Tommy Heinsohn is one of the titans of the modern NBA, and we should honor his legacy by naming the Lifetime Achievement Award in his honor. Some of his career accolades are listed below

- As a player: 8 time champion, 6 time All-Star, 4 time All-NBA

- As a coach: 2 time champion, 1 time Coach of the Year, 4 time All-Star Game coach

- One of only 2 people to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as both a player and coach

- 30+ years as the color commentator for the Boston Celtics, becoming famous for his boisterous sideline antics and "Tommy Points", which reward a player for exceptional hustle. Also was a lead commentator for 4 NBA Finals during the 1980s

- One of the original architects of the NBA Players Union, he helped forge the path for the modern NBA, as he was instrumental in developing the player's pension plan as well as structuring free agency.

Heinsohn had an incredible impact on the league during his life, and it should not be forgotten. The NBA Lifetime Achievement Award is designed for individuals who exhibited "extraordinary success on and off the court in the NBA", and nobody fits that bill more than Tommy Heinsohn. From a Hall of Fame career on the hardwood to the sideline, as well as massive impacts from the booth to league politics, the current NBA would not be where it is without his contributions on and off the court, and he should be honored as such.