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Tom Heinsohn
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Position | Forward/Center |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Ack-Ack |
| Height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Weight | 218 lb (99 kg) |
| Nationality | USA |
| Born | August 26, 1934  Jersey City, New Jersey |
| High school | St. Michael's (Jersey City, N.J.) |
| College | Holy Cross (1953-1956) |
| Draft | territorial pick, 1956 Boston Celtics |
| Pro career | 1956–1965 |
| Former teams | Boston Celtics (1956–1965) |
| Hall of Fame | 1986 |
Thomas William Heinsohn (born August 26, 1934) is a former professional basketball player, known for his time as a player on the Boston Celtics National Basketball Association (NBA) team. He also coached the team from 1970 to 1978. He is currently the color commentator on the Celtics' television broadcasts on Fox Sports New England (now Comcast Sportsnet New England).
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Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Heinsohn was a standout at St. Michael's High School in nearby Union City. He accepted a scholarship to Holy Cross and became the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,789 points, an average of 22.1 points per game. During his senior year, Heinsohn scored a school record 51 points in a game against Boston College.
In 1956, Heinsohn was chosen as the Boston Celtics 'regional', or 'territorial', draft pick. In his first season, Heinsohn played in an NBA All-Star Game, was named the NBA Rookie of the Year, and won his first championship ring. He was part of a Celtics squad that won eight NBA titles in nine years, including eight in a row between 1959 and 1966. In NBA history, only teammates Bill Russell and Sam Jones won more championship rings during their playing careers. During his playing career, Heinsohn was named to six All-Star teams. On the day his teammate and fellow Holy Cross Crusader Bob Cousy retired, Heinsohn scored his 10,000th career point. His number 15 was retired by the Celtics in 1965.
Off the court, Heinsohn played an important leadership role in the NBA Players Association. He was the association's second president (following founding president Bob Cousy), and was instrumental in the league's acceptance of free agency following a showdown at the All-Star game in 1964, in which the All-Star players, led by Heinsohn, threatened to strike.
After his playing days were over, Heinsohn became the Celtics' head coach. He led the team to a league best 68-14 record during the 1972-1973 season and was named Coach of the Year, although Boston was upset in the playoffs. The next season Heinsohn and the Celtics won the championship, and they claimed another title in 1976. He accumulated a career coaching record of 427-263.
In 1981, the now-retired Heinsohn joined Mike Gorman as color commentator in the Celtics' TV broadcasts; they have since become one of the longest-tenured tandems in sports broadcasting history. For a time in the 1980s, he was in the same capacity during CBS' coverage of the NBA Finals (with Dick Stockton). Occasionally, Bob Cousy makes appearances with the tandem of Gorman and Heinsohn.
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For more details on this topic, see NBA on CBS.
He also points out players who display extra hustle and are willing to "risk life and limb" to help the team by giving them "Tommy Points". One player in each game has exceptional play and hustle highlighted for the "Tommy Award".
Away from the court, Heinsohn enjoys painting and playing golf; he once headed a life insurance company.
- 1957 Rookie of the Year
- Six-time NBA All-Star
- 1973 Coach of the Year
- Named to the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1986
- Recipient of the 1995 Jack McMahon Award by the National Basketball Coaches Association
- Tommy Heinsohn's Basketball Hall of Fame profile
- Heinsohn's bio at NBA.com
- A story from SportsCentral about Heinsohn
- Tommy Points handed out by Tommy Heinsohn
- Actual quotes from Tommy Heinsohn during Boston Celtics games
| Preceded by Maurice Stokes |
NBA Rookie of the Year 1957 |
Succeeded by Woody Sauldsberry |
| Preceded by Bill Russell |
Boston Celtics Head Coach 1969–1978 |
Succeeded by Satch Sanders |
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Categories: 1934 births | Living people | People from Jersey City | American basketball players | American basketball coaches | Boston Celtics players | Boston Celtics coaches | Basketball Hall of Fame | Sports Hall of Fame of New Jersey | National Basketball Association broadcasters | Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball players | College of the Holy Cross alumni