Last Updated on April 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here’s the detailed information on Tom Heinsohn:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Thomas William Heinsohn
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Passed away at age 86 (Born on August 26, 1934 – Died on November 9, 2020)
  • Hometown: Jersey City, New Jersey, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 7 inches (201 cm)
  • Weight: 218 lbs (99 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 8 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 16 (US)
  • Number: 15 (with the Boston Celtics)
  • Position: Power Forward / Center
  • High School: Saint Michael’s High School in Union City, New Jersey
  • College: College of the Holy Cross
  • NBA Draft: 1956 NBA Draft, Territorial pick by the Boston Celtics
  • Teams Played For:
    • Boston Celtics (1956–1965)
  • Championship Rings:
      • As a Player: 8 NBA Championships (1957, 1959–1965) with the Boston Celtics
      • As a Coach: 2 NBA Championships (1974, 1976) with the Boston Celtics
    • As a Broadcaster/Contributor: Involved with multiple additional Celtics titles
  • Kids: Not widely publicized
  • Siblings: Not widely publicized

Player Archetype / Play Style

Thomas Heinsohn’s player archetype was that of a hard-nosed scoring power forward who blended interior toughness with a polished shooting touch, making him one of the early NBA’s more complete frontcourt weapons. At 6-foot-7 and around 218 pounds, he had the size and strength to battle on the glass and play physically in traffic, but his offensive game stood out because he could score with a soft hook, a line-drive jumper, and sharp body control rather than relying only on brute force. Defensively, he worked as a rugged, competitive forward who rebounded well and helped hold the paint area, while offensively he operated as a high-level secondary star and, at times, a lead scorer for Boston from the frontcourt. His overall play style was forceful, skilled, and winning-oriented, built on rebounding, finishing, mid-range touch, and the kind of edge that fit perfectly within the Celtics dynasty of his era. (NBA)

Sources:

NBA.com — Legends profile: Tom Heinsohn
Basketball-Reference — Tom Heinsohn Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame — Tommy Heinsohn