Sources: NBA eyes pre-Christmas start, 72-game regular season. The teams split the first six games, with each team winning at least once on their home court. "Celtics Pride" returned to full bloom in 1973-74, a year in which Cowens averaged 19.0 points, 15.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists, leading Boston to a 56-26 record and the top spot in the Atlantic Division. He has been married to Deby Cowens since 1978. Cowens definitely could rebound, pulling down 1,340 boards during his three varsity seasons in Tallahassee. After two 50-plus win seasons, he was quickly fired after a 4-11 start in the 1998-99 season. Join our linker program.

Subscribe to our Free Newsletter, This Month in Sports ReferenceFind out when we add a feature or make a change. [citation needed], Cowens was an assistant coach of the Detroit Pistons from 2006 to 2009. Cowens won NBA championships as a member of the Celtics in 1974 and 1976.

His number hangs in the rafters of the Donald L. Tucker Center.

Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. He also led the league in personal fouls that same year. It was Unseld's Bullets who kept the Celtics from repeating as world champions, defeating Boston in six games in the Eastern Conference finals. October 25,

But our problem with Cowens is telling him when to lay off. The Celtics finished the 1972-73 campaign with a stunning 68-14 record, by far the league's best. Dave Cowens was born on October 25, 1948 in Newport, Kentucky, USA as David William Cowens. Dave Cowens, “Big Red,” was an undersized center in the NBA whose grit, toughness, and all-out play helped him to become a superstar. However, they bowed out to the Knicks in Game 7. Dave Cowens. [1][3], During his rookie year, Cowens averaged 17.0 points per game and 15.0 rebounds per game. Cowens delved into the coaching realm with three separate teams, including the Celtics. Dave Cowens was born on October 25, 1948 in Newport, Kentucky, USA as David William Cowens. At 6'9",[2] he played the center position and occasionally played power forward. In the 1972-73 campaign, Boston honed its fast break while Cowens perfected his rebounding skills, averaging 16.2 boards, third best in the league behind Chamberlain and Nate Thurmond.

David William Cowens (born October 25, 1948, in Newport, Kentucky) is a retired American professional Basketball player and NBA head coach.

He was the 1971 NBA Rookie of the Year and the 1973 NBA Most Valuable Player. [15][16] Cowens considered running a sticker campaign for the Republican nomination, but decided to drop out of the race. On February 8, 1981, the Boston Celtics retired Cowens's #18 jersey. Cowens’ excellent rebounding skills translated just fine to the NBA, where he dominated the boards throughout his 11-year career.

The Celtics improved to 44-38, and Cowens quickly won accolades for his hustle, mobility, tenacity and unselfish approach to the game.

But he also averaged 17.0 points and 15.4 rebounds, the most ever by a first-year Celtics player besides Russell. Westphal called a time out after the floor was cleared that allowed the ball to be moved to half-court for the inbounds pass. [3] After first negotiating with the Phoenix Suns, the Celtics traded Cowens to the Milwaukee Bucks, who were coached by former Celtic teammate Don Nelson. And his numbers continued to hold strong despite missing 15 games with a broken foot.

The ability to dominate at both ends of the floor is the mark of an all-time great, and that’s why Cowens was yet another Celtic to be named to the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list. If it wasn't for a five-inch growth spurt between his sophomore and junior years, Cowens' name might have never been known beyond his hometown of Newport, Ky. At the start of his junior year Cowens stood 6-6, and the junior varsity team had a new coach. Also, FSU's basketball program was on probation at the time for recruiting violations, raising more doubts about Cowens' decision. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. In the finals, the Celtics faced the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks. Cowens' game-tying jump shot with 11 seconds remaining was answered by Lakers' guard Jerry West's buzzer-beating, 20-foot running jumper in front of the hometown Los Angeles crowd. umirovljeni je američki profesionalni košarkaš i trener. Cowens was later recognized by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as an inductee with the class of 1991. "He's a very dedicated kid," Auerbach said at the time. After a 2-12 start in 1978-79, Cowens became player-coach of the weakened Celtics, a role that predecessor Russell had filled at one time. Although the retirement was short-lived -- about 30 games -- Cowens never returned to top form. That ceremony paved the way for Cowens to wear No. He played on two championship teams and won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for 1972-73. With Silas' departure Cowens lost his enthusiasm for the game.

