Kristian Ferrell
Bob Cousy, born on August 9, 1928, is an American former professional basketball player. Nicknamed The Houdini of the Hardwood, Cousy played point guard for the Boston Celtics from 1950 to 1963 and briefly with the Cincinnati Royals during the 1969-70 season. Cousy was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971. He is regarded as the first great point guard of the NBA, winning six NBA championships, one MVP award, and leading the NBA in assists for eight consecutive seasons.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Robert Joseph Cousy |
| Nicknames | "The Houdini of the Hardwood", "Cooz", "Flenchy", "The Frantic Frenchman" |
| Birth Date | August 9, 1928 |
| Birthplace | New York, New York, U.S. |
| Position | Point Guard |
| Teams | Boston Celtics, Cincinnati Royals |
| Tenure | 1950–1963 (Celtics), 1969–1970 (Royals) |
| Awards | 6x NBA Champion, 1x MVP, 13x All-Star, 12x All-NBA First and Second Team, 2x All-Star Game MVP |
| Hall of Fame | Inducted in 1971 to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| Post-Player Career | Coach, Commissioner of the American Soccer League, author, broadcaster, marketing consultant, TV commentator |
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What You'll Learn
Bob Cousy's playing style
Bob Cousy is an American former professional basketball player. He played point guard for the Boston Celtics from 1950 to 1963 and briefly with the Cincinnati Royals during the 1969–70 season. Cousy is regarded as the first great point guard of the NBA, winning eight of the first 11 assist titles in the league. He had a highly successful career, winning six NBA titles, one MVP award, 13 All-Star appearances, 12 All-NBA First and Second Team call-ups, and two All-Star Game MVP awards.
Cousy's playing style introduced an array of visually attractive street basketball moves, described by the NBA as a mix of ambidextrous, behind-the-back dribbling and "no-look passes, behind-the-back feeds or half-court fast-break launches". His modus operandi contrasted with the rest of the NBA, which was dominated by muscular low post scorers and deliberate set shooters. Cousy popularized modern guard play and raised the profile of the Boston Celtics and the entire NBA. His fast-paced playing style was later emulated by the likes of Pete Maravich and Magic Johnson.
Cousy was a playmaking maestro in the NBA's early days and a crucial part of Boston's six championship teams. He was the NBA assists leader for eight consecutive seasons, introducing a new blend of ball-handling and passing skills to the NBA. With his eye-catching dribbling and unorthodox passing, Cousy's playing style was described as "art" by one writer. Cousy's crowd-pleasing and effective play drew the crowd into the Boston Garden and also won over coach Auerbach, who no longer saw him as a liability, but as an essential building block for the future.
Cousy's impressive playing style was recognised by former New York Knicks Coach Joe Lapchick, who called him the best player of all time. After Cousy retired, Celtics owner Walter Brown said, "the Celtics wouldn’t be here without him. If he had played in New York, he would have been as big as Babe Ruth. I think he is anyway."
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Awards and accolades
Bob Cousy is a Basketball Hall of Famer since 1971. He was regarded as the first great point guard of the NBA, winning eight of the first 11 assist titles in the league. In his 13-year, 924-game NBA playing career, Cousy finished with 16,960 points, 4,786 rebounds and 6,955 assists, translating to averages of 18.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game. He was a core piece during the early half of the Celtics dynasty, winning six NBA championships during his 13-year tenure with the Celtics. Nicknamed "The Houdini of the Hardwood", Cousy was the NBA assists leader for eight consecutive seasons, introducing a new blend of ball-handling and passing skills to the NBA. He was one of four players who were selected to all four NBA anniversary teams. With his eye-catching dribbling and unorthodox passing, Cousy popularized modern guard play and raised the profile of the Boston Celtics and the entire NBA. His fast-paced playing style was later emulated by the likes of Pete Maravich and Magic Johnson.
Cousy has been the recipient of several basketball awards named after him. The Bob Cousy Award has been presented annually since 2004 by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to the top men's collegiate point guard. In 2022, the NBA renamed its Eastern Conference championship trophy in honour of Cousy. Cousy was also honoured with the Sam Davis Memorial Award as the most valuable professional player of the year by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association in 1953 and 1955.
Cousy was a three-time All-American and a five-time NBA MVP. He was a 13-time NBA All-Star and earned MVP honours in the 1954 and 1957 Games, and racked up a career total of 16,960 points. A fierce competitor, Cousy was named to the NBA's 25th, 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.
