WATCH: Looking back at Tommy Heinsohn’s historic 1957 NBA Finals performance with the Celtics

While the bulk of contemporary fans of the Boston Celtics are very familiar with franchise icon Tommy Heinsohn, for most of them he is a broadcasting legend, his time as a player exiting in some remote corner of awareness for many, if at all.

But Heinsohn was a force of nature in his playing days, among the league’s best forwards and something of a template for future frontcourt players to model their game after. He also was a critical part in winning eight NBA titles for the Celtics, and in no small way crucial to securing the first of Boston’s league-tying 17 banners as a rookie, no less.

And to discuss exactly that on a video clip taken from his eponymous podcast, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons discusses Heinsohn’s legendary 1957 Finals Game 7 performance.

Check it out for yourself to learn more about how the originator of the Tommy Point helped get the Celtics on the board as a champion franchise with his contribution of a double-overtime win over the (then) St. Louis (now, Atlanta) Hawks.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

Related

WATCH: What's been going wrong with Team USA in exhibition play ahead of the Tokyo Olympics?

WATCH: Boston's Jayson Tatum working out for Team USA with new Celtics coach Ime Udoka

WATCH: Tacko Fall makes tacos on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Evan Fournier among The Athletic's top 20 free agents

List

Fans have little appetite for dealing Celtics wing Jaylen Brown for Portland's Damian Lillard in new poll