Copyright © 2020 NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Cowens ultimately joined his venerated predecessor in the Hall of Fame, a feat he never dreamed of achieving. [10][3][better source needed] Cowens retired for good after the season. He liked Cowens' hard-working attitude and work ethic, so Boston made Cowens the fourth overall pick in the 1970 NBA Draft, behind Bob Lanier, Rudy Tomjanovich and Pete Maravich. Cowens was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

[11], Cowens' playing credo was all-out intensity at both ends of the court, a style that never wavered during his 11-year NBA career. Having dealt guard Paul Westphal to the Phoenix Suns for Charlie Scott before the 1975-76 season, the Celtics looked to beef up an already high-powered offense.

"It was too much for me.". Fittingly, Cowens was inducted to the Hall by 6-9 Hawk great Bob Pettit, the man whose game most closely resembled Dave's in terms of skill, size, position and mostly in sheer desire.

After starring in high school at Newport Catholic High in his hometown of Newport, Kentucky, Cowens played his collegiate basketball at Florida State University from 1967 to 1970. Do Not Sell My Personal Information |

Of his 11 years in the league, all but one was spent with the Boston Celtics. Cowens retired following the 1979-80 season, but not even that second retirement was permanent. Get the latest news, stats, videos, highlights and more about not available Dave Cowens on ESPN. Instead, it was Cowens' consistency, unselfishness, versatility and energy that established him as one of the most solid and respected centers in recent NBA history. After the regular season, Cowens called it quits for the third and final time. If you make a request through the WarnerMedia Privacy Center, His determination helped to resurrect a Celtics dynasty presumed dead after the departure of legend Bill Russell. An unlikely hero in a sport dominated by men of greater size and natural ability, the red-haired lefthander relied on hustle and heart to achieve NBA greatness. The Suns had none left, so the Celtics shot and made a technical free throw. However, during his freshman year at Newport Catholic High School, Cowens had a conflict with his coach and quit the team. He once broke his foot in an exhibition game by slamming into a basket support while blocking a shot. The Celtics had fought back from a two-game deficit to even the series at three games apiece. Copyright: © 2020 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Chosen with the No. [citation needed], Cowens won his second NBA championship ring as a member of the 1975-1976 Celtics team that defeated the Phoenix Suns, 4-2, in the NBA Finals.[5]. Playing in every game and logging 41.8 minutes per night, Cowens posted a career-high average of 20.5 points. Having dealt guard Paul Westphal to the Phoenix Suns for Charlie Scott before … After dispatching the Buffalo Braves in six games and a weakened Knicks squad in five, Boston met the Milwaukee Bucks in a memorable seven-game NBA Finals. Dave Cowens, Self: NBA Hardwood Classics.

Miami Heat president Pat Riley ready to run it back next season with similar team. Do you have a sports website? Two seasons later he was hired as head coach of the Charlotte Hornets and guided them to a 13-game improvement over the previous season, a remarkable record in what most people had predicted would be a rebuilding season. His high mark came in 1972-73, when he averaged 20.5 PPG. His rebounding prowess was also key in two Celtics championships (1974, 1976), and assisted him in winning both the NBA All-Star Game MVP and the NBA MVP in 1973. 4 overall pick in the 1970 NBA Draft. Happy 72nd Birthday to Big Red, Dave Cowens. But Cowens liked Florida State coach Hugh Durham, who promised the prep star a starting spot as a sophomore and made Cowens feel as though his abilities would be put to good use. He responded by scoring 28 points and snagging 14 rebounds to lead the Celtics to a 102-87 victory. Just because he was one of the greatest rebounders ever to play the game doesn’t mean he didn’t offer plenty at the other end of the floor as well.

That year Cowens added an All-Star MVP Award, tallying 15 points and 13 rebounds in the midseason showcase in Chicago. Former Celtics center Bill Russell's recommendation of Cowens influenced the selection. David William Cowens (Newport, KY, 25. listopada 1948.) "He was quick, fast, strong and skilled, and played hard," Knicks Hall of Fame center Willis Reed said of Cowens.

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