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Dave Cowens

David William Cowens (Dave, Big Red)

Position: Center-Forward ▪ Height: 6-9 ▪ Weight: 230 lbs.
Born: October 25, 1948 in Newport, Kentucky
High School: Central Catholic in Newport, Kentucky
College: Florida State University
Draft: Boston Celtics, 1st round (4th pick, 4th overall), 1970 NBA Draft
NBA Debut: October 13, 1970
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1991 (Full List)
As Coach: 6 Yrs, 161-191, .457 W-L% (Full Record)

18 36


Hall of Fame

Fan Ratings

Fine Details ▪ Last Updated Feb 11, 2012, 6:45AM
All-Time Rank: #58. Bob McAdoo… #59. James Worthy… #60. DAVE COWENS… #61. Tracy McGrady… #61. Chris Mullin… 

Totals

Season Age Tm Lg G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
1970-71 22 BOS NBA 81 3076 550 1302 .422 273 373 .732 1216 228 350 1373
1971-72 23 BOS NBA 79 3186 657 1357 .484 175 243 .720 1203 245 314 1489
1972-73 24 BOS NBA 82 3425 740 1637 .452 204 262 .779 1329 333 311 1684
1973-74 25 BOS NBA 80 3352 645 1475 .437 228 274 .832 264 993 1257 354 95 101 294 1518
1974-75 26 BOS NBA 65 2632 569 1199 .475 191 244 .783 229 729 958 296 87 73 243 1329
1975-76 27 BOS NBA 78 3101 611 1305 .468 257 340 .756 335 911 1246 325 94 71 314 1479
1976-77 28 BOS NBA 50 1888 328 756 .434 162 198 .818 147 550 697 248 46 49 181 818
1977-78 29 BOS NBA 77 3215 598 1220 .490 239 284 .842 248 830 1078 351 102 67 217 297 1435
1978-79 30 BOS NBA 68 2517 488 1010 .483 151 187 .807 152 500 652 242 76 51 174 263 1127
1979-80 31 BOS NBA 66 55 2159 422 932 .453 1 12 .083 95 122 .779 126 408 534 206 69 61 108 216 940
1982-83 34 MIL NBA 40 34 1014 136 306 .444 0 2 .000 52 63 .825 73 201 274 82 30 15 44 137 324
Career NBA 766 89 29565 5744 12499 .460 1 14 .071 2027 2590 .783 1574 5122 10444 2910 599 488 543 2920 13516

Per Game

Season Age Tm Lg G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
1970-71 22 BOS NBA 81 38.0 6.8 16.1 .422 3.4 4.6 .732 15.0 2.8 4.3 17.0
1971-72 23 BOS NBA 79 40.3 8.3 17.2 .484 2.2 3.1 .720 15.2 3.1 4.0 18.8
1972-73 24 BOS NBA 82 41.8 9.0 20.0 .452 2.5 3.2 .779 16.2 4.1 3.8 20.5
1973-74 25 BOS NBA 80 41.9 8.1 18.4 .437 2.9 3.4 .832 3.3 12.4 15.7 4.4 1.2 1.3 3.7 19.0
1974-75 26 BOS NBA 65 40.5 8.8 18.4 .475 2.9 3.8 .783 3.5 11.2 14.7 4.6 1.3 1.1 3.7 20.4
1975-76 27 BOS NBA 78 39.8 7.8 16.7 .468 3.3 4.4 .756 4.3 11.7 16.0 4.2 1.2 0.9 4.0 19.0
1976-77 28 BOS NBA 50 37.8 6.6 15.1 .434 3.2 4.0 .818 2.9 11.0 13.9 5.0 0.9 1.0 3.6 16.4
1977-78 29 BOS NBA 77 41.8 7.8 15.8 .490 3.1 3.7 .842 3.2 10.8 14.0 4.6 1.3 0.9 2.8 3.9 18.6
1978-79 30 BOS NBA 68 37.0 7.2 14.9 .483 2.2 2.8 .807 2.2 7.4 9.6 3.6 1.1 0.8 2.6 3.9 16.6
1979-80 31 BOS NBA 66 55 32.7 6.4 14.1 .453 0.0 0.2 .083 1.4 1.8 .779 1.9 6.2 8.1 3.1 1.0 0.9 1.6 3.3 14.2
1982-83 34 MIL NBA 40 34 25.4 3.4 7.7 .444 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 1.6 .825 1.8 5.0 6.9 2.1 0.8 0.4 1.1 3.4 8.1
Career NBA 766 89 38.6 7.5 16.3 .460 0.0 0.1 .071 2.6 3.4 .783 3.0 9.8 13.6 3.8 1.1 0.9 2.2 3.8 17.6

