Legends of Basketball Official Website

Dave Cowens

Founder

Inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 1991 Dave Cowens’ accomplishments on the court are second to none. Some of his honors include an NBA Rookie of the Year Award NBA All-Star (1972-78), NBA MVP (1973), NBA All-Defensive First Team, NBA All-Star Game MVP and NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time team (1996). He did spend a year with the Milwaukee Bucks but he is really known for his dominant play as a center for the Boston Celtics. David William Cowens was born on October 25, 1948 in Newport, Kentucky.

Cowens love for the game of basketball started at a young age. When he was eight years old he really took a liking to the game and continued this throughout his sophomore year of high school. After a conflict with the team’s coach that year he left the team. Cowens directed his athletic talents toward swimming and track and field. It looked as if this future Hall of Famer would never pick up a basketball again. However, this all changed the summer between his sophomore and junior year. Cowens grew 5 inches and was now 6’6. His basketball life was reborn. After a stellar senior season averaging 13 points and 20 rebounds a game it was time to take his skills to the next level.

As a native of Kentucky, like many high school players in that state, he dreamed of playing for Adolph Rupp the legendary coach of the Kentucky Wildcats. Unfortunately, this did not go as Cowens planned. Kentucky was not showing interest in the recruitment process so Cowens chose Florida State University where he was assured immediate playing time.

After being ranked in Florid State’s top 10 All-Time scoring list it is pretty safe to say he made the right decision. Cowens played here from 1967-1970 and scored 1,479 points in 78 games. Moreover, he is the all-time Florida State leading rebounder with 1,340 rebounds (17.2 rebounds per game), he holds the team record for best seasonal rebound average (17.5 in the 1968-1969 season) and he once grabbed thirty-one rebounds (second best all-time) against LSU in the 1968-69 season. In addition, in 1970 he was recognized by the Sporting News to the All-America second team. The University has retired his number at the Donald L. Tucker Center.

Selected by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 1970 NBA draft (fourth overall), Cowens had a tremendous 11-year NBA career, including 10 seasons with Boston. He became the 14th player in Celtics franchise history to have his jersey retired on February 8, 1981. He earned NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 1970-1971 and the league’s MVP award in 1972-73.

Though Cowens battled much criticism regarding his size for the position he played, he let his play on the court quiet the critics. During his NBA career, he averaged 17.6 points and 13.6 rebounds per game, was selected to seven All-Star Games, was named to the All-NBA Second Team three times, and was named to the All-NBA Defensive First Team in 1976 and All-NBA Defensive Second Team in 1973 and 1980. In addition, he was a member of the Celtics' 1974 and 1976 championship teams.

After his retirement Cowens stayed within basketball becoming a coach for the Bay State Bombardiers of the Continental Basketball Association during the 1984-1985 season. From 1994-1996 he served as an Assistant Coach for the San Antonio Spurs and finally became head coach of the Charlotte Hornets from 1996-1999 and Golden State Warriors from 1999-2001. In 2005 Cowens crossed over to the women’s league (WNBA) and coached the Chicago Sky for the beginning of the 2006 season. However, after a rough start he left the team to join the coaching staff of the Detroit Pistons where he is currently an Assistant Coach. Cowens is also a founding member of the NBRPA (National Basketball Retired Players Association).