Consider your list of accomplishments: Twelve NBA championships as a player and coach, two NCAA rings and an Olympic gold medal. This makes him one of only eight players in history to have won basketball’s “Triple Crown”.
In fact, winning and Jones went so hand in hand that the common joke was the ‘C’ in KC for championships.
Jones died this week at age 88, the Boston Celtics announced on Friday.
The team did not disclose the cause of death or say exactly when he died.
“KC Jones was among the most decorated champions in the history of our game,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in a statement. “KC’s extraordinary achievements and impact will be remembered for a long time to come.”
Jones’ death was the second death of an iconic Celtics figure this year.
The college years
KC is his given name. He was named after his father, who was named after a legendary railway engineer Casey Jones.
His parents separated when he was 9 years old. And Jones moved with his mother and brothers to San Francisco.
“There he learned to play basketball on a piece of gravel in a poor neighborhood,” said the profile.
Jones attended the University of San Francisco. He spoke softly, but it was a formidable presence.
The 6-foot-1 guard made his mark with defensive moves, clinging to opponents like glue, denying them chances and frustrating them endlessly.
In college, he joined Bill Russell – another player whose name and the word “legend” are synonymous – and won two NCAA championships.
The two were also part of the American team that won the gold medal at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956.
After a two-year stint in the Army, Jones joined the Celtics. He was on his way to seal his place in the history books.
The years of play
“In NBA history, only teammates Bill Russell and Sam Jones have more championship rings during their careers,” the Celtics said in a statement, reporting on Jones’ achievements.
Jones has played nine seasons in the NBA – all of them in Boston.
Eight finished in NBA championships.
After the Celtics lost to the 76ers in the 1967 Eastern Division finals, Jones decided it was time to retire.
And when he did, the Celtics removed his shirt # 25.
His winning days were over. His winning days as a coach were about to begin.
The coaching years
After stints as a coach at Brandeis University, Los Angeles Lakers and Washington Bullets, Jones returned to the Celtics.
He was appointed coach of the Celtics in 1983. In four of the five seasons he served in that role, he led the team to the NBA finals.