 DeBusschere, circa 1974 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1940-10-16)October 16, 1940 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | May 14, 2003(2003-05-14) (aged 62) New York City, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Austin Catholic Preparatory School(Detroit, Michigan) |
| College | Detroit Mercy (1959–1962) |
| NBA draft | 1962:territorial pick |
| Drafted by | Detroit Pistons |
| Playing career | 1962–1974 |
| Position | Power forward /small forward |
| Number | 22 |
| Career history | |
| As a player: | |
| 1962–1968 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1968–1974 | New York Knicks |
| As a coach: | |
| 1964–1967 | Detroit Pistons |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 14,053 (16.1 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 9,618 (11.0 rpg) |
| Assists | 2,497 (2.9 apg) |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
| Basketball Hall of Fame | |
| Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame | |
David Albert DeBusschere (October 16, 1940 – May 14, 2003) was an American professionalbasketball player and coach, and professionalbaseball player. He played for theChicago White Sox ofMLB in 1962 and 1963 and in theNBA for theDetroit Pistons from 1962 through 1968 and for theNew York Knicks from 1968 to 1974. He was also the head coach for the Pistons from 1964 through 1967.
DeBusschere was inducted into theNaismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983. In 1996, DeBusschere was named as one of the50 greatest players in NBA history.[1] In October 2021, DeBusschere was again honored as one of the league's greatest players of all time by being named to theNBA 75th Anniversary Team.[2]
DeBusschere was born inDetroit to parents Peter Marcell and Dorothy DeBusschere.[3] He attendedAustin Catholic Preparatory School and inspired the "White Shirted Legion" (the tradition of wearing white shirts to the school's games to make fans more visible). As a junior, he was named all-state, and in his senior year of 1957–58, in just the school's third year of organized basketball, he led his team to the Michigan Class A high school basketball championship, scoring 32 points despite fouling out midway through the fourth quarter as the Friars defeatedBenton Harbor High School and DeBusschere's future NBA rival forwardChet Walker.[4]
“Debusschere” is aFrench-language surname,[5] as his family had come fromBelgium.[6] Although its French pronunciation would have been closer to “De Booshair”,[7] Dave DeBusschere used ananglicized pronunciation of “De Busher”, by which he was always known.[8]
DeBusschere starred in both basketball and baseball at theUniversity of Detroit. He averaged 24 points a game in basketball, helping Detroit reach theNational Invitation Tournament twice and theNCAA basketball tournament once. He also pitched the Titans to three NCAA baseball tournament berths.[9]
In 1962, DeBusschere was signed by theChicago White Sox as an amateur free agent. He was apitcher for the White Sox from 1962 to 1963. He pitched a shutout on August 13, 1963, against theCleveland Indians, giving up six hits, one walk and striking out three. In 22 career at-bats, he had only one hit, a single offBennie Daniels on July 17, 1963. He pitched in the White Sox's minor league system for two more seasons before giving up pitching to focus on both playing and coaching basketball.[10]
He is one of only 13 athletes to have played in both theNBA andMajor League Baseball. The 13 are:Danny Ainge,Frank Baumholtz,Hank Biasatti,Gene Conley,Chuck Connors, DeBusschere,Dick Groat,Steve Hamilton,Mark Hendrickson,Cotton Nash,Ron Reed,Dick Ricketts andHowie Schultz.[11][12][13][14]
DeBusschere was selected by theDetroit Pistons in1962 NBA draft as a territorial draft selection. During his rookie season, he averaged 12.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, and was later named to theNBA All-Rookie Team. However, DeBusschere was injured during his second season and only played in 15 games, resulting in the Pistons finishing with a disappointing record of 23–59.
In the 1964–1965 season, at the age of 24, he was given the position of player-coach for the Pistons, and thus became the youngest-ever coach in league history. However, this stint as coach was not successful and he became a full-time player. During the 1968–1969 season, DeBusschere was traded to theNew York Knicks forWalt Bellamy andHoward Komives.
While a member of the Pistons, DeBusschere appeared as himself on the April 29, 1963 episode of the game showTo Tell the Truth. He received two votes.[15]
DeBusschere, along with future Hall of FamersWillis Reed,Bill Bradley andWalt Frazier, became an NBA champion when the Knicks defeated theLos Angeles Lakers in the1970 NBA Finals. WithEarl Monroe in the backcourt, they became champions again in 1973, beating the Lakers 4–1 in the finals.
