1974 John Havlicek FMVP Breakdown（一）

In the honor roll of the Boston Celtics, John Havlicek is a name you cannot skip. Born in 1940 in Ohio, he starred at Ohio State alongside Jerry Lucas and Bob Knight. In the 1962 NBA Draft the Celtics took him 7th overall; the same year the MLB Boston Red Sox also drafted him—Havlicek was a rare two-sport rookie.

He spent his entire 18-year career (1962–1980) with one franchise, winning eight titles and serving as the bridge that carried the Celtics from the 1960s into the 1970s. In Game 7 of the 1969 Finals, with Boston up by one, he picked Sam Jones' inbounds pass out of the air; the broadcaster screamed "Havlicek stole the ball!"—a line replayed for decades as one of the signature sounds of NBA broadcasts.

In the 1974 Finals, past 30, Havlicek averaged 20-plus points a game and earned Finals MVP, leading Boston back to the top. He long held the franchise scoring record until Paul Pierce passed him. He was the purest embodiment of Celtic team basketball: never flashy, never stat-chasing, always there when it mattered.

Related Reading

• 1974 NBA Finals MVP: John Havlicek (Boston Celtics)
• 1974 Finals MVP: Havlicek at 34 Leads Boston Back to the Summit
• Classic Battles: Havlicek’s Playoff Moments
• Two-Sport Rookie: Drafted by Both the NBA Celtics and MLB Red Sox
• The Eight-Ring Dynasty: Havlicek and the Passing of the Celtic Torch