Today is a sad day for fans of the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers and basketball fans in general.  One of the all-time legends of the game, Bill Sharman has passed away at the

age of 87.

After playing the first year of his pro basketball career with the Washington Capitols, Sharman landed on the Fort Wayne Pistons in the 1951 dispersal draft.  Thankfully for Celtics fans everywhere he never played a game for the Pistons.  He was traded to the Celtics for Chuck Share a few months later.

After a slow start in his first year in Boston, Sharman found his stride and made eight straight all-Star games.  With the Celtics, Sharman formed one of the best back courts in the early days of the NBA playing next to legendary point guard Bob Cousy.  Sharman would help lead the Celtics to four championships in his ten seasons in Boston before he hung it up in 1961.  Sharman led the Celtics in scoring during two of  those four titles runs. For his efforts on the floor, Sharman was named to the 25th anniversary team and was named one of the NBA’s 50 greatest players in 1996.

As a huge Celtics fan, Sharman holds a special place in my heart like many of his teammates.

In my mind he is a top five Celtic of all time and one of the greatest players to ever live.

Even though the NBA is much different from when he played, Sharman’s Game and legacy will live on In the hearts of basketball fans And deservedly so.