DeBusschere was elected to theNaismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983 after a 12-year career (1962–1974) in which he averaged 16.1 points and 11 rebounds while being named to eight NBA All-Star teams. He became a member of the NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996. He was renowned for his physical style of play and tenacious defense, and he was named to the NBA All-Defensive first team six times.[16]
DeBusschere retired as a player in1974, and his no. 22 jersey was retired by the Knicks, though not until many years later; it is thought the delay was due to his taking a front office job with the rivalNew York Nets of theAmerican Basketball Association upon his retirement. The next year DeBusschere became the ABA's commissioner for the1975–76 season, which would be the last for the league. He helped bring aboutthe merger between the NBA and the ABA that year.[17] He was later the assistant coach and director of basketball operations of the Knicks during the 1980s, when he drafted fellow Knicks legendPatrick Ewing with the first overall selection in1985.
DeBusschere and some partners purchasedRing magazine in 1979.[18]
DeBusschere authored a book entitledThe Open Man, a chronicle of theNew York Knicks'1969–70 championship season.
In May 2003, DeBusschere collapsed on a Manhattan street from aheart attack and was pronounced dead atNew York University Hospital. DeBusschere was interred at Saint Joseph's Church Cemetery inGarden City, New York. DeBusschere, who lived in Garden City, was survived by his wife, Gerri (who died ofcancer in 2009),[19] sons Peter and Dennis, and daughter Michelle.[9]
In his honor, the University of Detroit Mercy inaugurated the Dave DeBusschere Scholarship in 2003. It provides support to two student-athletes who must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills.[19]
| 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 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962–63 | Detroit | 80 | — | 29.4 | .430 | — | .718 | 8.7 | 2.6 | — | — | 12.7 |
| 1963–64 | Detroit | 15 | — | 20.3 | .391 | — | .581 | 7.0 | 1.5 | — | — | 8.6 |
| 1964–65 | Detroit | 79 | — | 35.1 | .425 | — | .700 | 11.1 | 3.2 | — | — | 16.7 |
| 1965–66 | Detroit | 79 | — | 34.1 | .408 | — | .659 | 11.6 | 2.6 | — | — | 16.4 |
| 1966–67 | Detroit | 78 | — | 37.1 | .415 | — | .705 | 11.8 | 2.8 | — | — | 18.2 |
| 1967–68 | Detroit | 80 | — | 39.1 | .442 | — | .664 | 13.5 | 2.3 | — | — | 17.9 |
| 1968–69 | Detroit | 29 | — | 37.7 | .447 | — | .723 | 12.2 | 2.2 | — | — | 16.3 |
| 1968–69 | New York | 47 | — | 39.4 | .442 | — | .682 | 11.4 | 2.7 | — | — | 16.4 |
| 1969–70† | New York | 79 | — | 33.3 | .451 | — | .688 | 10.0 | 2.5 | — | — | 14.6 |
| 1970–71 | New York | 81 | — | 35.7 | .421 | — | .696 | 11.1 | 2.7 | — | — | 15.6 |
| 1971–72 | New York | 80 | — | 38.4 | .427 | — | .728 | 11.3 | 3.6 | — | — | 15.4 |
| 1972–73† | New York | 77 | — | 36.7 | .435 | — | .746 | 10.2 | 3.4 | — | — | 16.3 |
| 1973–74 | New York | 71 | — | 38.0 | .461 | — | .756 | 10.7 | 3.6 | .9 | .5 | 18.1 |
| Career | 875 | — | 35.7 | .432 | — | .699 | 11.0 | 2.9 | .9 | .5 | 16.1 | |
| All-Star | 8 | 1 | 20.9 | .457 | — | .750 | 6.4 | 1.4 | .1 | .0 | 9.6 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Detroit | 4 | — | 39.8 | .424 | — | .682 | 15.8 | 1.5 | — | — | 20.0 |
| 1968 | Detroit | 6 | — | 43.8 | .425 | — | .578 | 16.2 | 2.2 | — | — | 19.3 |
| 1969 | New York | 10 | — | 41.9 | .351 | — | .820 | 14.8 | 3.3 | — | — | 16.3 |
| 1970† | New York | 19 | — | 36.9 | .421 | — | .662 | 11.6 | 2.4 | — | — | 16.1 |
| 1971 | New York | 12 | — | 40.7 | .416 | — | .659 | 13.0 | 1.8 | — | — | 16.4 |
| 1972 | New York | 16 | — | 38.5 | .450 | — | .750 | 12.1 | 2.3 | — | — | 16.6 |
| 1973† | New York | 17 | — | 37.1 | .442 | — | .775 | 10.5 | 3.4 | — | — | 15.6 |
| 1974 | New York | 12 | — | 33.7 | .380 | — | .621 | 8.3 | 3.2 | .6 | .3 | 12.0 |
| Career | 96 | — | 38.4 | .416 | — | .698 | 12.0 | 2.6 | .6 | .3 | 16.0 | |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)| International | |
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