Bob Cousy facts for kids
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Cousy with the Boston Celtics, c. 1959–1963
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 9, 1928 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| High school | Andrew Jackson (Queens, New York) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Holy Cross (1946–1950) |
| NBA Draft | 1950 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall |
| Selected by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks | |
| Pro career | 1950–1963, 1969–1970 |
| Coaching career | 1963–1973 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1950–1963 | Boston Celtics |
| 1969–1970 | Cincinnati Royals |
| As coach: | |
| 1963–1969 | Boston College |
| 1969–1973 | Cincinnati Royals / Kansas City-Omaha Kings |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 16,960 (18.4 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 4,786 (5.2 rpg) |
| Assists | 6,955 (7.5 apg) |
Robert Joseph Cousy (pronounced KOO-zee, born August 9, 1928) is an American former professional basketball player. He played point guard for the Boston Celtics from 1950 to 1963. He also played briefly with the Cincinnati Royals in 1969–70. Cousy was a 13-time NBA All-Star and the 1957 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP). He was a key player during the early years of the Celtics' amazing success. He helped them win six NBA championships in his 13 years with the team.
People called him "The Houdini of the Hardwood" because of his amazing skills. Cousy led the NBA in assists for eight years in a row. He brought new ways of handling the ball and passing to the game. Many see him as the first truly great point guard in the NBA. He was also the first player to reach 4,000, 5,000, and 6,000 career assists.
Cousy joined his high school's main basketball team as a junior. He then earned a scholarship to the College of the Holy Cross. There, he led the Crusaders to the NCAA Tournament in 1948 and the NCAA Tournament in 1950. He also earned NCAA All-American honors for three seasons. Cousy entered the 1950 NBA draft and was chosen by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks. He was the third player picked overall. But he didn't want to play for them, so the Boston Celtics picked him up instead. After his playing career, he coached college basketball and later coached the Cincinnati Royals in the NBA.
In 1971, Cousy was chosen for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The Celtics honored him by retiring his No. 14 jersey. This means no other Celtics player will ever wear that number. Cousy was also named to the NBA's 25th, 35th, 50th, and 75th Anniversary Teams. This makes him one of only four players to be on all these special teams. He was also the first president of the National Basketball Players Association. On August 22, 2019, President Donald Trump gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is one of the highest awards a civilian can receive in the U.S.
Contents
Growing Up
Bob Cousy was the only son of immigrants from France. They lived in New York City during the Great Depression. His father worked as a cab driver and took on extra jobs to earn money. Bob learned to speak French first and only started speaking English when he went to elementary school. He played stickball with kids from many different backgrounds. This taught him to be strongly against racism, a belief he showed throughout his career. When he was 12, his family moved to St. Albans, Queens.
Cousy started playing basketball at age 13. He loved it right away. The next year, he tried out for his high school team but was cut. He then joined a local league called the St. Albans Lindens. There, he started to get much better at basketball. The next year, he was cut from the school team again.
That same year, he broke his right hand falling out of a tree. This forced him to play with his left hand until his right hand healed. This made him good at using both hands. He later said this accident was "lucky" because it made him a more skilled player. His high school coach saw him play in a league game and was impressed. The coach invited Cousy to try out for the junior varsity team. He did well and became a permanent member. He practiced a lot and by his junior year, he joined the main varsity team. He scored 28 points in his first game! He then decided to focus on school and basketball to get into college.
In his senior year, he was excellent at basketball. He led his team to win the Queens championship. He scored more points than any other high school player in New York City. He was even named captain of a special All-Scholastic team. He wanted to go to a Catholic school outside New York City. He chose the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. They offered him a basketball scholarship, and he accepted.
College Basketball
In 1946–47, Cousy was one of six new players on the Holy Cross Crusaders' basketball team. Their coach, Doggie Julian, used a system where all six new players would come off the bench together. Cousy was not happy with how little he played. He even prayed for more playing time. Coach Julian thought Cousy was too flashy. Back then, basketball was a slower game. But Cousy played a fast, exciting style. He used both hands to dribble, passed behind his back, and made no-look passes. Even with limited time, he scored 227 points that season. The Crusaders finished with a great record of 24 wins and 3 losses.
Holy Cross made it into the 1947 NCAA Tournament. They were the last team to get in. They beat Navy and CCNY to reach the championship game. In the final, they faced Oklahoma. Holy Cross won 58–47, becoming the first college from New England to win the NCAA tournament. Cousy didn't play his best in that game, scoring only four points. When they returned to Worcester, about 10,000 fans cheered for them.
The next season, Coach Julian still limited Cousy's playing time. Cousy even thought about transferring to another school. But another coach advised him to stay. Cousy still led the team in scoring and was named an All-American. He led the team in scoring again in his junior year.
