Dave Cowens

Undersized center who hustled his way to MVP and two NBA titles with the Celtics.

David William Cowens (born October 25, 1948) is an American former professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6 ft, he played the center position and occasionally played power forward. Cowens spent most of his playing career with the Boston Celtics. He was the 1971 NBA Rookie of the Year and the 1973 NBA Most Valuable Player. Cowens won NBA championships as a member of the Celtics in 1974 and 1976. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991. Throughout his career Cowens was known for being an undersized center, however he made up for his height with hustle and athleticism. Cowens has also held coaching positions in the NBA, CBA, and WNBA. Cowens was named a member of both the NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team and the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

Quick Facts

Position: Consultant
Born: 25 October 1948
Birthplace: Newport, Kentucky, U.S.
High school: Newport Catholic (Newport, Kentucky)
College: Florida State (1967–1970)
Draft year: 1970
Draft round: 1
Draft pick: 4

Lore & Background

David William Cowens was born on October 25, 1948, in Newport, Kentucky, one of six children of Jack and Ruth Cowens. His father was a World War II veteran, and later worked as a barber and Ruth served as a stay-at-home mother. His family lived in a modest two-story home on Lexington Avenue in East Newport. Growing up Cowens spent his time fishing in the Ohio River, adventuring into Cincinnati by hopping freight trains, often self-funding trips via odd jobs.

He attended St. Anthony's School in Bellevue, at the age of eight he began playing organized basketball. He later attended Newport Catholic High School, and during his freshman year he had a conflict with the basketball coach and quit the team. Cowens initially didn’t have any thoughts of returning to basketball until he had a five-inch growth spurt between his sophomore and junior years. He went on to play his junior and senior years and excelled in the sport.

Cowens attended Florida State University, playing from 1967 to 1970 for coach Hugh Durham. He is often considered one of the best players in Florida State history. He scored 1,479 points in 78 games at Florida State, at 19.0 points per game, and ranks among Florida State's top 10 all-time scoring leaders. Cowens is the all-time Florida State leading rebounder with 1,340 rebounds (17.2 rebounds per game).

He holds the team record for best seasonal rebound average (17.5 in the 1968–1969 season). He once grabbed 31 rebounds against LSU in the 1968–69 season, and also had a record 456 in one season. Cowens was named to The Sporting News All-America second team in 1970. His number hangs in the rafters of the Donald L. Tucker Center.

Reader's Guide

Cowens was selected as the fourth overall pick by the Boston Celtics in the 1970 NBA draft. Former Celtics center Bill Russell's recommendation of Cowens influenced the selection. Jim Loscutoff had declined to have his No. 18 jersey number retired by the Celtics, instead choosing to allow other players to wear the number. This allowed Cowens to wear No. 18 as well.

During his rookie year, Cowens appeared in 81 games playing around 38 minutes a game for the Celtics. He averaged 17.0 points per game and 15.0 rebounds per game. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and shared the NBA's Rookie of the Year honors with Portland's Geoff Petrie. He also led the league in personal fouls that same year with 350.

During his second year in the 1971-72 season Cowens appeared in 79 games and began playing 40 minutes a game. His numbers went up slightly from his rookie year (averaging 18.8 PPG, 15.2 RPG and 3.1 APG) and he was selected to his first All-Star game. In the 1972–73 season, Cowens appeared in all 82 games for the only time in his career, playing 40+ minutes a game. He went on to average a career high 20.5 PPG, a career high 16.2 RPG along with 4.1 APG while helping the Celtics to a league-best 68–14 record.

For his efforts Cowens was chosen as the 1973 NBA MVP. Cowens was also named MVP of the All-Star Game that same season. Cowens was named to his first All-NBA Second Team. The following season, Cowens played in 80 games and played a career high 41.9 MPG, he averaged 19.0 PPG, 15.7 RPG, 4.4 APG and a career high 1.3 BPG while guiding the Celtics to a record of 56–26.

Cowens was instrumental in bringing the Celtics into the playoffs, where they defeated the Buffalo Braves in six games and the New York Knicks in five. In the finals, the Celtics faced the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks. The teams split the first six games, leading to a decisive Game 7, where the Celtics prevailed thanks to a strong performance by Cowens, who recorded 28 points and 14 rebounds as the Celtics took their 12th NBA championship. Prior to the 1974-75 season Cowens broke his foot in a preseason match up and didn’t play in his first game until November 21, 1974 vs. the Phoenix Suns.

Cowens went on to play 65 games that year following his return, and continued with his strong play averaging 20.4 PPG, 14.7 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.1 BPG and a career high 1.3 steals per game.