Bob Cousy
With exceptional peripheral vision, large hands, sloping
shoulders and extremely sturdy legs, Bob Cousy was an outstanding
all-around player. In basketball circles, however, Cousy
was best known for his razzle-dazzle ball handling abilities.
Nicknamed the "Houdini of the Hardwood" by sports
writers, Cousy is considered by many as the best playmaker
ever. Cousy had an All-America career at Holy Cross, leading
the Crusaders to three NCAA tournaments and the 1947 title.
After being drafted in 1950 by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks
and immediately traded to the Chicago Stags, the unwanted
and untested Cousy's rights were drawn out of a hat by
the Boston Celtics in a dispersal draft of the Chicago
Stags franchise. Cousy's arrival coincided with that of
head coach Arnold "Red" Auerbach, whose up-tempo
style of coaching suited Cousy's remarkable playmaking
talents perfectly. Cousy finished ninth in the league in
scoring (15.6 ppg) his first season. It wasn't until midway
through his second season that Cousy began to show the
type of courtmanship that would make him a featured attraction
in NBA arenas across the country. As a "sophomore," Cousy
averaged 21.7 ppg, his highest single-season mark. With
the addition of fellow Hall of Famer Bill Russell in 1956,
the Celtics became a dynasty, winning six championships
with the combination of Cousy and Russell. Cousy led the
NBA in assists eight consecutive years (1953-60), played
in thirteen straight NBA All-Star Games, earned MVP honors
in the 1954 and 1957 Games, and racked up career total
16,960 points.
A fierce competitor, Cousy was named to the NBA's 25th and 35th and 50th Anniversary All-Time teams in 1970, 1980 and 1996. After retiring in 1963, Cousy coached Boston College from 1963 to 1969, taking the Eagles to two NCAA tournaments. He also coached the NBA's Cincinnati/Kansas City Royals from 1969 to 1974 and, at age 41, reactivated himself onto the 1969-70 Royals roster, making him the oldest performer in NBA history.
High School
- Andrew Jackson High School (Queens, NY) (1942-46)
High School Playing Highlights
- Three-year letter winner
- All-Metropolitan (1946)
College
- Holy Cross College (1946-50)
College Playing Highlights
- The Sporting News First Team All-America (1950)
- The Sporting News Second Team All-America (1949)
- NCAA championship (1947)
- Two-time All-Conference and All-New England (1949, 1950)
- Team MVP and leading scorer (1949, 1950)
Pro
- NBA Boston Celtics (1950-63)
- NBA Cincinnati Royals (1969-70)
Pro Playing Highlights
- Drafted in 1950 by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks, immediately traded to the Chicago Stags, then drawn by the Boston Celtics in a dispersal draft of the Stags franchise
- NBA MVP (1957)
- All-NBA First Team (1952-61)
- All-NBA Second Team (1962-63)
- NBA All-Star Game MVP (1954, 1957)
- Thirteen-time NBA All-Star (1951-63)
- NBA championships with the Boston Celtics (1957, 1959-63)
- Led the NBA in assists from 1953-60, including a career high 9.5 per game in 1960
- Holds NBA record for most assists in one half (19, Feb. 27, 1959 vs. Minneapolis)
- NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time Team (1970)
- NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team (1980)
- NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1996)
College Coaching
College Coaching Highlights
- Boston College record: 117-38
- New England Coach of the Year (1968, 1969)
- Led BC to three NITs (1969 finals) and two NCAA Tournaments (1967 Eastern Regional Finals)
Pro Coaching
- NBA Cincinnati Royals (1969-72)
- NBA Kansas City/Omaha Kings (1972-74)
Pro Coaching Highlights
- Compiled a 141-209 composite record in five pro coaching seasons
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