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Boston Celtics: 25 Best Players To Play For The Celtics

By Phil Watson

Apr 24, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of TD Garden prior to the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of TD Garden prior to the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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BOSTON, MA – CIRCA 1964: Tom Heinsohn #15 and head coach Red Auerbach of the Boston Celtics center, celebrate after a victory during an NBA basketball game circa 1964 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Heinsohn played for the Celtics from 1956-65. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – CIRCA 1964: Tom Heinsohn #15 and head coach Red Auerbach of the Boston Celtics center, celebrate after a victory during an NBA basketball game circa 1964 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Heinsohn played for the Celtics from 1956-65. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

18. <strong> How Acquired: </strong>Territorial selection from Holy Cross, 1956 NBA Draft. PF-SF. 1956-65. Tom Heinsohn. 11. player

The Boston Celtics took Holy Cross star Tom Heinsohn as a territorial pick in the 1956 NBA Draft and he returned that faith in a huge way.

Heinsohn had been a two-time All-American at Holy Cross, averaging 27.4 points and 21.1 rebounds as a senior, and the Celtics opted to keep him close to home.

BOS_11_HEINSOHN
BOS_11_HEINSOHN /

The NBA Rookie of the Year in 1956-57, Heinsohn was also a six-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA selection for the Celtics while playing on eight championship teams.

In 52 NBA Finals games, Heinsohn averaged 19.9 points and 8.9 rebounds.

He was fourth in the NBA in free-throw shooting in both 1962-63 and 1963-64.

Heinsohn, who was very active in the early days of the players’ union, was not offered a contract after the 1964-65 season and retired in September 1965.

In nine seasons with Boston, he averaged 18.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 29.4 minutes per game, shooting 40.5 percent from the floor and 79 percent from the foul line.

He was hired to coach the Celtics in September 1969 and was the NBA Coach of the Year in 1972-73. He led Boston to a pair of championships in 1974 and 1976 before he was fired in January 1978.

In parts of nine seasons, he guided the Celtics to a 427-263 record.

Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1986, Heinsohn was also honored with induction as a coach in 2015.

Next: Easy Ed A Pre-Dynasty Star

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