COLUMBUS, Ohio (WTVN)--The Ohio State Athletics Department is mourning the death of former Buckeye and NBA basketball great John Havilcek, who died Thursday at age 79 at his home in Jupiter, Florida.
Havilcek was a pivotal member of the 1960 Ohio State Men's Basketball team, which won the NCAA Championship, and remains the only NCAA title in program history.
The team also made it to the NCAA title game in 1961 and 1962 with Havilcek's help.
He spent his entire NBA career with the Boston Celtics, where he was an NBA all-star 13 times, won 8 NBA championships, and was the MVP of the NBA Finals in 1974.
Both Ohio State and the Boston Celtics retired Havilcek's number, and he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984.
Current Ohio State Men's Basketball Coach Chris Holtmann tweeted out a statement Thursday, saying, "All of us associated with the Men’s Basketball program are saddened to learn of the passing of Ohio State legend John Havlicek. He had an amazing career as a Buckeye and Boston Celtic. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and teammates."
(photo courtesy Ohio State Alumni Association)