Per 36 Minutes

Season Age Tm Lg G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
1970-71 22 BOS NBA 81 3076 6.4 15.2 .422 3.2 4.4 .732 14.2 2.7 4.1 16.1
1971-72 23 BOS NBA 79 3186 7.4 15.3 .484 2.0 2.7 .720 13.6 2.8 3.5 16.8
1972-73 24 BOS NBA 82 3425 7.8 17.2 .452 2.1 2.8 .779 14.0 3.5 3.3 17.7
1973-74 25 BOS NBA 80 3352 6.9 15.8 .437 2.4 2.9 .832 2.8 10.7 13.5 3.8 1.0 1.1 3.2 16.3
1974-75 26 BOS NBA 65 2632 7.8 16.4 .475 2.6 3.3 .783 3.1 10.0 13.1 4.0 1.2 1.0 3.3 18.2
1975-76 27 BOS NBA 78 3101 7.1 15.1 .468 3.0 3.9 .756 3.9 10.6 14.5 3.8 1.1 0.8 3.6 17.2
1976-77 28 BOS NBA 50 1888 6.3 14.4 .434 3.1 3.8 .818 2.8 10.5 13.3 4.7 0.9 0.9 3.5 15.6
1977-78 29 BOS NBA 77 3215 6.7 13.7 .490 2.7 3.2 .842 2.8 9.3 12.1 3.9 1.1 0.8 2.4 3.3 16.1
1978-79 30 BOS NBA 68 2517 7.0 14.4 .483 2.2 2.7 .807 2.2 7.2 9.3 3.5 1.1 0.7 2.5 3.8 16.1
1979-80 31 BOS NBA 66 55 2159 7.0 15.5 .453 0.0 0.2 .083 1.6 2.0 .779 2.1 6.8 8.9 3.4 1.2 1.0 1.8 3.6 15.7
1982-83 34 MIL NBA 40 34 1014 4.8 10.9 .444 0.0 0.1 .000 1.8 2.2 .825 2.6 7.1 9.7 2.9 1.1 0.5 1.6 4.9 11.5
Career NBA 766 89 29565 7.0 15.2 .460 0.0 0.2 .071 2.5 3.2 .783 2.9 9.3 12.7 3.5 1.1 0.9 2.2 3.6 16.5

Advanced

Season Age Tm Lg G MP PER TS% eFG% ORB% DRB% TRB% AST% STL% BLK% TOV% USG% ORtg DRtg OWS DWS WS WS/48
1970-71 22 BOS NBA 81 3076 15.4 .468 .422 17.0 9.5 0.6 5.8 6.4 .100
1971-72 23 BOS NBA 79 3186 17.1 .509 .484 17.2 10.1 3.5 6.9 10.4 .156
1972-73 24 BOS NBA 82 3425 18.1 .481 .452 17.5 13.0 2.1 9.9 12.0 .168
1973-74 25 BOS NBA 80 3352 16.6 .476 .437 7.8 27.9 18.1 14.6 1.2 1.5 91 2.6 6.7 9.3 .134
1974-75 26 BOS NBA 65 2632 19.3 .509 .475 8.7 27.3 18.1 16.3 1.5 1.4 91 4.3 5.2 9.5 .173
1975-76 27 BOS NBA 78 3101 18.9 .508 .468 10.6 29.0 19.8 15.1 1.4 1.2 92 5.0 5.6 10.7 .165
1976-77 28 BOS NBA 50 1888 16.8 .485 .434 7.7 28.3 18.1 18.8 1.1 1.3 94 1.1 3.3 4.4 .113
1977-78 29 BOS NBA 77 3215 18.6 .533 .490 8.0 25.6 17.0 15.7 1.4 1.1 13.9 18.8 108 97 6.1 4.8 10.8 .162
1978-79 30 BOS NBA 68 2517 15.2 .516 .483 6.7 22.2 14.4 13.7 1.4 1.1 13.7 19.6 103 105 2.4 2.4 4.8 .091
1979-80 31 BOS NBA 66 2159 14.8 .477 .453 6.6 20.7 13.8 13.4 1.5 1.6 9.9 20.1 104 100 1.9 3.6 5.4 .121
1982-83 34 MIL NBA 40 1014 12.6 .485 .444 8.3 20.8 14.8 10.9 1.4 0.8 11.6 15.4 105 99 0.9 1.7 2.6 .123
Career NBA 766 29565 17.0 .496 .460 8.1 25.8 17.1 13.7 1.4 1.3 12.6 19.0 106 96 30.5 55.8 86.3 .140