In his senior year (1949–1950), fans started chanting "We want Cousy!" in a game when Holy Cross was losing. Coach Julian finally put him in. Cousy scored 11 points in just a few minutes and hit a game-winning shot. This made him a true team leader. He then led Holy Cross to 26 wins in a row. He was named a First Team All-American and led the team in scoring for the third year. His college career ended in the 1950 NCAA Tournament when Holy Cross lost in the first round.
Professional Basketball
Starting with the Celtics (1950–1956)
Cousy decided to play professionally and entered the 1950 NBA draft. The Boston Celtics had the first pick. Many thought they would choose Cousy, who was a local favorite. But Celtics coach Red Auerbach chose another player, Charlie Share, instead. Auerbach said he wanted to win, not just please local fans. Other scouts also doubted Cousy, thinking he was too flashy.
The Tri-Cities Blackhawks drafted Cousy, but he didn't want to move there. He was trying to start a driving school in Massachusetts. He asked for a high salary, but the Blackhawks owner offered less. So, Cousy refused to play for them. He was then picked by the Chicago Stags, but that team closed down. The league commissioner then made Cousy available to other teams. The Celtics owner, Walter A. Brown, reluctantly picked Cousy. He later said he was surprised to get him. Brown gave Cousy a $9,000 salary.
Soon, both Auerbach and Brown changed their minds about Cousy. In his first season (1950–51), Cousy averaged 15.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. He was chosen for his first of 13 straight NBA All-Star teams. He helped the Celtics get a good record, but they lost in the 1951 NBA Playoffs. The next season, with new teammate Bill Sharman, Cousy improved even more. He averaged 21.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 6.7 assists. He was named to the All-NBA First Team. But the Celtics still lost in the playoffs.
In the next season, Cousy kept getting better. He averaged 7.7 assists per game, winning the first of his eight straight assist titles. This was impressive because the NBA didn't have a shot clock yet, which made games slower. The Celtics won 46 games. In the playoffs, they beat the Syracuse Nationals in a thrilling game that went into four overtimes. Cousy played 66 minutes and scored 50 points, making a record 30 free throws. This game is still seen as one of the greatest scoring performances ever. However, the Celtics lost in the next round.
Over the next three years, Cousy became known as one of the league's best point guards. He led the league in assists every season. He averaged around 20 points and 7 rebounds. He earned more All-NBA First Team and All-Star honors. He was also the Most Valuable Player of the 1954 NBA All-Star Game. Cousy brought exciting moves to the game, like behind-the-back dribbling and no-look passes. People started calling him "Houdini of the Hardwood." His exciting play drew big crowds to the Boston Garden. Coach Auerbach now saw him as a vital part of the team.
The Celtics added two more talented players: Frank Ramsey and Jim Loscutoff. Loscutoff even became Cousy's unofficial bodyguard, protecting him from rough play. But the Celtics still struggled in the playoffs for a few more years. Cousy felt the team got tired. So, Auerbach looked for a strong defensive center to help the team.
Celtics Dynasty Years (1957–1963)
Before the 1956–57 NBA season, Auerbach drafted two future Hall-of-Famers: Tom Heinsohn and Bill Russell. With these new players, the Celtics had a great season. Cousy averaged 20.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and a league-leading 7.5 assists. He won his first NBA Most Valuable Player Award and his second NBA All-Star Game MVP award. The Celtics reached the 1957 NBA Finals and beat the Hawks 4–3. Cousy finally won his first NBA championship!
In the 1957–58 NBA season, Cousy had another excellent year. He averaged 20.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 8.6 assists. He again led the NBA in assists. The Celtics reached the 1958 NBA Finals against the Hawks. But when Russell got a foot injury, the Celtics lost the series. This was the last time Cousy would lose an NBA playoff series.
In the 1958–59 NBA season, the Celtics got their revenge. Cousy played inspired basketball, averaging 20.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and a league-high 8.6 assists. He won another assist title. Late in the season, Cousy set an NBA record with 28 assists in one game. While that record was later broken, his record of 19 assists in a single half has never been broken. The Celtics swept the playoffs and defeated the Minneapolis Lakers 4–0 in the 1959 NBA Finals. This was the first time an NBA Finals ended in a 4–0 sweep.
Cousy continued to play well in the 1959–60 NBA season. He averaged 19.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 9.5 assists, winning his eighth straight assist title. The Celtics won the 1960 NBA Finals 4–3 against the Hawks. A year later, at 32 years old, Cousy averaged 18.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 7.7 assists. He didn't win the assist crown this time, but the Celtics won the 1961 NBA Finals easily, beating the Hawks 4–1.
