Chris Ford, 74, who won three titles with the Boston Celtics, died on Tuesday night, according to his family.
“Chris was beloved by his family, friends, and teammates,” the Ford family stated in a statement. “He loved his
family, the city of Boston, the fans, and the entire Celtics family. He was always humble and respectful to everyone
who was lucky enough to be a part of his life.
Ford joined the Celtics via trade in 1978 and was a key component of the franchise for much of the following decade,
winning a championship with the 1981 team alongside Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale. After retiring in
1982, he became an assistant coach, winning championships in 1984 and 1986 before becoming head coach in 1990.
He went 228-188 in five seasons at the helm, including two division crowns. He went on to coach the Milwaukee
Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers for four seasons.
The Celtics issued a message in Ford’s honor on Wednesday afternoon.
“As a player and coach, Chris Ford’s career spanned over a decade of Celtics basketball, and he made his mark every
step of the way,” the organization stated in a statement. “He was a member of three NBA World Championship
Boston Celtics teams, first as a key player on the 1981 Champions and then as an assistant coach for the 1984 and
1986 Champions.
Ford went on to become the team’s eleventh head coach, guiding his former players Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and
Robert Parish to multiple playoff berths during their final days together. Doc, as he was affectionately known by his
colleagues, was an extremely versatile all-around guard. In his first season with the Celtics, he was named team
MVP, and he is notable for scoring the NBA’s first three-pointer. Ford joined an elite group of Celtics players and
coaches (Bill Russell, Tom Heinsohn, and K.C. Jones) who had received championship rings with the franchise. “The
Boston Celtics extend their heartfelt condolences to the Ford family and their many friends.”
