“You’d have a tough time beating him” - When Boston Celtics legend picked John Havlicek over Larry Bird

Larry Bird ’s impact on the Boston Celtics extended far beyond, making them the dominant force in the Eastern Conference during the 1980s. His rivalry with Magic Johnson played a crucial role in elevating the NBA to new heights of popularity and marketability.

Despite the Indiana native’s status as arguably the most influential player of that decade, some Celtics legends still chose to prefer John Havlicek over him. While ‘Hondo’ might not be properly credited for keeping the Celtics’ game live between Bill Russell’s glory days and when Bird took over, Tom Heinsohn and Dave Cowens gave the credit where it was due.

Dave Cowens on Havlicek

Havlicek’s resume boasts an impressive eight NBA championships, but the first six of those are often downplayed due to Bill Russell’s presence alongside him. However, after Bill The Hil’s retirement in 1969, the 13-time All-Star truly came into his own, earning nine of his All-Star nods in each of the remaining seasons, along with earning All-Defensive Team and All-NBA nods in seven of those campaigns.

The 6’5” small forward’s leadership shone brightest when he guided Boston to championships in 1974 and 1976. In the ‘74 championship round, he claimed the MVP award with team-leading averages of 26.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. His performance in the ‘76 finals was equally impressive when he logged 20.5 points and a series-best 16.3 rebounds per game.

Cowens, who shared the court with ‘Country Boy’ for eight seasons, found him fitting to label him as a thorough ‘professional and a ‘captain,’ to the extent that he would choose Havlicek over Bird.

"The one thing I tell people all the time is, 'All you guys talk about Larry Bird and all these other guys, but I’m going to tell you: If I had to pick, I’d pick John Havlicek No. 1. If it’s my team, and I have to win a ballgame, I'm going to pick John Havlicek,'" Dave The Red said . "He was clutch. He could defend, and he could play the 1, the 2 and the 3. He just knew how to play. He was the best player that I ever played with."

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Heinsohn added to Cowens’ sentiments

Heinsohn had the opportunity to coach the Celtics in the 1970s, and drawing from his own experience, he added to Cowen’s sentiment by emphasizing that while Bird’s heroics deserve recognition, Havlicek’s achievements are equally worthy of praise. He believed that Havlicek’s versatility and clutch performances made him an indispensable part of the C's legacy.

"Everybody is still going gaga about Larry Bird, who was a great-great player," Heinsohn said. "But John Havlicek, you'd have a tough time beating him."

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