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Post-retirement career
Bob Cousy, the NBA legend, retired from basketball in 1963. He went on to publish his autobiography, 'Basketball Is My Life', in the same year and became the coach at Boston College, a position he held for six years. In 1969, at the age of 41, Cousy returned to the NBA as a player-coach for the Cincinnati Royals, but only lasted seven games.
Following his retirement from basketball, Cousy remained a public figure and continued to be involved in sports. In 1974, he began broadcasting Celtics games. He also served as the commissioner of the American Soccer League from 1974 to 1979. During his tenure, he declared the New York Apollo and Boston Astros co-champions after a match that lasted 67 minutes of extra time without a resolution.
Cousy was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971. He was the first NBA player to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated. In 1989, he became the first Hall of Famer to be named president of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Cousy has also been honoured with several basketball awards named after him, including the Bob Cousy Award, presented annually since 2004 to the top men's collegiate point guard. In addition, he wrote a book on basketball, titled 'Basketball Principles and Techniques', and has made occasional appearances at Celtics events.
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Bob Cousy's legacy
Bob Cousy is a basketball legend, widely regarded as the first great point guard of the NBA. Cousy was a six-time NBA Champion with the Boston Celtics, winning six NBA titles, one MVP award, 13 All-Star appearances, 12 All-NBA First and Second Team call-ups, and two All-Star Game MVP awards. He was also a 1947 NCAA Champion with Holy Cross.
Cousy's playing style introduced visually attractive street basketball moves, with a mix of ambidextrous, behind-the-back dribbling, no-look passes, and half-court fast-break launches. His style contrasted with the rest of the NBA, which was dominated by muscular low-post scorers and deliberate set shooters. His crowd-pleasing and effective play drew large crowds and helped raise the profile of the Boston Celtics and the NBA. Cousy popularized modern guard play, and his fast-paced style was later emulated by players like Pete Maravich and Magic Johnson.
Cousy's legacy extends beyond his playing career. He was the first president of the National Basketball Players Association, helping to secure the first NBA shoe endorsement and improving conditions and benefits for players. He has received several honours, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the NBA's Eastern Conference championship trophy was renamed in his honour in 2022. He has also remained a public figure, providing occasional basketball commentary and appearing at Celtics events.
Cousy's impact on the game of basketball is undeniable, and he is remembered as a trailblazer, a showman, and an entertainer. His skill, artistry, and passion fuelled his career, and he is revered by players and fans alike.
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Bob Cousy's early life
Bob Cousy, born Robert Joseph Cousy, was born on August 9, 1928, in New York City to French immigrants. He grew up in a multicultural environment in Manhattan's East Side. Cousy first demonstrated his basketball abilities while playing for his high school varsity team in his junior year, making the high school varsity squad as a junior. He obtained a scholarship to the College of the Holy Cross and was named an NCAA All-American for three seasons. He was one of six freshmen on the Holy Cross Crusaders' varsity basketball team in 1946-47.
Cousy led the Crusaders to berths in the 1948 NCAA Tournament and the 1950 NCAA Tournament, while winning NCAA. In the 1949-50 season, with Cousy leading the way as a senior, Holy Cross won 26 straight games and finished second in the National Invitation Tournament. Cousy joined the Boston Celtics in 1950, and by 1951 he was a core piece of the team, leading them to six NBA championships during his 13-year tenure. He was the NBA assists leader for eight consecutive seasons, introducing a new blend of ball-handling and passing skills to the NBA.
Cousy was also well-known for his public stance against racism, a result of his upbringing in a multicultural environment. In 1950, when the Celtics played in the then-segregated city of Charlotte, North Carolina, he insisted on travelling with his teammate Chuck Cooper on an overnight train rather than taking a hotel room, as Cooper, the first African-American in NBA history to be drafted, would have been denied accommodation.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Bob Cousy was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971.
Bob Cousy played point guard for the Boston Celtics from 1950 to 1963 and briefly with the Cincinnati Royals during the 1969-70 season.
Cousy introduced an array of visually attractive street basketball moves, described by the NBA as a mix of ambidextrous, behind-the-back dribbling, no-look passes, behind-the-back feeds, and half-court fast-break launches.
Bob Cousy won six NBA championships, one MVP award, 13 All-Star appearances, 12 All-NBA First and Second Team call-ups, and two All-Star Game MVP awards.
