His pro career spanned from 1962 to 1978. As a Celtic fan, I followed him closely from elementary school to young adulthood. Kind of feel a special bond with players like him that I grew up with.
My high school friends and I, all Celtics fans, savored the improbable 1969 championship in seven games over the Lakers. The classic fifth game, a triple overtime victory, against Phoenix came on a Friday evening in June, 1976, at the end of my first week of work at a job I would hold for over 38 years. If you watched that game, you will never forget it. Life was changing dramatically, but Havlicek was a constant.
I loved the way he played. It was intense, urgent, non-stop movement. Run, run, run. Perfect for the uptempo Celtics. Like many others, I tried to emulate that style, with (very) limited success.
He played before the arrival of the three point line and hence his game was almost entirely what we now call the midrange game. He played it to perfection. Well not quite, but they said he had no conscience. Meaning, he always thought his next shot was going in.
I would have liked to have met him. Whenever I heard him speak, he seemed affable, approachable, intelligent, softspoken, and kind. His calmness off the court was in stark contrast to his frenetic pace on the court.
Sad to see him go.
