David William Cowens (/ˈkaʊənz/COW-ənz; born October 25, 1948)[1] is an American former professionalbasketball player andNBA head coach. At 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m),[2] he played thecenter position and occasionally playedpower forward. Cowens spent most of his playing career with theBoston Celtics. He was the 1972 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 theNaismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991. Cowens has also held coaching positions in the NBA,CBA, andWNBA.
Cowens was named a member of both theNBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team and theNBA 75th Anniversary Team.
David William Cowens was born on October 25, 1948, inNewport, Kentucky, one of six children of Jack and Ruth Cowens. He attendedNewport Catholic High School, where he excelled in basketball.[3]
In 2018, Cowens attended a ceremony at which the school dedicated its new gymnasium floor, styled in the parquet pattern of Boston Garden.
Cowens attendedFlorida State University. He played from 1967 to 1970 for coachHugh Durham. He scored 1,479 points in 78 games atFlorida State, at 19.0 points per game, and ranks among Florida State's top 10 all-time scoring leaders.[citation needed]
Cowens is the all-timeFlorida 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).[citation needed] He once grabbed 31 rebounds (second-best all-time) againstLSU in the 1968–69 season.[citation needed]
Cowens was named toThe Sporting NewsAll-America second team in 1970. His number hangs in the rafters of theDonald L. Tucker Center.[citation needed]
Cowens was selected as the fourth overall pick by theBoston Celtics in the1970 NBA draft. Former Celtics centerBill Russell's recommendation of Cowens influenced the selection. While some critics believed that Cowens was too small to play center, Russell said: "No one is going to tell that kid he can't play center".[1][4]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.[5]
During his rookie year, Cowens averaged 17.0 points per game and 15.0 rebounds per game. He was named to theNBA All-Rookie First Team and shared the NBA's Rookie of the Year honors withPortland'sGeoff Petrie. He also led the league in personal fouls that same year.[6]
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In the 1972–73 season, Cowens averaged 20.5 ppg, 16.2 rpg and 4.1 apg while helping the Celtics to a league-best 68–14 record. In that season also, Cowens scored 20 points, grabbed a career-high 32 rebounds and dished out 9 assists in a home win over theHouston Rockets. He carried the Celtics to the semifinals, where they met theNew York Knicks. They won Game 1 of that best-of-7 series after Cowens recorded 15 points and 18 rebounds. However, they bowed out to the Knicks in Game 7.[7] Cowens was chosen theNBA MVP as well as MVP of theAll-Star Game that same season. Cowens and fellow CelticBill Russell both have the distinction of being named MVP of the league but not being included on theAll-NBA First Team.[citation needed]
The following season, Cowens averaged 19.0 PPG, 15.7 RPG, 4.4 APG and 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-seededMilwaukee Bucks. The teams split the first six games, with each team winning at least once on their home court. This led to a decisive Game 7, where the Celtics faced the Bucks in Milwaukee. 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.[6]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.[8]
Eight games into the 1976–77 season on November 10, 1976, and with the Celtics on a four-game losing streak, Cowens left the team for "undisclosed reasons". Speculations included that Cowens was upset that the team didn't offerPaul Silas a new contract after the previous season and traded him to theDenver Nuggets. Other speculations were that he was unhappy with coachTom Heinsohn and also his involvement in a lawsuit from the previous season where he allegedly struck a fan during a game against theHouston Rockets. Cowens returned to the team in January 1977 and led them to the playoffs, where they lost in the second round to thePhiladelphia 76ers.[9]
Cowens averaged 18.6 points and 14 rebounds a game in the 1977–78 season, but the Celtics missed the playoffs for the first time since his 1970–71 rookie season.
After CoachSatch Sanders was fired following a 2–12 start to the 1978–1979 season, Cowens served as player-coach for the remainder of the season.[10] The team finished the year with a 29–53 record.
