Celtics legend K.C. Jones dies at 88

BOSTON (AP) — Basketball Hall of Famer K.C. Jones, an Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA champion who won eight straight NBA titles during the Celtics’ Bill Russell era and then coached the Boston teams with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish to two more championships in the 1980s, has died. He was 88.

Jones’ family confirmed to the Celtics on Friday that he had passed away at an assisted living facility in Connecticut. He had spent the last several years there receiving care for Alzheimer’s disease.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement today regarding the passing of K.C. Jones: pic.twitter.com/OOiEwCswhV

— NBA (@NBA) December 25, 2020

Jones and Bill Russell teamed up to guide San Francisco to consecutive NCAA championships in 1955-56. They also represented the U.S. team that clinched the Olympic gold medal at the Melbourne Games in 1956.

Jones, a second-round draft pick by the Celtics, teamed up with Russell to secure eight consecutive NBA titles from 1959-66. He retired in 1967 and transitioned into coaching, initially taking roles at Brandeis and Harvard colleges. In 1971-72, he joined the Los Angeles Lakers as an assistant coach, earning an additional championship ring.

K.C. Jones was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1989.

Before leading the team, consisting of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, to the 1984 and 1986 championships, he served as an assistant coach for the Celtics team that won the championship in 1981.

“Bird expressed in a statement, “K.C. was the kindest man I have ever encountered. He consistently made an extra effort to uplift people, playing for him was truly an honor. Innumerable are his achievements, but in my view, his most significant accomplishment was his exceptional kindness to everyone fortunate enough to know him. His absence will be deeply felt.”

The Celtics released the following statement:

K.C. Jones was synonymous with success wherever he went. Known originally as K.C., he was a twelve-time NBA champion as a player and coach, a double NCAA champion, a gold medal-winning Olympian, and a Hall of Famer. Only his teammates, Bill Russell and Sam Jones, have more championship rings from their playing careers in NBA history. K.C. is among the exclusive group of players including Russell, Clyde Lovellette, Jerry Lucas, Quinn Buckner, Earvin “Magic “Johnson, and Michael Jordan, to secure basketball’s “Triple Crown” – an NCAA Championship, an NBA Championship, and an Olympic Gold Medal. His number 25 jersey has been retired since 1967.

The Celtics family is in mourning following the loss of K.C. Jones, a twelve-time NBA champion, two-time NCAA champion, a Gold medal-winning Olympian, and a Hall of Famer. We commemorate his exceptional career and life.

Full statement: https://t.co/rPoO80yZFd pic.twitter.com/QxwcpjI0rj

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 25, 2020

K.C.’s coaching career was equally impressive. In 1983, he was appointed to lead the Celtics, marking the start of one of the most notable head coaching stints in NBA history. K.C. directed the Celtics through two of the team’s most unforgettable seasons, first guiding them to a championship victory over the Lakers in 1984 during a high point in that historic rivalry. Two seasons later, he led what is widely regarded as the best team in NBA history, the 1986 Champion Boston Celtics. These triumphs were the pinnacle of an incredible run of four consecutive seasons in the NBA Finals, marking one of the most respected and adored eras in Celtics history.

K.C. exemplified the perfect blend of intense competition and gentlemanly conduct. He had a knack for enhancing the abilities of his teammates and maximizing the potential of players under his coaching. Rather than seeking personal acclaim, his satisfaction lay in being part of a victorious team, thus embodying the core principles of basketball. His unfortunate passing is deeply mourned by the Celtics family as we commemorate his extraordinary career and life.

“K.C. Jones was greatly respected and admired by his teammates, colleagues, and the players he coached. He was truly special,” Brad Stevens commented about K.C. Jones.

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 25, 2020

 

I just received a call letting me know my x-roommate/teammate & most of all friend the great KC Jones passed this morning. Prayers to his family. We have been friends for almost 60yrs, this our last photo together. Friends for life #2020Usuck! #RIP ⁦@NBA⁩ ⁦@celtics⁩ pic.twitter.com/Ia6yZB5l2x

— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) December 25, 2020

Jones is among only seven players in history who have clinched an Olympic gold medal, an NCAA championship, and an NBA title. Besides this, he also secured two more NBA titles as an assistant coach. Jones was at the helm as the Celtics’ head coach, leading them to the NBA Finals for four consecutive years from 1984-87. He guided the team to victory in ’84 and again in ’86 with a squad that set a then-record with 67 regular-season wins and a 15-3 postseason record.

Only Russell and his Celtics teammate Sam Jones have won more NBA championships as players.

This year, Jones became the third Hall of Famer from the 1965 NBA champions to pass away, following John Thompson and Tommy Heinsohn. Thompson, who later achieved greater success as Georgetown’s coach, died in August, while Heinsohn, a former Celtics player and coach, passed away last month. Just two days after holding a moment of silence for Heinsohn before their season’s first game, the Celtics paid the same tribute to Jones on Friday.

“Danny Ainge, the current Celtics president of basketball operations who played for the team from 1981-88, when Jones was an assistant and then head coach, praised him highly. ‘He was a great coach to work for. He was a class act, with a fierce competitive edge,” he said.

“His gentleness and kindness were remarkable. He was an exceptional leader,” Ainge spoke before Friday’s game. “I saw him as a mentor, as well as a friend. He was so much more than just a coach.”

Jones, an exceptional defensive point guard, teamed up with Russell to secure consecutive NCAA championships for San Francisco in 1955-56. Together, they also represented the U.S. in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, bringing home the gold medal. Jones then joined forces with Russell in Boston, leading the team to an impressive eight consecutive NBA titles from 1959-66.

In 1967, Jones retired and embarked on a coaching career. He initially coached at Brandeis and Harvard colleges before joining the Los Angeles Lakers as an assistant coach. During his time with the Lakers, he secured another NBA championship ring in 1972. He also served as head coach for the San Diego Conquistadors in the ABA and steered the Washington Bullets to the 1975 NBA Finals.

Jones returned to Boston in 1978 after a stop in Milwaukee, and won his 10th NBA title in 1981 as an assistant on Bill Fitch’s staff. He succeeded Fitch in 1984 and for the subsequent five seasons, he always won at least 57 games and always made it to the Eastern Conference finals.

Ainge expressed that Jones was often misinterpreted and undervalued due to his more relaxed demeanor compared to previous coaches. As a result, he was not frequently listed among the notable Celtics coaches such as Red Auerbach, Heinsohn, and Fitch.

“People tend to gravitate towards those who seek attention in front of the cameras. However, K.C. was comfortable letting others take the spotlight, preferring to stay in the background,” said Ainge. “He rarely felt the need to assert himself, but when it was necessary, he was capable of standing up to our team’s Hall of Fame players.”

In 1967, the Celtics retired Jones’ No. 25. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1989.