Los Angeles Lakers legend Jerry West gave a few candid words on the late John Havlicek, who died on Thursday at the age of 79 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. Havlicek played all his 16 years of NBA service with the Boston Celtics, enduring many a battle with his fellow Hall of Famer.
“The thing with John, he competed against you at the highest level and he wanted to win badly,” West told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. “But he was always a really nice person. I don’t think that I ever heard anyone say a bad word about John. He was pleasant off the court, and pleasant on it. But he really, really competed against you.”
“Playing in Boston, with so many great teams and so much success winning titles, the legend of John grew. He improved a lot through his career. It was a sign of how hard he worked at his game. Toward the end of his career, he became a terrific scorer.”
Bill Russell, who played with him for part of his career, called Havlicek “not just a teammate and a great guy, but he was family.”
It is getting difficult each time I hear about another contemporary that passes! What is harder is when we lose guys like John Havlicek, he was not just a teammate & a great guy, but he was family. That is how our @celtics teams were. #RIP Hondo @NBA #RIPJohnHavlicek @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/VP9MGPjrmZ
— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) April 26, 2019
The Celtics also honored his memory to the greatest extent, noting his heart, his hustle, and his competitive spirit.
“His defining traits as a player were his relentless hustle and wholehearted commitment to team over self,” a team statement read. “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.”
Havlicek was selected by the Celtics with the seventh pick in the 1962 NBA Draft out of Ohio State, which he won an NCAA title with in 1960.
Hondo was named the 1974 NBA Finals MVP, was a 13-time NBA All-Star (one of nine players in NBA history to be an All-Star in 13 straight seasons) and was a member of 11 All-NBA teams and eight All-Defensive teams — a great resume in every angle.
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