It's a sad day in Boston sports. Celtics legend Tommy Heinsohn has died at age 86, John Powers of the Boston Globe reports.
Heinsohn had been involved in the Celtics organization in one capacity or another for more than six decades. He won eight championships as a player during a nine-season career from 1956-65. He was a six-time All-Star, four-time Second Team All-NBA player, and the 1956-57 Rookie of the Year. His No. 15 is hanging from the TD Garden rafters and retired by the team.
Heinsohn took over as coach of the Celtics in 1969 and led the team to two more titles in 1974 and 1976.
For today's generation of fans, Heinsohn is best known as the color commentator on Celtics' television broadcasts. He first took on broadcasting in 1966 after retiring as a player and before returning to the team as head coach.
In 1981, a few years after being let go as the Celtics' coach, Heinsohn returned to the broadcast booth and teamed up with play-by-play voice Mike Gorman on the team's television broadcasts. The pair remained together for nearly 40 years, becoming one of the longest-tenured tandems in sports broadcasting history.
Heinsohn was beloved by Celtics fans for his "Tommy Points" and his unfiltered passion for the team and the game, which often included pointed criticism of the refs.
"This is a devastating loss," Wyc Grousbeck, Steve Pagliuca and the Celtics ownership group said in a statement. "Tommy was the ultimate Celtic. For the past 18 years, our ownership group has relied hugely on Tommy’s advice and insights and have reveled in his hundreds of stories about Red Auerbach, Bill Russell, and how the Celtics became a dynasty. He will be remembered forever."