Who was the Celtics’ Chris Ford, the man who sank the first 3-pointer in NBA history?
The NBA and the Boston Celtics family are in mourning today, after news of the passing of a former star of the team and head coach, Chris Ford.
A former team MVP, who would later become head coach of the team, Ford was an all-round good guy who was loved by fans, friends, family and teammates alike, the former Celtics player etched his name into the history of both the team and the NBA itself.
Chris Ford Remembered: From the 1st NBA 3pointer to NBA Champion
According to reports on Wednesday, former Boston Celtics player and head coach Chris Ford has died at the age of 74. Ford played for the Celtics between 1978 and 1982 and actually won an NBA championship with the team in 1981. Before his time in Boston, however, he played six seasons with the Detroit Pistons who had selected him from Villanova in the second round of the 1972 NBA Draft. One of the most notable moments of his career came on October 12th, 1979, when he managed to score the first 3-pointer in NBA history. Following his playing career, Ford then went into coaching and actually served as the Celtics coach from 1990 to 1998, before going on to serve one year with the Los Angeles Clippers (1999-200), as well as one campaign with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Ford family released the following statement regarding Chris’ passing:
“The Ford family is sad to announce the passing of Chris on January 17, 2023. Chris was beloved by his family, friends, and teammates. He had a great love for his family, the city of Boston, the fans, and the entire Celtics family. He always showed humility and respect for all those that were fortunate enough to be a part of his life.”
The Boston Celtics also paid tribute to Chris Ford
“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. He was a member of three NBA World Championship Boston Celtics teams, one as a key player on the 1981 Champions, and subsequently as an assistant coach for the 1984 and 1986 champs. Ford went on to become the team’s eleventh head coach, leading his former teammates Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish to multiple playoff appearances in the trio’s final days together.”
“‘Doc,’ as he was affectionately known by his teammates, was a fundamentally versatile all-around guard. He was voted the team’s MVP in his first season with the Celtics, and he is famously credited with scoring the NBA’s first three-point basket. Ford joined an elite group of Celtics’ personnel (Bill Russell, Tom Heinsohn, and K.C. Jones) who have earned championship rings as both a player and coach with the organization. The Boston Celtics sends their deepest sympathies to the Ford family and their many friends.”
The NBA reacts to Chris Ford’s passing
Given his time in the league as both a player and a coach, it’s only natural that Ford left a mark on many. With that, there were several reactions from various corners of the basketball world:
Then there was former Celtics legend Larry Bird who was actually a teammate of Ford’s:
A statement from his first team, the Detroit Pistons: