American · Jersey City, New Jersey · Born 26 August 1934American basketball player and coach who won 8 NBA championships as a player with the Boston Celtics and 2 more as their head coach.
Thomas William Heinsohn was born in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1934. Boston Celtics drafted him in 1956 from Holy Cross. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 1957 — the same year the Celtics won his first NBA championship. His playing career produced six All-Star appearances and eight NBA championships as either player or coach with Boston (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 as player; 1974, 1976 as coach). He averaged 18.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. He was selected to six All-Star games. After retiring as a player, he coached the Celtics from 1969 to 1978, winning two more championships (1974, 1976) — giving him a total of 10 championships associated with the franchise across all roles including broadcasting. He later became a beloved television broadcaster for the Celtics, renowned for his unabashedly partisan commentary. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1986. He died in November 2020 aged 86. His total connection to the Celtics organisation across seven decades makes him the defining figure in franchise history alongside Red Auerbach and Bill Russell.
Eight-time NBA champion as player and coach with Boston Celtics
How They Played
Power forward known for clutch shooting and rebounding
Lasting Impact
Celtic legend who won championships as player, coach, and broadcaster
Career Honours
- NBA Champion 8x (player and coach)
- All-Star 6x
- Rookie of the Year (1957)
- Hall of Fame (1986)
| Club | Period | Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | 1956–1965 | 654 |
American Athletes