In his final season with the Celtics (1979–80), Cowens helped the team to a 61–21 record. Cowens averaged 14.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists during the season. Cowens and the Celtics defeated the Houston Rockets 4–0 in the Eastern Conference playoffs before losing to the Philadelphia 76ers 4–1 in the Eastern Conference finals.[11][12]
Cowens retired as a player in 1980, as Boston draftedKevin McHale and traded forRobert Parish to replace him at center. Boston then won the 1981 NBA Championship.[13] "I have sprained my ankle at least 30 times over the duration of my career, broken both legs and fractured a foot," Cowens said upon retiring. "Two years ago, a team of foot and bone specialists said they were amazed that I could play up to that point without sustaining serious injuries."[4]
In 1982–83, Cowens felt the desire to play again and approached the Celtics about trading him, as they still held his rights. Cowens said, "The Celtics are set up front (with Bird, McHale and Parish). They could trade me, work something out. No disrespect to Bill Fitch. I'd advise any younger players to play for him, but I'd probably be better off somewhere else".[4]
After first negotiating with thePhoenix Suns, the Celtics traded Cowens to theMilwaukee Bucks, who were coached by former Celtic teammateDon Nelson. The Celtics receivedQuinn Buckner from Milwaukee as compensation.[4] Cowens averaged 8.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 25 minutes per game with the Bucks. He was injured in the final game of the regular season and was unable to play in the playoffs for Milwaukee.[14][4][better source needed] Cowens retired for good after the season.[15]
During hisNBA career, Cowens averaged adouble-double of 17.6 points and 13.6 rebounds. with 3.8 assists and 1.1 steals in 766 career NBA games. Cowens was selected to eight All-Star Games, was named to the All-NBA Second Team three times, and was named to the All-NBA Defensive First Team in 1976 and All-NBA Defensive Second Team in 1973 and 1980. He was a member of the Celtics' 1974 and 1976NBA Championship teams.[15]
Cowens' playing credo was all-out intensity at both ends of the court, a style that never wavered during his 11-year NBA career. "He was quick, fast, strong and skilled, and played hard," Knicks Hall of Fame centerWillis Reed said of Cowens.[4]
Cowens was the fourth center in NBA history to average five assists per game in a single season, joiningWilt Chamberlain, former Celtic center,Bill Russell, andKareem Abdul-Jabbar. His career average is 3.8 assists per game.[citation needed] As of the end of the 2018–19 season, Cowens ranked 27th overall for most point-rebound-assist triple-doubles by a center in NBA history.[citation needed]
As evidence to his all-around ability, only five other players (Scottie Pippen,Kevin Garnett,LeBron James,Giannis Antetokounmpo andNikola Jokić)[citation needed] have led their teams in all five major statistical categories for a season: points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals. He accomplished the feat in the 1977–78 season, averaging 18.6 points, 14.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 0.9 blocks and 1.3 steals as Boston finished 32–50.[16]
In 1996, Cowens was honored as one of the league's greatest players of all time by being named to theNBA 50th Anniversary Team.[17] In October 2021, Cowens was again honored as one of the league's greatest players of all time by being named to theNBA 75th Anniversary Team.[18] To commemorate the NBA's 75th AnniversaryThe Athletic ranked their top 75 players of all time, and named Cowens as the 57th greatest player in NBA history.[19]
"No one ever did more for the Celtics than Dave did," saidJohn Havlicek of his Celtic teammate.[4]
He began his coaching career by serving as aplayer-coach for theBoston Celtics during the 1978–79 season, but he quit coaching after the season and returned as a full-time player before retiring in 1980.[20]
Cowens coached the Bay State Bombardiers of theContinental Basketball Association in 1984–85.[21]
Cowens returned to the NBA coaching ranks as an assistant coach for theSan Antonio Spurs in 1994–96 and was considered for the coaching job of the Boston Celtics during the 1995 offseason.[22]
Cowens served as head coach of theCharlotte Hornets from 1996 to 1999.[23]
Cowens was the head coach of theGolden State Warriors from 2000 to 2001. He was the head coach for the entire 2000–2001 season, before being fired 23 games into the 2001–2002 season.[24]
In 2005–06 Cowens was head coach of theChicago Sky of theWomen's National Basketball Association (WNBA).[25]
Cowens was an assistant coach of theDetroit Pistons from 2006 to 2009.[25]
In1990, Cowens, a former Democrat, ran as a Republican forMassachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. However, because he did not register by June 5, 1989, he was unable to appear on the primary ballot.[26][27] Cowens considered running asticker campaign for the Republican nomination, but decided to drop out of the race.[27]
Cowens married his wife, Deby, in 1978. They have two daughters and several grandchildren.[28] In 1977, Cowens spent a day driving ataxi cab for the Independent Taxi Operators Association (ITOA) in Boston. "Nobody even knew who I was," Cowens toldESPN. "I put my cap on and just you know drove around. I got decent tips, though."[29]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| † | Won anNBA championship | * | Led the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970–71 | Boston | 81 | — | 38.0 | .422 | — | .732 | 15.0 | 2.8 | — | — | 17.0 |
| 1971–72 | Boston | 79 | — | 40.3 | .484 | — | .720 | 15.2 | 3.1 | — | — | 18.8 |
| 1972–73 | Boston | 82* | — | 41.8 | .452 | — | .779 | 16.2 | 4.1 | — | — | 20.5 |
| 1973–74† | Boston | 80 | — | 41.9 | .437 | — | .832 | 15.7 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 19.0 |
| 1974–75 | Boston | 65 | — | 40.5 | .475 | — | .783 | 14.7 | 4.6 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 20.4 |
| 1975–76† | Boston | 78 | — | 39.8 | .468 | — | .756 | 16.0 | 4.2 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 19.0 |
| 1976–77 | Boston | 50 | — | 37.8 | .434 | — | .818 | 13.9 | 5.0 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 16.4 |
| 1977–78 | Boston | 77 | — | 41.8 | .490 | — | .842 | 14.0 | 4.6 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 18.6 |
| 1978–79 | Boston | 68 | — | 37.0 | .483 | — | .807 | 9.6 | 3.6 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 16.6 |
| 1979–80 | Boston | 66 | 55 | 32.7 | .453 | .083 | .779 | 8.1 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 14.2 |
| 1982–83 | Milwaukee | 40 | 34 | 25.4 | .444 | .000 | .825 | 6.9 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 8.1 |
| Career | 766 | 89 | 38.6 | .460 | .071 | .783 | 13.6 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 17.6 | |
| All-Star | 6 | 4 | 25.7 | .500 | — | .714 | 13.5 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 12.7 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Boston | 11 | — | 40.1 | .455 | — | .596 | 13.8 | 3.0 | — | — | 15.5 |
| 1973 | Boston | 13 | — | 46.0 | .473 | — | .659 | 16.6 | 3.7 | — | — | 21.9 |
| 1974† | Boston | 18 | — | 42.9 | .435 | — | .797 | 13.3 | 3.7 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 20.5 |
| 1975 | Boston | 11 | — | 43.5 | .428 | — | .885 | 16.5 | 4.2 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 20.5 |
| 1976† | Boston | 18 | — | 44.3 | .457 | — | .759 | 16.4 | 4.6 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 21.0 |
| 1977 | Boston | 9 | — | 42.1 | .446 | — | .773 | 14.9 | 4.0 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 16.6 |
| 1980 | Boston | 9 | — | 33.4 | .476 | .000 | .909 | 7.3 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 12.0 |
| Career | 89 | — | 42.3 | .451 | .000 | .744 | 14.4 | 3.7 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 18.9 | |
| Regular season | G | Games coached | W | Games won | L | Games lost | W–L % | Win–loss % |
| Playoffs | PG | Playoff games | PW | Playoff wins | PL | Playoff losses | PW–L % | Playoff win–loss % |
| Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Finish | PG | PW | PL | PW–L% | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 1978–79 | 68 | 27 | 41 | .397 | 5th in Atlantic | - | - | - | Missed playoffs | |
| Charlotte | 1996–97 | 82 | 54 | 28 | .659 | 4th in Central | 3 | 0 | 3 | .000 | Lost inFirst Round |
| Charlotte | 1997–98 | 82 | 51 | 31 | .622 | 3rd in Central | 9 | 4 | 5 | .444 | Lost inConf. Semifinals |
| Charlotte | 1998–99 | 15 | 4 | 11 | .267 | (resigned) | – | – | – | – | – |
| Golden State | 2000–01 | 82 | 17 | 65 | .207 | 7th in Pacific | – | – | – | – | Missed playoffs |
| Golden State | 2001–02 | 23 | 8 | 15 | .348 | (fired) | – | – | – | – | – |
| Career | 352 | 161 | 191 | .457 | 12 | 4 | 8 | .333 |
| Regular season | G | Games coached | W | Games won | L | Games lost | W–L % | Win–loss % |
| Playoffs | PG | Playoff games | PW | Playoff wins | PL | Playoff losses | PW–L % | Playoff win–loss % |
| Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Finish | PG | PW | PL | PW–L% | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHI | 2006 | 34 | 5 | 29 | .147 | 7th in East | – | – | – | – | Missed Playoffs |
| Career | 34 | 5 | 29 | .147 |
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