Born August 26, 1934 in Jersey City, New Jersey, Heinsohn produced a college and professional basketball resume unmatched in New England sports history before becoming an iconic broadcasting fixture and carving out a place in the pantheon of Celtics legends that is unrivaled.
Heinsohn became the only person to have the distinction of being involved in an official team capacity in each of the Celtics' first 17 championships, as well as each of their 21 NBA Finals appearances.
Heinsohn’s play on the court earned him a place in the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. His work on the sideline earned him a second spot in the basketball hall and produced a pair of NBA titles.
And his work as a color commentator and occasional critic of officials on the Celtics' television broadcasts earned him a lasting place in the hearts of Celtics fans everywhere. His “Tommy Points” given to exceptional plays perfectly captured and honored the hustle, heart and determination of those in Celtic green he embraced as a player and coach. The “Tommy Points” led to the "Tommy Award”, given to the player who stood out the most in a particular game.
Heinsohn was a standout at St. Michael's High School in nearby Union City. He accepted a scholarship to Holy Cross and became the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,789 points, an average of 22.1 points per game. During his senior year, Heinsohn scored a school-record 51 points in a game against Boston College on March 1, 1956.
Celtics patriarch Red Auerbach saw the potential for greatness in the 6-foot-7 forward and selected him in the territorial draft. The rest was Celtics and NBA history.
The association with the Celtics carried over a span of six decades as a player, coach and broadcaster. He played for the Celtics from 1956 to 1965, and also coached the team from 1969 to 1978. He earned Hall of Fame status for his success as a player and coach while helping to form the NBA players union.
In 1956, Heinsohn was chosen as the Boston Celtics 'regional', or 'territorial', draft pick. In his first season, Heinsohn played in an NBA All-Star Game, was named the NBA Rookie of the Year over teammate Bill Russell and won his first championship ring. He was part of a Celtics squad that won eight NBA titles in nine years, including seven in a row between 1959 and 1965. In NBA history, only teammates Russell and Sam Jones won more championship rings during their playing careers. During his own playing career, Heinsohn was named to six All-Star teams. On the day his teammate and fellow Holy Cross Crusader Bob Cousy retired, Heinsohn scored his 10,000th career point. His number 15 was retired by the Celtics in 1965.
