The Boston Celtics respected Hall of Famer John Havlicek before their playoff amusement against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night, watching a moment of quietness in advance and after that demonstrating a feature video amid the first commercial break.
The Celtics likewise wore black warmup T-shirts bearing Havlicek’s No. 17.
The leading scorer in the history of the NBA’s most-decorated franchise, Havlicek passed on a week ago at 79 years old. For the Celtics’ first diversion back in Boston from that point forward, the group set remembrance books in the concourse so fans could include their memories.
“Hondo” Havlicek played 16 seasons in a Celtics uniform and won titles in eight of them – the first six in the Bill Russell time and afterward two more as the pioneer of a group with Jo Jo White and Dave Cowens. Havlicek, who was the 1974 NBA Finals MVP, was enlisted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984 and named one of the 50 biggest players of the NBA’s first 50 years.
However, he is best associated with his take to secure the 1965 Eastern Conference finals and the call from long-term Celtics radio play-by-play man Johnny Most, who shouted, “Havlicek stole the ball!” The replay amid the Havlicek tribute on Friday drew commendation from the group before Game 3 of the second-round series against Milwaukee.
After the video, fans allowed a 30-second standing ovation while a spotlight shone on the banner with Havlicek’s retired No. 17.