NBA Boston Celtics, player/coach (1978-79)

CBA Bay State Bombadiers (1984-85)

NBA San Antonio Spurs, assistant coach (1994-96)

NBA Charlotte Hornets, head coach (1996-99)



What Dave Cowens lacked in size as a 6-foot-9 center, he made up for with an aggressive desire to win. Rather than follow the traditional notion of a basketball center as a back-to-the-basket pivot man, Cowens roamed the outside, shooting soft jumpers or driving to the basket. Although the "Redhead" didn't begin playing basketball until his junior year in high school, he wound up with a scholarship to Florida State University. In his collegiate career, Cowens averaged 19 points and 17 rebounds per game and shot 52 percent from the field.

On the recommendation of Hall of Famer and former great Celtics center Bill Russell, the Celtics drafted Cowens fourth overall in the 1970 NBA draft. Considered by his critics as too small to play center, Cowens quickly silenced those doubters. During the preseason annual Maurice Stokes Benefit Game in August 1970, Cowens scored 32 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and was named the game's MVP During his rookie year he averaged 17 points and 15 rebounds a game and shared the NBA Rookie-of-the-Year Award with Portland's Geoff Petrie. His playing credo was all-out intensity at both ends of the court, a style that never wavered during his entire 11-year NBA career. Cowens played aggressively, often recklessly and with great passion. He always gave fans their money's worth.

Cowens spent the entire 1970s with the Boston Celtics, serving as player/coach during the 1978-1979 season. The coaching role was short-lived, and he returned to strictly playing in the 1979-1980 season before calling it quits. Cowens was coaxed out of retirement to play 40 games with the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1982-83 season before retiring for good. During his pro career, Cowens averaged 17.6 points and 13.6 rebounds per game, was selected to seven All-Star Games and was named to the All-NBA Defensive First Team in 1976. In 1973, Cowens averaged 20.5 ppg and 16.2 rpg, and was chosen league MVP as well as MVP of the All-Star Game. He was a member of the Celtics' 1974 and 1976 championship teams. Prior to the 1994-95 NBA season, Cowens returned to the court as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs. In 1996, Cowens began the first of three seasons as head coach of the Charlotte Hornets