Pro Sports

Hall of Famer Tommy Heinsohn, 'ultimate Celtic,' dies at 86

Posted November 10, 2020 6:00 am

The Associated Press

FILE - This Sept. 30, 2018, file photo shows former Boston Celtics great Tommy Heinsohn prior to a preseason basketball game in Boston. Tommy Heinsohn, who as a Boston Celtics player, coach and broadcaster was with the team for all 17 of its NBA championships, has died. He was 86. The team confirmed Heinsohn's death on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) The Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) - Tommy Heinsohn, who as a Boston Celtics player, coach and broadcaster over more than 60 years was with the team for all 17 of its NBA championships, died Tuesday. He was 86.

'œThis is a devastating loss,'ť the team's owners said in a statement. 'œTommy was the ultimate Celtic. For the past 18 years, our ownership group has relied hugely on Tommy's advice and insights and have reveled in his hundreds of stories about Red Auerbach, Bill Russell, and how the Celtics became a dynasty. He will be remembered forever.'ť

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver hailed Heinsohn for being 'œsynonymous with success,'ť noting that he was one of the few basketball greats inducted to the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach, before continuing his career in broadcasting.

'œCeltics games will not be the same without Tommy, and he will be dearly missed by those who share his fervor for basketball,'ť Silver said.

A Holy Cross product who was a territorial draft pick by the Celtics in 1956, Heinsohn beat out teammate Russell for the NBA's rookie of the year award that season and tallied 39 points with 23 rebounds in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the St. Louis Hawks.

It was the franchise's first title - and the first of eight in nine years for Heinsohn and Russell. Heinsohn was the team's leading scorer in four of the championship seasons.

'œWe were rookies together and friends for life. In life there are a limited number of true friends, today I lost one. RIP Heiny,'ť Russell wrote on Twitter.

Heinsohn retired in 1965 with totals of 12,194 points and 5,749 rebounds and remained with the team as a broadcaster. Celtics patriarch Auerbach tabbed him to be the coach in 1969, succeeding Russell.

Heinsohn was the NBA coach of the year in 1973, when the team won a then-record 68 games. The Celtics added championships in 1974 and '76. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1986 and as a coach in 2015, just the fourth person elected as both.

Shortly after retiring as a coach in 1979, he rejoined the team's broadcasts, where his unapologetic homerism has endeared him to Celtics fans ever since.

'œIt's hard to imagine the Boston Celtics without Tommy Heinsohn,'ť the team said in a statement. 'œThere isn't a generation of Celtics fans for whom Tommy's presence hasn't been felt. He is the only person to be an active participant in each of the Celtics' 17 world championships, an extraordinary and singular legacy."

It extended beyond basketball to business. The National Basketball Players Association called Heinsohn one of its 'œfounding fathers,'ť saying it would not be here 'œwithout his commitment and passion for players' rights and for that, we are forever grateful.'ť

'œNot only did Tommy have an incredible career in the NBA as a player, coach and broadcaster, but closer to our home, he was instrumental in creating our union, taking the baton from his friend and teammate Bob Cousy and serving as our President from 1958-66,'ť the NBPA added.

'œTommy was truly a pioneer in player empowerment, championing the notion of free agency at a time when it was highly controversial and unpopular, and fighting to create our NBA Players' Pension Plan, under which generations of players have thrived.'ť

Born Aug. 26, 1934, in Jersey City, New Jersey, Thomas William Heinsohn started winning not long after arriving in New England. He led Holy Cross to the 1954 NIT championship and was an All-American the following two seasons.

Once he moved on to Boston, he went to 10 All-Star Games, six as a player and four more as a coach, a role that seemed to come naturally after his years playing under Auerbach.

"He proved to be a true players' coach, respected and admired by many, but especially the people of Boston and Celtics fans everywhere,'ť Hall of Fame President and CEO John Doleva said.

Younger generations of fans came to love him through his commentary, whether calling it straight for CBS while working the NBA Finals in the 1980s, or with his Celtics bias sprinkled in during his years alongside Mike Gorman for local coverage.

'œRoughly 2800 times I sat down with Tommy to broadcast a game. Every time it was special,'ť Gorman wrote on Twitter. 'œHOF player...HOF coach...HOF partner. Celtics Nation has lost its finest voice. Rest In Peace my friend. It has been the privilege of my professional life to be the Mike in Mike & Tommy.'ť

___

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

FILE - In this Sept. 11, 2015, file photo, Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Tommy Heinsohn gestures during the enshrinement ceremony for the Class of 2015 at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. Tommy Heinsohn, who as a Boston Celtics player, coach and broadcaster was with the team for all 17 of its NBA championships, has died. He was 86.The team confirmed Heinsohn's death on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this April 10, 1958, file photo, Tommy Heinsohn, (15) of the Boston Celtics drives against Bob Pettit, left, of the St. Louis Hawks in their National Basketball Association playoff game at Boston Garden in Boston. At right is Jack McMahon (21) of the Hawks. Tommy Heinsohn, who as a Boston Celtics player, coach and broadcaster was with the team for all 17 of its NBA championships, has died. He was 86.The team confirmed Heinsohn's death on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020.(AP Photo/J. Walter Green, File) The Associated Press

FILE - Boston Celtics' Tommy Heinsohn, center, is swarmed by fans after the Celtics defeated the St. Louis Hawks to win the NBA championship in Boston, in this April 13, 1957, file photo. Tommy Heinsohn, who as a Boston Celtics player, coach and broadcaster was with the team for all 17 of its NBA championships, has died. He was 86. The team confirmed Heinsohn's death on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020. (AP Photo, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this April 14, 1972, file photo, Boston Celtics coach Tommy Heinsohn shouts instructions during a game against the New York Knickerbockers in the NBA semifinals in Boston. Tommy Heinsohn, who as a Boston Celtics player, coach and broadcaster was with the team for all 17 of its NBA championships, has died. He was 86. The team confirmed Heinsohn's death on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Frank C. Curtin, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this April 9, 1964, Boston Celtics, from left, Bill Russell, coach Red Auerbach, Tommy Heinsohn, Jim Locustoff, and K.C. Jones celebrate in the locker room after clinching their eighth straight Eastern Division playoff title at the Boston Garden in Boston. Tommy Heinsohn, who as a Boston Celtics player, coach and broadcaster was with the team for all 17 of its NBA championships, has died. He was 86. The team confirmed Heinsohn's death on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020. (AP Photo, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this March 16, 2011, file photo, Boston Celtics broadcaster Tommy Heinsohn smiles as he receives a commemorative jersey prior to an NBA basketball game between the Celtics and the Indiana Pacers in Boston. Tommy Heinsohn, who as a Boston Celtics player, coach and broadcaster was with the team for all 17 of its NBA championships, has died. He was 86. The team confirmed Heinsohn's death on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this March 16, 2011, file photo, Boston Celtics broadcasters Tommy Heinsohn, left, and Mike Gorman speak on camera as fans wearing photos of the broadcasters' faces stand behind the two, prior to an NBA basketball game between the Celtics and the Indiana Pacers in Boston. The two were celebrating 30 years as a broadcast tandem. Tommy Heinsohn, who as a Boston Celtics player, coach and broadcaster was with the team for all 17 of its NBA championships, has died. He was 86. The team confirmed Heinsohn's death on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020.(AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Categories
Basketball Content Providers NBA Pro Sports Sports Sports Leagues Sports Types

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.