Thomas Ernest “Satch” Sanders grew up in New York, attended high school in New York City, and played at New York University. He won to win eight championships with the Boston Celtics. After his playing career ended, he went on to be the coach of the Harvard Crimson men’s basketball team and the Celtics.
At Mount Morris Park in East Harlem, Satch and his friends all had nicknames. Tom Sanders received the nickname “Satch,” and he became Satch Sanders for the remainder of his playing career. Sanders was a part of the history-making Celtics franchise and also made history in the college ranks. Satch became the first black head coach ever in the Ivy League and the eighth African-American head coach in NBA history.
Tom “Satch” Sanders made an everlasting impact with the up-and-coming players in the NBA. Sanders was responsible for the creation of the current-day Rookie Transition Program in the NBA. In 1984, he began his work as the associate director of the Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern. After only three years, NBA commissioner David Stern hired Sanders to help NBA players develop from rookies into men who knew how to act on and off the court. Sander’s Rookie Transition Program inspired other sports leagues to adopt the same types of programs.
In 1960, Sanders made such an impact on the NYU basketball team that he received the Lt. Frank J. Haggerty Award for the New York area’s top men’s Division I basketball player. Sanders made a tremendous impact after his NBA career, but he also did so on the Boston Garden parquet. At New York University, he averaged 16.8 points and 13.0 rebounds per game in three years for the NYU Violets. In the 1960 NBA Draft, the defending champion Celtics selected Sanders with the No. 8 overall pick.
Tom Sanders – Boston Celtics
During Tom “Satch” Sanders’ 13-year NBA career — all of which were with the Boston Celtics — he averaged double-double points in nine of them. He was a part of six consecutive championship teams and then was a part of the 1968 and 1969 title squads. The Celtics have a long and storied history and here are the players with the most rings in NBA history:
- 11 rings: Bill Russell
- 10 rings: Sam Jones
- Eight rings: Satch Sanders, John Havlicek, Tom “Tommy” Heinsohn, and K. C. Jones
Sanders is part of an impressive list, as Bob Cousy, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have six rings apiece. Before we forget, Celtics Hall of Famer Frank Ramsey has seven, along with Jim Loscutoff. Other notable Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers with more than three rings are Kobe Bryant (five), Tim Duncan (five), George Mikan (five), LeBron James (four), Shaquille O’Neal (four), Robert Parish (four), Jamaal Wilkes (four), and Bill Sharman (four).
Satch Sanders began his career with the 1960-61 season, as he was thrust right into a perennial contender in the Celtics. In each of his first six years in the NBA, Boston won more than 56 games each regular season. Led by head coach Red Auerbach and center Bill Russell, the C’s were off and running. Satch was a great addition to the defending champion Celtics heading into the 1960-61 season.
Tom Sanders – 1961 NBA Championship Team
After winning the 1959 and 1960 NBA championships, the Celtics were back for more in 1960-61. Satch Sanders put up just 5.3 points and 5.7 boards per game, but he played in 68 games. He contributed 8.9 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in the playoffs. The 1961 Celtics were put to the test in the 1961 postseason, as they went to seven games with both the Philadelphia Warriors in the Eastern Division Finals and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. The Celtics were thriving, as they won their third consecutive championship.
Tom Sanders – 1962 NBA Championship Team
Sanders’ second championship ring came in the 1961-62 season, as he began a nine-year streak of contributing double-digit points per game to the Celtics. He was one of six double-digit scorers that included Tommy Heinsohn’s team-leading 22.1 per game and Bill Russell’s 18.9 points and 23.6 boards per contest. In the NBA Finals, the green beat the Lakers in seven games. In Game 7, Sanders added in six points and seven rebounds. Bill Russell had a whopping 30 points and game-high 40 rebounds.
Tom Sanders – 1963 NBA Championship Team
The Celtics and Lakers were back in a Finals rematch in 1963. Sanders averaged 13.5 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in the Finals, as the Celtics won the series in six games.
Tom Sanders – 1964 NBA Championship Team
The Warriors made it back to the NBA Finals, but they were met with the buzzsaw known as the Celtics. Yet again, Sanders chipped in with double-digit points per game in the Finals. He also chipped in 6.2 rebounds per game, while Russell went for 11.2 and 25.2. The Celtics won the 1964 NBA Finals in five games.
Tom Sanders – 1965 NBA Championship Team
The Celtics and Lakers matched up in the 1965 NBA Finals. Boston won the Eastern Division Finals after John “Hondo” Havlicek “stole the ball.” Boston dispatched Los Angeles in five games, and Sanders kept racking up the rings.
Tom Sanders – 1966 NBA Championship Team
Once again, it was the Celtics and Lakers in 1966. They had a very competitive series this time around, but Russell and Hondo both averaged double-doubles in the 1966 NBA Finals. Sanders was the fourth-highest scorer on the team that Finals with 14.4 points and tied for third with 6.4 boards per contest. The 1966 Finals were yet another success for the Celtics, as Satch Sanders won his sixth NBA championship.
Tom Sanders – 1968 NBA Championship Team
After missing the NBA Finals in 1967, the Celtics were back at it in 1968 and 1969. The former of those two years was the last time in the 1960s that the Celtics would have homecourt in the Finals. Sanders came off the bench while Havlicek, Russell, Bailey Howell, and Sam Jones stepped up tremendously in the six-game series victory.
Tom Sanders – 1969 NBA Championship Team
Near the end of his career, Sanders was recognized for his strong defense because the NBA All-Defensive Teams were created near the end of his career. In the augural year of the team, he made All-Defensive Second Team. Sanders was once again an end-of-the-bench player in the Finals, but he got that eighth championship ring with the 1969 Finals win.
Tom Sanders – Retirement from the Celtics
On January 19, 1973, the Celtics retired Satch Sanders’ No. 16. Then in 1978, Sanders was briefly the head coach of the Celtics, replacing former teammate Tommy Heinsohn. Sanders began the 1978-79 season with a 2–12 record though. Therefore, Auerbach slotted in Dave Cowens as a player-coach. In 2013, Sanders supported showed his support for local athletics. He attended the New England Basketball Hall of Fame induction dinner to celebrate the inductees, which included former Providence Friar and Boston Celtic Ryan Gomes.
Tom Sanders – Net Worth
Tom Sanders is one of the most famous NBA stars and has an impressive net worth of around $5 million. He has earned a majority of his wealth through his successful NBA career and various endorsement deals. He is also an investor in multiple business ventures which have helped him achieve and maintain his current net worth.
Is Tom Sanders a Hall of Famer?
While he’s not a Hall of Famer for his play, he did contribute quite a lot to the NBA. Sanders also made an impact with the Boston Rehabilitation Program. In 2007, Satch was awarded the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award, which is given annually by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to an individual who has contributed significantly to the sport of basketball. It was well deserved for Sanders, who made tremendous and unique contributions to basketball and the community.
Who is the oldest living Boston Celtic?
Bob Cousy is not only the oldest living Boston Celtic, but he is also one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Born August 9, 1928, Cousy was a 6-time NBA champion and 12-time All-Star. He is best remembered for his incredible ball-handling skills and court vision, which helped him lead the Celtics to success in the 1950s and 1960s. Cousy was also an excellent shooter, and he remains the Celtics’ all-time leader in assists.
In addition to his on-court accomplishments, Cousy was also a pioneer off the court. He was one of the first NBA players to speak out against racism, and he was an early advocate for player rights. Today, at 95 years old, Cousy is still going strong. He remains an active member of the Celtics’ alumni community, and he continues to be an important voice in the world of basketball.
