Today in Boston Celtics history: Havlicek passes; Cooper, Macauley drafted; '65 banner won

Today in Boston Celtics history, Hall of Fame Celtics forward John Havlicek passed away in 2019 at the age of 74 in Jupiter, Florida, following a prolonged battle with Parkinson's disease. Affectionately known as "Hondo," he was born in Martins Ferry, Ohio, in 1940 and played his collegiate basketball at nearby Ohio State, where he helped his team win the NCAA championship in 1960. He was picked up seventh overall in the 1962 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics and had a 16-season career with the team, during which he won a total of eight NBA championships.

Havlicek was also honored with 13 All-Star selections, 11 All-NBA team selections, and 8 All-Defensive team selections, among numerous other accolades. Havlicek's jersey was retired by Boston immediately after his playing career ended in 1978, and he was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984. Transactions It was on this date in 1950 that Celtics wing luminary Chuck Cooper became the first African American drafted into the NBA, taken out of Duquesne by Boston with the 14th overall pick.

Cooper joined Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton and Earl Lloyd as the first African Americans to play in the league that season, making his debut on Nov. 1 against the (then) Fort Wayne (now, Detroit) Pistons. Cooper played four seasons for the Celtics, averaging 6.

8 points, 6. 6 rebounds, and 1. 8 assists per game over that stretch.