Basketball Hall of Famer KC Jones, a defensive point guard on eight NBA champion teams playing for the Boston Celtics and a winner of two more titles as the team’s head coach, has passed away, the team confirmed. He was 88.
Jones, who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1989, played nine seasons in the NBA (all with the Celtics) from 1958-67 and won championships in eight of them – the third most in NBA history, behind only former teammates Bill Russell (11) and Sam Jones (10).
Jones returned to Boston in 1977 as an assistant coach – he earned another championship ring) before leading Larry Bird and the Celtics to two more titles as head coach in 1983-84 and 1985-86.
“I just got a call to let me know that my x-roommate / teammate and especially friend has passed the great KC Jones this morning,” Russell tweeted Friday. Prayers to his family. We’ve been friends for almost 60 years, this is our last photo together. Friends for life. # 2020USuck! #REST IN PEACE”
Jones was also a teammate of Russell’s at the University of San Francisco, winning two NCAA titles. He is one of only seven players to win championships in college and the NBA and an Olympic gold medal (1956) – along with Russell, Jerry Lucas, Clyde Lovellette, Magic Johnson, Quinn Buckner and Michael Jordan.
“My father passed away at 4:55 AM today. Thank you all for your love for Celtics and especially Dad, ”tweeted Jones’ daughter Bryna.
The 6-foot guard averaged just 7.4 points per game for his career, overtaking Bob Cousy’s runway in 1963. But his defensive tenacity and playing skills made him an important part of the Celtics ” 60s dynasty, and his number 25 jersey was retired at the end of his playing career in 1967.
“I just didn’t see how a man who shot as bad as KC could stay in the NBA,” 92-year-old Cousy told ESPN. “I really didn’t think his other skills would be enough to keep him around. But I was wrong. The man turned out to be great on defense, eventually learning to score enough that rival teams couldn’t afford not to guard him. “
Jones coached for three seasons with Washington in the 1970s, including the loss to Golden State in the 1975 NBA Finals. He returned to the Celtics as an assistant coach under Bill Fitch in 1977 and was promoted to head coach in 1983, beating the Lakers for the Championship in his first season with a team that includes Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish and Dennis Johnson.
That group reached the NBA finals in four consecutive years and added another ring in 1986 before moving to the front office in 1988. The Texas native also coached Seattle and Detroit, finishing with 522 NBA wins.
The other of his dozens of NBA championship rings joined the Lakers in 1972 as an assistant coach.
“Where KC Jones went, winning would certainly follow,” the Celtics said in a statement. In NBA history, only teammates Bill Russell and Sam Jones have more championship rings during their careers. … KC’s coaching career was also illustrious and one of the most remarkable head coaching runs the NBA has seen.
“KC also showed that you can be a fierce competitor as well as a gentleman in every sense of the word. He made his teammates better and he got the most out of the players he coached. He was never one to seek credit, but his glory was found in the most basic of basketball ideals: being part of a winning team. The Celtics family mourns his loss as we celebrate his remarkable career and life. “