KC Jones

, an eight-time champion as a player with the Celtics (1959-1966) and two more as a manager (1984, 1986) in the Boston franchise, passed away on Christmas Day at the age of 88, just a few weeks after the disappearance of another of his old companions,

Tommy Heinsohn

.

His dark work as a point guard for that legendary team led by

Red Auerbach

was completed two decades later from the bench, at the helm of a squad led by

Larry Bird

.

Defensive fierceness was perhaps Jones' distinctive trait as a player, one of the pillars of those Celtics where only

Bill Russell

(11) and

Sam Jones

(10) conquered more rings.

"Where he was going, he was followed by victory," underlined the green team in the same statement confirming his death.

"He improved his teammates and got the most out of the players he coached."

Olympic champion with the United States at the 1956 Melbourne Games, he also won two NCAA titles with the University of San Francisco (1955 and 1956).

In that team, led by

Phil Woolpert

, Russell, one of the most dominant centers in the history of basketball, also stood out.

The Triple Crown

All of these successes opened Jones, whose number 25 jersey was retired by the Celtics, to the Hall of Fame doors in 1989. In fact, only six other players -

Michael Jordan

,

Magic Johnson

,

Jerry Lucas

,

Quinn Buckner

and

Clyde. Lovellette

, can boast in their record of the so-called Triple Crown, formed by a university championship, an NBA championship and an Olympic gold.

His discreet averages -7.4 points, 4.3 assists and 38.7% accuracy in the shot- were compensated by a tremendous defensive application, with which he faced rivals such as

Jerry West

and

Oscar Robertson

.

"I never understood how someone who shot so badly could continue in the NBA," revealed

Bob Cousy

, a teammate at the Garden until 1963, the year of retirement of one of the best point guards of all time.

Jones continued until 1967, the only one of his nine NBA courses that he did not finish as a champion.

The Fitch relay

His career on the bench began at Brandeis University and shortly after he raised the NBA title at the Los Angeles Lakers as an assistant to

Bill Sharman

.

After some adventures in the ABA, in 1977 he became

Bill Fitch's

right-hand man for

the Celtics.

In 1981 he assumed the position of head coach, leading a roster of stars, where in addition to Bird,

Kevin McHale

,

Dennis Johnson

and

Robert Parish

shone

.

After losing the 1987 Finals to the Lakers (4-2), Jones left Boston to manage the Seattle SuperSonics and from there continued as an assistant with the Detroit Pistons.

His journey on the bench ended with a baggage of 552 wins and 306 losses (64.3%).

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