Breaking News
Hall of Famer Tom Heinsohn — who won 10 titles for the Boston Celtics as a player and coach — has died, according to multiple reports. He was 86.
Heinsohn is the only person to have ties to each of the Celtics’ 17 championships … going on to spend 30 years as a beloved color commentator after his coaching career.
Tom was a 6-time All-Star on the court … winning Rookie of the Year honors in 1957. Heinsohn — AKA “Tommy Gun” — averaged 18.6 points in 654 games in his career.
He retired as a player in 1965 … and the Celtics retired his #15 jersey a year later.
Heinsohn spent 9 seasons as Celtics head coach from 1969-78 — winning titles in 1974 and 1976 — and was named Coach of the Year in 1973.
Heinsohn was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1986 … and was later recognized for his coaching career in 2015.
Ex-Celtics star Isaiah Thomas mourned the loss on Tuesday … saying, “Damn RIP Tommy Heinsohn!!!”
“‘The Little guy’ that’s the nickname he gave me. Will miss his voice and everything he brought to the game especially Celtics basketball.”
RIP