NBA Hall of Famer John Havlicek is one of the greatest Boston Celtics players of all time. On Oct. 13, 1978, Havlicek became just the third Celtics player to have his number retired, joining Satch Sanders and Don Nelson. 

Here’s an overview of Havlicek’s Hall of Fame career on the 48th anniversary of his number retirement: 

A two-time All-Big 10 selection, 1959-60 National Champion, and 1961-62 Second Team All-American for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Havlicek was selected with the ninth overall pick in the 1962 NBA Draft, joining a loaded Celtics team featuring eight future Hall of Famers, including Bill Russell, Sam Jones, K.C. Jones, Tommy Heinsohn and Bob Cousy, that had won four of the previous five NBA Championships, including the 1961-62 title. 

The then-22-year-old forward immediately fit in seamlessly with the group of Hall of Famers averaging 14.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game, finishing 10th in MVP voting, helping lead the Celtics to their fifth championship in six years in his rookie season. 

Havlicek became a key part of the Celtics' nearly two-decade run of NBA dominance, winning eight NBA championships, joining teammates K.C. Jones and Sanders as the only three players in NBA history to go a perfect 8-0 in NBA Finals appearances. 
Over 16 seasons, Havlicek averaged 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game, earning a laundry list of accolades, including 13 All-Star selections, 11 All-NBA appearances, eight All-Defensive team selections, and a top-10 finish in MVP voting in eight seasons. 

Havlicek's mark on the Celtics franchise remains to this day as he is the franchise's All-Time leader in points (26,395), games played (1,270), minutes played (46,471), field goals (10,513), field goal attempts (23,930), two-point field goals (10,513), and two-point field goal attempts (23,930). 

Havlicek's impact on the Celtics was so strong that the team retired his number just 187 days after he played his final NBA game on April 9, 1978. Recognition of his incredible career didn't stop there: he was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1984, Ohio State retired his No. 5 in 2005, and the NBA named him one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history in 2021 as part of the league's 75th anniversary celebrations. 

Meanwhile, the present-day Celtics continue preparing for the Oct. 20 regular-season opener against the Detroit Pistons. Boston will put its perfect 2-0 preseason record to the test on Wednesday night as it hosts the Charlotte Hornets in the penultimate preseason game of the year. Tip-off from TD Garden is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.