Bob Cousy

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Lore & Background

Cousy's playing style introduced a new blend of ball-handling and passing skills that had never been seen in the NBA. Known for his ambidextrous finesse, he utilized behind-the-back dribbling and no-look passes to confuse defenses. This unique approach stemmed from a childhood accident at age 12; after falling out of a tree and breaking his right hand, he was forced to play left-handed until it healed, effectively making him ambidextrous. He later described this injury as "a fortunate event" that made him more versatile on the court. Before joining the Celtics, Cousy refused to report to the Tri-Cities Blackhawks after being drafted third overall in 1950, leading Boston to acquire his rights. His college career at Holy Cross was equally dynamic; despite initial criticism from coach Doggie Julian for being a "showboater," he led the Crusaders to NCAA Tournament berths in 1948 and 1950 while earning All-American honors for three seasons.

In Their Own Story

During his junior year at Andrew Jackson High School, Cousy was cut from the team twice before finally making the varsity squad midway through the season. In that first game, he scored 28 points, proving his worth after failing a citizenship course earlier made him ineligible. His journey to the pros began in earnest when he accepted a scholarship from the College of the Holy Cross over Boston College, which lacked dormitories. At Holy Cross, Cousy faced limited playing time as a freshman but eventually found his rhythm. In the 1948 NCAA championship game against Oklahoma, while star George Kaftan scored 18 points to secure the 58–47 victory, Cousy played poorly, scoring only four points on 2-for-13 shooting. Despite this, Holy Cross became the first New England college to win the tournament, greeted by 10,000 cheering fans at Union Station in Worcester. This resilience and adaptability carried him into the NBA, where he led his team to six titles.

Reader's Guide

Bob Cousy's career is defined by his record-setting playmaking and championship success with the Boston Celtics from 1950 to 1963. He was the NBA assists leader for eight consecutive seasons and holds the distinction of being the first point guard in history to reach 4,000, 5,000, and 6,000 career assists. His accolades include 13 All-Star selections, one MVP award (1957), and six NBA championships. Beyond his playing days, Cousy served as a college coach and an NBA head coach for the Cincinnati Royals. He was also the first president of the National Basketball Players Association. In recognition of his contributions, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971, the same year the Celtics retired his No. 14 jersey. He remains one of only four players selected to the NBA's 25th, 35th, 50th, and 75th Anniversary Teams.

Did You Know?

• Cousy broke his right hand falling out of a tree at age 12, forcing him to play left-handed until healed, which made him effectively ambidextrous.
• He was initially drafted by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks as the third overall pick in 1950 but refused to report before Boston acquired his rights.
• As of 2026, Cousy is one of only two players from the NBA's 25th, 35th, 50th, and 75th Anniversary Teams who are still alive, the other being Bob Pettit.
• On August 22, 2019, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump.