Piano Prodigy Jude Kofie to Headline Project Harmony’s 30th Anniversary Gala
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United States Dave Cowens is an American former professional basketball player and NBA head coach, renowned for his tenacity and all-around play.
Dave Cowens was named an officer on the Board of Directors for the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA). The NBRPA works in direct partnerships with the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association, alongside their charitable initiative, Legends Care.
Dave Cowens partnered with Reebok for 'Celtics Cowens Camps' which offered both day and overnight camp options for boys and girls during the summer season.
David William Cowens, known as “Big Red” and “Dave the Rave,” was born on October 25, 1948, in Newport, Kentucky. He attended Newport Catholic High School, where he began his basketball career, and later played for Florida State University from 1967 to 1970 under coach Hugh Durham. During his college career, Cowens scored 1,479 points and is Florida State’s all-time leading rebounder with 1,340 rebounds. He was recognized for his exceptional performance, including grabbing 31 rebounds in a single game during the 1968-69 season. His collegiate achievements earned him a spot on The Sporting News All-America second team in 1970, and his number 13 jersey was eventually honored by Florida State University.
Cowens was drafted as the fourth overall pick by the Boston Celtics in the 1970 NBA Draft. Despite initial skepticism about his size for a center, he quickly established himself, sharing the NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 1971 and leading the league in personal fouls. Throughout his 11-year NBA career, primarily with the Celtics, Cowens maintained his distinctive all-out playing style, combining hustle, strength, and skill. He was a central figure in the Celtics’ success, contributing significantly to their NBA Championship victories in 1974 and 1976. Over his career, he averaged 17.6 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, showcasing his versatility.
His impressive professional career included being named the NBA Most Valuable Player and All-Star Game MVP in 1973. He was an 8-time NBA All-Star, a 3-time All-NBA Second Team selection, and earned spots on the NBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams multiple times. Notably, in the 1977-78 season, Cowens led the Celtics in all five major statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals, a rare feat in NBA history. After retiring from playing in 1980, he made a brief return in 1982 with the Milwaukee Bucks. Post-playing, Cowens transitioned into coaching, holding positions with the Boston Celtics as a player-coach, the Bay State Bombardiers, the San Antonio Spurs, the Charlotte Hornets, the Golden State Warriors, the Chicago Sky (WNBA), and the Detroit Pistons. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991 and was recognized on both the NBA 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams, solidifying his legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
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