In the 1961–62 NBA season, Cousy's stats started to drop a bit as he got older. He averaged 15.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 7.8 assists. He was voted to the All-NBA Second Team after ten straight First Team nominations. Still, he had a great postseason, winning the 1962 NBA Finals after tough 4–3 battles against the Philadelphia Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers. The Finals against the Lakers were very exciting.
Finally, in the 1962–63 NBA season, his last year, Cousy averaged 13.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 6.8 assists. He earned one last All-Star and All-NBA Second Team nomination. In the 1963 NBA Finals, the Celtics again beat the Lakers 4–2. Cousy ended his career on a high note. In the last game, he sprained his ankle but went back in. He didn't score again, but his presence helped the Celtics win. The game ended with Cousy throwing the ball into the air in celebration.
Saying Goodbye
Cousy retired on March 17, 1963, in a packed Boston Garden. This event became known as the "Boston Tear Party." The crowd's reaction was so strong that Cousy was speechless. His planned 7-minute farewell speech lasted 20 minutes. A fan yelled, "We love ya, Cooz," which broke the tension and made the crowd cheer. President John F. Kennedy sent a message to Cousy, saying his skills would always be remembered.
Short Comeback (1969–1970)
During the 1969–70 NBA season, Cousy was coaching the Cincinnati Royals. At 41 years old, he made a brief comeback as a player for seven games.
Coaching Career
Boston College (1963–1969)
After retiring as a player, Cousy wrote his autobiography called Basketball Is My Life in 1963. That same year, he became the coach at Boston College. He coached there for six seasons, winning 114 games and losing 38. He was named New England Coach of the Year in 1968 and 1969. Cousy led the Eagles to several postseason tournaments.
Cincinnati Royals / Kansas City-Omaha Kings (1969–1973)
Cousy eventually got tired of college basketball. He returned to the NBA as the coach of the Cincinnati Royals. He later said he took the job for the money. He continued to coach the team when it moved and became the Kansas City-Omaha Kings. He stepped down as coach in 1973.
Bob Cousy's Legacy
In 1954, the NBA didn't have many benefits for players. The average salary was low. To help players, Cousy started the National Basketball Players Association. This was the first union for players in any of the four major North American professional sports leagues. Cousy was its first president until 1958.
In his 13-year NBA career, Cousy played 924 games. He scored 16,960 points, grabbed 4,786 rebounds, and made 6,955 assists. This means he averaged 18.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game. He is seen as the first great point guard in the NBA. He won eight of the first 11 assist titles in the league. He had a very successful career, winning six NBA titles, one MVP award, and was named to 13 All-Star teams.
With his eye-catching dribbling and unique passing, Cousy made modern guard play popular. He also helped make the Boston Celtics and the entire NBA more famous. His fast-paced style of play later inspired players like Pete Maravich and Magic Johnson.
To honor his achievements, Cousy was put into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971. In 1963, the Celtics retired his jersey number, 14. Celtics owner Walter Brown said, "The Celtics wouldn't be here without him. He made basketball famous in this town." In 2006, ESPN.com ranked Cousy as the fifth-greatest point guard of all time. They said he was "ahead of his time with his ballhandling and passing skills."
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On November 16, 2008, Cousy's college uniform number, 17, was also honored at Holy Cross. It was hung in the rafters of the Hart Center. In 2019, Cousy received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Donald Trump. A statue of Cousy was put up outside the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 2021.
Several basketball awards are named after him. The Bob Cousy Award is given each year to the best men's college point guard. In 2022, the NBA renamed its Eastern Conference championship trophy in honor of Cousy.
Off the Court
Soccer Commissioner
Even though he didn't know much about soccer, Cousy became the Commissioner of the American Soccer League in 1974. He left this job in 1979.
Personal Life
Cousy married his college sweetheart, Missie Ritterbusch, in 1950. They lived in Worcester, Massachusetts, and had two daughters. His wife passed away in 2013.
Cousy was known for speaking out against racism. This came from growing up in a diverse neighborhood. In 1950, the Celtics played in Charlotte, North Carolina, which had segregation. His teammate Chuck Cooper, the first African-American drafted into the NBA, was not allowed a hotel room. Cousy refused to stay in the hotel and traveled with Cooper on an uncomfortable overnight train instead. He said seeing Cooper forced to use a separate, shabby bathroom was one of the most shameful moments of his life. He also supported Bill Russell, another Black Celtics star who faced racism.
He was very close to his Celtics coach, Red Auerbach. Cousy was one of the few people allowed to call him "Arnold," his real first name. Cousy also worked as a TV commentator for the Celtics in the 1980s. He even had a small role in the 1994 basketball movie Blue Chips. Today, he works as a marketing consultant for the Celtics.
