With the Boston Celtics he shaped an era and collected titles on the assembly line. Now Sam Jones has died. The league pays tribute to the long-time guard.
The American basketball legend Sam Jones is dead. The member of the hall of fame died at the age of 88 on Thursday evening, a spokesman for his former team, the Boston Celtics, told the AP news agency and other US media on Friday. Jones won a total of ten titles in the North American NBA league from 1957 to 1969, just behind his former teammate Bill Russell, who won eleven championships.
“Sam Jones will be remembered as one of the most prolific champions in all of professional sport,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “The Jones family is our thoughts as we mourn the loss and fondly remember his life and career as one of the greatest champions in American sport,” said the Celtics.
Boston planned to observe a minute’s silence before their game against the Phoenix Suns on Friday. “You can see the championship title and what he’s done – it’s a big loss for our community here,” said Celtics coach Ime Udoka before the game.
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