Havlicek stole the ball

"Havlicek stole the ball" is a quote by radio broadcaster Johnny Most, as a jubilant reaction to a steal made by the Boston Celtics' John Havlicek against the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1965 NBA Eastern Division championship game seven. Most's call of the play has been dubbed by the NBA as "the most famous radio call in basketball history".

Background

Havlicek was in his third year with the Celtics, and had already won two NBA championships with the team under coach Red Auerbach. In a run that would span a total of 11 championships in 15 years (including four before Havlicek joined the team) with center Bill Russell among a lineup of future Hall of Fame members, Auerbach singled out his swingman Havlicek as the "guts of the team". Other standouts on the team included Tom Heinsohn, Sam Jones, K.C. Jones, John Thompson, and Satch Sanders, all of whom would be named to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Entering the playoffs, the Celtics had won the Eastern Division regular season championship, which granted them a bye into the division finals.

Their opponents would be the Philadelphia 76ers, who were led by star center Wilt Chamberlain, a player they had acquired just that season in a mid-year trade. Chamberlain, who had previously played for the prior Philadelphia team, the Philadelphia Warriors, was something of a local hero and was also noted for his long rivalry with the Celtics center Bill Russell. Philadelphia had its own cast of future Hall of Famers to support Chamberlain, including Hal Greer and Chet Walker. The 76ers played the Cincinnati Royals in a five-game series for the opening round of the playoffs; they defeated the Royals in four games to advance to the Division Finals against the top-seeded Celtics.