Dave DeBusschere

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David Albert DeBusschere (October 16, 1940 – May 14, 2003) was an American professional basketball player and coach in the NBA. In 1996, DeBusschere was named as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history.

DeBusschere was born in Detroit, Michigan, and was named to the Basketball Hall of Fame after a 12-year career (1962–1974) in which he averaged 16.1 points and eleven rebounds while being named to eight NBA All-Star teams. However, he was best known for his physical style of play and tenacious defense, as he was named to the NBA All-Defensive first team six times.

[edit] NBA career

DeBusschere was drafted by the Detroit Pistons out of the University of Detroit in 1962, a territorial draft selection which was common at the time. During his rookie season he averaged 12.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, and was later named to the NBA 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.

During 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. His stint as coach was not successful, and during the 1968-1969 season he became a full-time player. The following season he was traded to the New York Knicks for Walt Bellamy and Howard Komives.

DeBusschere spent his best years in New York. He became one of the most talented and feared players in the league and one of the greatest power forwards the NBA had ever seen. He played a physical game on both ends of the floor, often ending the season as one of the league's best rebounders. DeBusschere, along with a classic lineup that included legendary players such as Willis Reed, Bill Bradley and Walt Frazier became NBA champion when the Knicks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1970 NBA Finals. With guard Earl Monroe in the backcourt, they became champions again in 1973, beating (again) the Lakers 4-1 in the finals.

[edit] Life after basketball

DeBusschere retired in 1974. His #22 jersey was retired by the Knicks, but not until many years after his retirement; it is thought the delay was due to DeBusschere's taking a front-office job with the rival New Jersey Nets of the then-American Basketball Association upon his retirement. He later became ABA's commissioner, as well as the assistant coach and director of basketball operation of the Knicks during the 1980s. During this time DeBusschere drafted fellow Knicks legend Patrick Ewing.

DeBusschere was later the author of a book entitled The Open Man, which was a chronicle of the New York Knicks' 1969-1970 championship season.

DeBusschere died of a heart attack in New York in 2003, aged 62.

[edit] Honors

DeBusschere became a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983. An 8-time NBA All Star, he became a member of the NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996.

[edit] Baseball

In 1962 DeBusschere was signed by the Chicago White Sox as an amateur free agent. He was pitcher for the Chicago White Sox from 1962-63. He pitched a complete game shutout on August 13, 1963 against the Cleveland Indians, giving up 6 hits, 1 walk and striking out 3. In 22 career at bats, he had only had 1 hit, a single off Bennie Daniels on July 17, 1963. He pitched in the White Sox minor leagues for two more seasons before giving up pitching to focus on both playing and coaching basketball.^[1]

He is one of only eleven athletes to have played in both Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association, or its predecessor the Basketball Association of America. The others are: Mark Hendrickson, Danny Ainge, Gene Conley, Ron Reed, Dick Groat, Steve Hamilton, Cotton Nash, Frank Baumholtz, Dick Ricketts and Chuck Connors.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• NBA.com career summary
• baseball-reference.com baseball stats
• Dave DeBusschere at Find A Grave

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