John Havlicek was selected by the Boston Celtics with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 1962 NBA Draft. Celtics legend. At the time, he was also a versatile player who could play both the guard and small forward positions.
Havlicek played in the NBA for 16 seasons, playing for only one team – the Boston Celtics.
As one of the best shooting guards around, how does he compare to NBA legend Michael Jordan?
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This article will provide a statistical comparison of these two NBA legends who played in two different NBA eras.
Statistically comparing John Havlicek and Michael Jordan
Here’s a statistical comparison between John Havlicek and Michael Jordan.
John Havlicek
In 16 seasons in the NBA, Havlicek averaged 20.8 points (43.9% shooting), 6.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. During this time, the Celtics legend averaged over 20 points per game for eight consecutive seasons.
His highest scoring season was 1970-71. That season, Havlicek averaged 28.9 points per game (shooting 45.0% from the field), while also contributing 9.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists. Additionally, he averaged 45.4 minutes per game that season.
The following season, he nearly matched those minutes by averaging 45.1 minutes per game and 27.5 points per game (on 45.8 percent shooting).
John Havlicek had his most efficient shooting season in 1969-70, when he averaged 24.2 points per game (on 46.4 percent shooting).
Michael Jordan
Jordan played in the NBA for 15 seasons, averaging 30.1 points (shooting 49.7% from the field, including 32.7% from three-point range), 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. Michael Jordan never averaged less than 20 points per game in a season. He averaged 30+ points per game in 8 seasons and +26 points per game in 12 seasons.
Michael Jordan’s highest scoring season was the 1986-87 season. In his third year in the league, Jordan looked to cap off an injury-plagued second season with one of his best performances to that point. He averaged 37.1 points per game (on 48.2% shooting, including 18.2% from three-point range), while also adding 5.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists.
In addition, he averaged 40.0 minutes per game that season. The Chicago Bulls legend surpassed that mark the following season by averaging 40.4 minutes per game.
Jordan had his most efficient shooting season in 1990-91, when he averaged 31.5 points (53.9% shooting, including 31.2% from three-point range), 6.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.
In summary
From the statistics provided, the game was close, but Michael Jordan was able to do more in an efficient manner. Shooting three-pointers was not the norm during John Havlicek’s NBA era because he never had the chance to test his range.
His highest-scoring season failed to match or match Jordan’s numbers.
Their eras differed in their playing styles and the content of their practices at the time. However, Havlicek has still managed to become one of the most efficient scorers, averaging high points per game without focusing on statistics.