Legendary Boston Celtics player, coach K.C. Jones dies at 88

 
Post new topic    LakersGround.net Forum Index -> General Basketball Discussion Reply to topic
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Basketball Fan
Franchise Player
Franchise Player


Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Posts: 24741

PostPosted: Fri Dec 25, 2020 12:02 pm    Post subject: Legendary Boston Celtics player, coach K.C. Jones dies at 88

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30595836/boston-celtics-legend-kc-jones-dies-88

Quote:
Legendary Boston Celtics player, coach K.C. Jones dies at 88

K.C. Jones, who personified winning as a hard-nosed point guard and then coach of the Boston Celtics during a Hall of Fame career has died, the Celtics confirmed Friday. He was 88.

K.C. was Jones' given name, although some joked the "C" stood for championships. It was easy to see why.

He played nine seasons in the NBA, all with the Celtics, and won titles in eight of them -- the third-most in league history, behind only longtime teammates Bill Russell (11) and Sam Jones (10). That success carried over to his coaching days, when he won three titles (one as an assistant, two as a head coach) during Boston's run of success in the 1980s with Larry Bird and Co.

Jones wasn't flashy and his playing days weren't filled with gaudy stat lines; he averaged just 7.4 points in his career. But the 6-foot-1 guard was the consummate team player whose defense gave fits to opposing stars like Jerry West and Oscar Robertson and whose playmaking made the Celtics engine go.


K.C. Jones played nine NBA seasons, all with the Celtics, and won titles in eight of them. That success carried over to his coaching days when he won three titles (one as assistant, two as head coach) during Boston's run in the 1980s Dick Raphael/NBAE/Getty Images
''I just didn't see how a man who shot as poorly as K.C. could stay in the NBA,'' recalled Bob Cousy, the famed Celtics point guard whom Jones backed up initially and then replaced as a starter when "Cooz" retired in 1963. ''I really didn't think his other skills would be enough to keep him around. But I was wrong. The man turned out to be amazing on defense and eventually learned to score enough so that rival teams couldn't afford not to guard him.''

Jones was a part of title-winning teams with the Celtics from 1959 to '66, an eight-year run unmatched in pro sports. The lone season he didn't win a championship was 1966-67, and Jones, at age 34, retired soon thereafter.

But Jones remained in the game, first as coach of Brandeis University outside of Boston and then as either an assistant or head coach in the NBA or ABA before returning to the Celtics as an assistant under Bill Fitch in 1977. Fitch left the team four years later, and Jones replaced him, inheriting a group led by Bird and fellow Hall of Famers Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. Three weeks after Jones took over, the Celtics made a move to acquire Dennis Johnson.

Together, they reached the NBA Finals four straight seasons (1984-87), winning titles in 1984 and '86. Jones' laid-back coaching style was criticized by some, but his players welcomed it.

"He's got our respect as a coach and as a person," Bird once said.

Jones left the Celtics bench after the 1987 season, moving into the Celtics front office before finishing his career with coaching stints in Seattle and Detroit.

His No. 25 is retired by the Celtics and he was inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame in 1989.

A Texas native, Jones starred alongside Russell at the University of San Francisco, winning back-to-back NCAA titles in 1955 and '56. The summer after the second title, the two led Team USA to a gold medal at the Melbourne Olympics.

To this day, Jones is just one of seven players to win college basketball and NBA titles as well as Olympic gold, joining Russell, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Jerry Lucas, Quinn Buckner and Clyde Lovellette.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Inspector Gadget
Retired Number
Retired Number


Joined: 18 Apr 2016
Posts: 46490

PostPosted: Fri Dec 25, 2020 1:04 pm    Post subject:

Condolences to the Jones family.. RIP
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
unleasHell
Franchise Player
Franchise Player


Joined: 16 Apr 2001
Posts: 11591
Location: Stay Thirsty my Friends

PostPosted: Fri Dec 25, 2020 1:47 pm    Post subject:

Celtics coach thru the 80's, classy guy with a tie back to the 72 Lakers...RIP sir
_________________
“Always remember... Rumors are carried by haters, spread by fools, and accepted by idiots.”
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
danzag
Franchise Player
Franchise Player


Joined: 28 Apr 2013
Posts: 22244
Location: Brazil

PostPosted: Fri Dec 25, 2020 1:58 pm    Post subject:

May he RIP.

Won a ring with the Lakers in '72, as an assistant coach.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Basketball Fan
Franchise Player
Franchise Player


Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Posts: 24741

PostPosted: Fri Dec 25, 2020 5:45 pm    Post subject:

I didn't know that probably because the article never mentioned it.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    LakersGround.net Forum Index -> General Basketball Discussion All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1
Jump to:  

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum






Graphics by uberzev
© 1995-2018 LakersGround.net. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Use.
LakersGround is an unofficial news source serving the fan community since 1995.
We are in no way associated with the Los Angeles Lakers or the National Basketball Association.


Powered by phpBB