Dave DeBusschere

Dave DeBusschere
(1940-2003)

Hall of Fame Induction: 1983

Card Shown:
2009-10 Panini Hall of Fame

Position: PF/SF
Height: 6’6″

Dave DeBusschere was a rugged defensive stopper with all-around skills who was instrumental in turning a mediocre New York Knicks team into NBA champions in the early 1970s. Dave was a tireless worker on the court and a respected person off of it. He was recognized as an NBA All-Star and an All-NBA Defensive First Team player on numerous occasions.

After his passing in 2003, NBA Commissioner David Stern said of DeBusschere, “As a player, coach, general manager, and ABA commissioner, Dave DeBusschere was a winner. He was a hard-nosed, blue-collar hero who gave all of his considerable energy to our game. Our game has lost an icon and the world has lost a good man.”

Awards and Honors

Dave led his Austin High School teams to city and state championships in both baseball and basketball. In college, at the University of Detroit, he was also a two-sport star.
DeBusschere was one of the key players that led the New York Knicks to two NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. Other Hall of Fame players on those teams included Jerry Lucas, Earl Monroe, Willis Reed, Bill Bradley, and Walt Frazier.
Dave was an eight-time NBA All-Star, three times while playing for the Detroit Pistons, and all five complete seasons that he was a member of the New York Knicks.
DeBusschere was an All-NBA Defensive First Team selection six times during his twelve-year NBA career.
Dave was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History by NBA Commissioner David Stern at a press conference in 1996.

Points of Interest

DeBusschere was drafted by the Detroit Pistons and started his NBA career in 1962-63. He also played professional baseball for the Chicago White Sox during the 1962 and 1963 seasons. Dave pitched eighteen innings in twelve games in 1962, finishing with an ERA of 2.0. In 1963, he pitched in 24 games and ended the season with a 3-4 record and a 3.09 ERA.
Dave became the youngest coach in NBA history when he took the helm of the Detroit Pistons in 1964 at the age of 24. DeBusschere continued as a player also, continuing the common practice of employing player-coaches at that time.
DeBusschere served as the last commissioner of the American Basketball Association (ABA) and helped facilitate the merger between the ABA and NBA in 1976.
DeBusschere finished his NBA career averaging a double-double, 16.1 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. For good measure, he added in 2.9 assists per game.
DeBusschere’s number 22 jersey was retired by the New York Knicks in 1981 and hangs from the rafters in Madison Square Garden. Prompted by the jersey retirement, Knicks teammate Bill Bradley wrote an article remembering the career of Dave DeBusschere for the New York Times.

Statistics

Dave DeBusschere Statistics
provided by Basketball-Reference.com