lucky Stone Diamond
- Lucky Color Red
- Best Match for Marriage Leo
- ethnicity / ethnic backgroundCzechoslovakian and Croatian
- nationalityAmerican
- net worth$100,000 – $1Million
- professionProfessional Basketball Player
- weight92 kg or 203 lbs
- height6 ft 5 in or 195.5 cm
- hair colorBlack
- eye colorBlue
- body type / buildAthletic
- high schoolBridgeport High School
- collegeOhio State University