#18 Dave Cowens, “Big Red,” Center, 1970-1980
Born in Newport, Kentucky in 1948, Dave Cowens attended Florida State University from 1967 to ’70, where he was named Second Team All-American in his last year. To this day, he’s the school’s all time leader in rebounds with 1,340, as well as the leader in rebounds per game with 17.5 in 1968-69 and is second all time in single game rebounds with 31. His number “5” was retired by Florida State. Although relatively short for a center at 6’9’’, Cowens was drafted fourth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1970, partly on the recommendation of Bill Russell.
The Celtics were going through a difficult transition following the retirement of Russell and many of the other stars of the ‘50s and ‘60s, and they missed the playoffs in Cowens’ rookie season. He started strong however, winning Rookie of the Year and making All-Rookie First Team in 1971. The Celtics soon turned things around, thanks to Cowens and Jo Jo White, who had entered the league the year before, and the C’s were back in the playoffs in ‘72. 1972 was also Cowens’ first All Star Game, something he would repeat every year of his Celtics career besides 1979. In 1974, Cowens would win his first NBA Championship against the Milwaukee Bucks, and won another in 1976 against the Phoenix Suns. Cowens retired for the first time in 1980 at the relatively young age of 31.
He was later convinced to return to basketball to play one more season for the Milwaukee Bucks in 1982-83, where his old teammate Don Nelson was head coach. Alongside his two championship rings, Dave Cowens was also League MVP in 1973, averaging over 20 points and 16 rebounds in a season that the Celtics went 68 and 14. He was also All-NBA Second Team in 1973, ‘75 and ‘76, All-Defensive First Team in 1976, and All-Defensive Second Team in 1975 and ‘80. He served as Celtics team captain from 1978 to 1980 and as player-coach for most of 1978-79. He was also selected to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Among Celtics players, Cowens currently sits at third all time in rebounds, sixth in blocked shots, eighth in minutes played, ninth in both points and steals, and tenth in assists. His career highs include 16.2 rebounds and 20.5 points per game, both in 1972-73. He scored a career high 39 points in a January 1976 win against the Philadelphia 76ers. That March, he grabbed a ridiculous 27 rebounds in another win against the Sixers. In 1977-78, he was one of five players ever to lead their team in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals in the same season. Cowens’ number “18” was retired by the Celtics in 1981.
After his playing career, Cowens became the assistant coach of the San Antonio Spurs from 1994 to ‘96, then head coach of the Charlotte Hornets from 1996 to ‘99 and of the Golden State Warriors from 1999 to 2001. In 2006, he joined the coaching staff of the Detroit Pistons. In 1991, Dave Cowens was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
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