On Nov. 9, the Boston Celtics suddenly lost one of their legendary faces who was a player, coach, and longtime broadcaster for the team. 9. On Christmas Day, the boys from “Beantown” said goodbye to another legend won helped them win a plethora of titles both as a player and coach.
On Friday morning, the Celtics before
their Christmas Day national television tilt versus the Brooklyn Nets got the sad
news that Hall of Famer K.C. Jones died at an assisted living center in Connecticut,
which was confirmed by his family.
Jones is survived by his wife of four
decades Ellen, and their son K.C. Jones (Kipper) III, and his five children other
children (Leslie, Kelly, Bryna, Holly, and Christopher) from his first wife Beverly
Cain, who he was married to for 18 years (1960-78).
Jones had been battling Alzheimer’s
disease, and for the past several years has received care for the disease at the
aforementioned living facility.
He is the third Hall of Famer from the
1965 Celtics’ title team to die this year: the previously mentioned Mr.
Heinsohn on Nov. 9 and fellow Hall of Famer John Thompson, who too had greater
success as a coach as the leader of the Georgetown Hoyas, who died in Aug. 30.
Before their 123-95 loss on Christmas Day
versus the Brooklyn Nets (2-0) on ABC, the Celtics (1-1) held a moment of
silence in remembrance of Jones, who is one of seven players in NBA history to
have won an NCAA championship, an NBA championship, and an Olympic gold medal.
In a report from ESPN/ABC sideline
reporter Ariel Helwani during the game between the
Celtics and Nets, Jones’ daughter Bryna noted on Twitter that her dad was born
on May 25, 1932, died on Dec. 25, 2020, and wore No. 25 in his career with the
Celtics saying, “he loves that number.”
During the quarter break between the third
and fourth quarters, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens in speaking about the
passing of Jones, and the passing of Mr. Heinsohn back in November said, “Merry
Christmas to all the Celtics fans we wish were here, and specifically to the Jones
family and the Heinsohn. Huge losses for all of us. We certainly miss you. We
love you and we’re thinking about you today.”
Two nights before in their 122-121 win versus the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night on TNT, the Celtics held a moment of silence in remembrance of the Celtics’ Hall of Famer and Jones’ teammate in the 1950s and 1960s, and his coach in the 1970s Tom Heinsohn, who died on Nov. 9.
Jones, who was elected to the U.S. Olympic
Hall of Fame in 1986; the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1989; and to the
College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 won two NCAA titles (1955 and 1956) as
a member of the University of San Francisco, playing alongside fellow Celtics
teammate and Hall of Famer Bill Russell. The two also led Team USA to a gold
medal at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia.
With the Celtics, Jones, a Second-Round
pick by the team in 1956 won 11 of his 12 titles with the Celtics, winning eight
as a player in his nine NBA seasons with the C’s (1958-67), the third most in
NBA history. He won a titles in his five seasons as a Celtics assistant coach
(1978-83) and two more as the head coach (1984 and 1986) in his five seasons (1983-88)
as the Celtics’ sideline leader of Hall of Fame trio of Larry Bird, Kevin
McHale, and Robert Parish, who also won five Atlantic Division titles in that
span as well. The Celtics during that time represented the Eastern Conference
in the NBA Finals for four straight seasons (1984-87).
His No. 25 is one of 24 numbers that
Celtics have retired and are high above the floor of TD Garden in Boston, MA.
“K.C. Jones was among the most decorated
champions in the history of our game,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a
statement on Friday. “His relentless defense as a player and remarkable poise
as a coach made him essential to 12 NBA championship teams, including 11 with
the Boston Celtics. From winning two NCAA titles to earning an Olympic gold
medal to helping the Celtics win eight consecutive NBA Finals during his Hall
of Fame career, K.C. extraordinary accomplishments and impact will long be
remembered. Our thoughts are with K.C.’s loved ones and the entire Celtics
organization.”
Only Russell (11) and fellow teammate and
Hall of Famer Sam Jones (10) have won more NBA titles as players than K.C.
Jones.
“I just received a call letting me know my
x-roommate/teammate & most of all friend the great KC Jones pass this
morning. Prayers to his family. We have been friends from almost 60yrs… Friends
for life #2020Usuck! #RIP @NBA @Celtics.”
Jones is one of seven players (Russell and
Sam Jones, and fellow Hall of Famers Clyde Lovellette, Jerry Lucas, Earvin “Magic”
Johnson, and Michael Jordan, and Quinn Buckner) in basketball history to win an
NCAA championship, an NBA championship, and an Olympic Gold Medal.
Following his retirement as a player in
1967, Jones’ coaching journey began in college as the head coach at Brandeis
University (1967-1970) and then as an assistant coach at Harvard University for
one season before joining the Los Angeles Lakers as an assistant in the
1971-72, where he earned another championship ring. Jones also had head
coaching stints with the San Diego Conquistadors (1972-73) of the ABA and led
the then Washington Capitals/Bullets (now Wizards) from 1973-76, coaching them
to the 1975 NBA Finals. He then was an assistant coach for one season with the Milwaukee
Bucks (1976-77) before going on to the Celtics and making all the
aforementioned history he made as a coach.
That history began when Jones won his 10th
title with the Celtics as an assistant on fellow Hall of Famer Bill Fitch’s staff
in 1981.
Jones took over for Fitch three years
later and over the next five seasons never won fewer than 57 games in the
regular season or failed to lead the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals.
“He was a great coach to work for. He was
a class act, and yet he had this competitive edge that was fierce,” Celtics
President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge, who played for the team from
1981-88 when Jones was an assistant coach and then head coach said before
Friday’s loss versus the Nets.
“He had this gentleness and kindness. He
was a great leader of men. I looked to him as a mentor, and a friend. Much more
than a coach.”
Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle,
who was coached by Jones with the Celtics from 1984-87, winning a title as a
member of the 1986 squad said Jones was a “beautiful man who knew the balance
between structure for a team and giving the players the freedom to play.”
ESPN play-by-play analyst Mark Jones noted
in the Celtics loss versus the Nets on Friday that Coach Jones in his time with
the Celtics was a man of “very few words.”
In speaking with Celtics radio commentator
and fellow champion on the Celtics teams in the 1980s Cedric Maxwell said that
Jones as a coach was a man of “very few words, terse and quiet.” But when he
summoned you to sit beside him on a plane ride, it was known as being “in the
hot seat.” When you were in that hot seat, Coach Jones had something urgent and
important to tell you.”
Color analyst Doris Burke mentioned during
Friday’s telecast that in reaching out to former longtime Celtics beat writer
Jackie MacMullan, who now works for ESPN.com telling about how Larry Bird was
not happy when the change was made where Jones replaced Fitch as head coach of
the Celtics back in the 1980s. Bird loved Coach Fitch, his teammates, not so
much.
There was one story of how Bird in a tight
game says that he demanded the ball and that everyone else get out of the way.
Coach Jones said to Bird to take a seat on the sidelines. In the huddle, it is
Jones who says to the team to get the ball to Bird and for everyone else to get
out of the way.
Burke said to that moment, “That’s
intelligence untouched by the great K.C. Jones.”
After his time with the Celtics, Jones then coached for the then Seattle Supersonics (1989-92) first as an assistant and then as a head coach for two seasons. He then was an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons (1994-95) before returning to the Celtics as an assistant for the 1996-97 seasons. Jones concluded his coaching career as the head coach of the New England Blizzards of the women’s American Basketball League in its final 1.5 seasons of existence.
Jones compiled a 522-252 record in his NBA
coaching career in the regular season with the Bullets/Capital, Celtics, and
Supersonics (81-57 mark in playoffs) is also one of three people in NBA history
(Atlanta Hawks’ Rajon Rondo and Lovellette) to have won a title with the
Celtics and Lakers.
In a time in our nation where equal
opportunity has been at the forefront of our subconsciousness, especially in
pro sports when it comes to seeing more minority representation in ownership and
head coaching, when Jones got his chance, he made the most of it. He grinded his
way up the coaching ranks in both college and the pros as an assistant and then
as a head coach first where he really etched his name in the NBA record books
with the Celtics.
“KC Jones was the first Black Coach I ever
saw on TV,” Jay Scott Smith tweeted @JayScottSmith on Friday about the impact
Jones had on him. “That he was the coach of the team I hated with a passion
didn’t matter. I didn’t know until I was in college that dude was a Hall of
Fame player with eight rings and played w/Bill Russell in College & the
NBA.” #RIPKCJones.
Bill @mrcoaster1 tweeted those same
sentiments saying of Jones, “Sorry to hear of KC Jones’ passing. I loved watching
him as a player and coach and the impact he had on those great Celtics teams.
Gone, but never forgotten”
Ben Jackson tweeted @BJacksonWrites, “Sad
to read this. I was fortunate enough to have a couple of conversations with
K.C. Jones when I was a teenager. He was kind and generous with the time and
advice. RIP.”
Dr. Rob O’Lynn tweeted @DrRobOlynn, “KC
Jones was a Celtic through and through, first as a player and then as a coach.
He was a fierce competitor who respected his team and the game. I will always
be a fan of Doc [Rivers] and Brad [Stevens], however I prized KC’s coach
trading card as a kid,” @celtics #RIPKCJones.
In early November, the Boston Celtics said
goodbye to one of the pillars of their organization in the great Tommy
Heinsohn. On Christmas Day, they said goodbye to another legend of their
organization in K.C. Jones.
The two men were champions as players and
then as head coaches. They were staples for over two decades, over five decades
in the case of Heinsohn. They did a lot of winning. A lot of celebrating with
the organization and the fans of “Beantown” as a result of those wins. More
than anything, they created a lot of lasting memories for the residents of
Boston, MA and their families that will live forever.
In a statement released on Friday, the
Celtics said, “Where K.C. Jones went, winning was sure to follow. K.C.-his
given name-was a twelve-time NBA champion as a player and coach, a two-time
NCAA champion, and a Gold medal-winning Olympian and Hall of Famer. In NBA
history, only teammates Bill Russell and Sam Jones have more championship rings
during their playing careers. K.C. along with Russell, Clyde Lovellette, Jerry
Lucas, Quinn Buckner, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and Michael Jordan, are the only players
in history to achieve basketball’s “Triple Crown”—winning an NCAA Championship,
an NBA Championship, and an Olympic Gold Medal. His number 25 has hung from the
rafters since 1967.”
“K.C.’s coaching career was similarly
illustrious. He was named to lead the Celtics in 1983, beginning what is one of
the most remarkable head coaching runs the NBA has seen. K.C. helmed the
Celtics for two of the most memorable seasons in the team’s rich history, first
leading the team to a championship in 1984 over the Lakers during a peak of
that soared rivalry. Two seasons later, he led what many consider the greatest
team in NBA history, the 1986 Champion Boston Celtics. These were the
highlights of an astonishing four consecutive seasons in the NBA Finals, one of
the most impressive and beloved Celtics eras.”
“K.C. demonstrated that one could be both
a fierce competitor and a gentleman in every sense of the word. He made his
teammates better, and he got the most out of the players he coached. Never one
to seek credit, his glory was found in the most fundamental of basketball
ideals -- being part of a winning team. The Celtics family mourns his loss, as
we celebrate his remarkable career and life.”
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