Playoffs

Totals Shooting Per Game
Season Age Tm Lg G MP FG FGA 3P 3PA FT FTA ORB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS FG% 3P% FT% MP PTS TRB AST
1971-72 23 BOS NBA 11 441 71 156 28 47 152 33 50 170 .455 .596 40.1 15.5 13.8 3.0
1972-73 24 BOS NBA 13 598 129 273 27 41 216 48 54 285 .473 .659 46.0 21.9 16.6 3.7
1973-74 25 BOS NBA 18 772 161 370 47 59 60 240 66 21 17 85 369 .435 .797 42.9 20.5 13.3 3.7
1974-75 26 BOS NBA 11 479 101 236 23 26 49 181 46 18 6 50 225 .428 .885 43.5 20.5 16.5 4.2
1975-76 27 BOS NBA 18 798 156 341 66 87 87 296 83 22 13 85 378 .457 .759 44.3 21.0 16.4 4.6
1976-77 28 BOS NBA 9 379 66 148 17 22 29 134 36 8 13 37 149 .446 .773 42.1 16.6 14.9 4.0
1979-80 31 BOS NBA 9 301 49 103 0 2 10 11 18 66 21 9 7 8 37 108 .476 .000 .909 33.4 12.0 7.3 2.3
Career NBA 89 3768 733 1627 0 2 218 293 243 1285 333 78 56 8 398 1684 .451 .000 .744 42.3 18.9 14.4 3.7

Playoffs Advanced

Season Age Tm Lg G MP PER TS% eFG% ORB% DRB% TRB% AST% STL% BLK% TOV% USG% ORtg DRtg OWS DWS WS WS/48
1971-72 23 BOS NBA 11 441 14.2 .481 .455 16.8 9.9 0.2 0.2 0.5 .051
1972-73 24 BOS NBA 13 598 17.8 .490 .473 18.2 11.5 0.6 0.7 1.3 .107
1973-74 25 BOS NBA 18 772 16.6 .466 .435 8.3 24.4 16.5 13.0 1.3 1.2 90 0.6 1.5 2.1 .129
1974-75 26 BOS NBA 11 479 16.9 .455 .428 10.0 31.7 20.0 13.6 1.7 0.7 98 0.6 0.5 1.0 .103
1975-76 27 BOS NBA 18 798 18.9 .498 .457 11.7 27.8 19.7 17.1 1.3 0.9 91 1.0 1.7 2.7 .163
1976-77 28 BOS NBA 9 379 14.5 .472 .446 7.7 27.5 17.7 13.9 0.9 1.8 95 0.2 0.6 0.8 .101
1979-80 31 BOS NBA 9 301 14.1 .501 .476 6.7 18.4 12.5 10.0 1.5 1.4 6.9 16.3 111 98 0.4 0.6 1.0 .155
Career NBA 89 3768 16.6 .480 .451 9.3 26.4 17.7 13.2 1.3 1.1 6.9 16.3 111 93 3.5 5.8 9.4 .119

All-Star Games

Season Age Tm Lg G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
1971-72 23 BOS NBA 1 1 32:00 5 12 .417 4 5 .800 20 1 4 14
1972-73 24 BOS NBA 1 1 30:00 7 15 .467 1 1 1.000 13 1 2 15
1973-74 25 BOS NBA 1 1 26:00 5 10 .500 1 3 .333 6 12 1 0 1 3 11
1974-75 26 BOS NBA 1 0 15:00 3 7 .429 0 0 0 6 3 1 0 2 6
1975-76 27 BOS NBA 1 0 23:00 6 13 .462 4 5 .800 8 16 1 1 0 3 16
1976-77 28 BOS NBA
1977-78 29 BOS NBA 1 1 28:00 7 9 .778 0 0 6 14 5 2 0 2 5 14
Career NBA 6 4 154 33 66 .500 10 14 .714 20 81 12 4 1 2 19 76

Similarity Scores

Explanation ▪ Players with careers of similar quality and shape (thru 2010-11)
Thru 11 Years Win Shares (Best to Worst)
Player Sim 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Dave Cowens 12.0 10.8 10.7 10.4 9.5 9.3 6.4 5.4 4.8 4.4 2.6
Robert Parish 92.0 10.9 10.8 10.5 10.0 9.2 9.2 9.0 7.1 4.8 4.6 4.0
Wes Unseld 89.3 11.1 10.8 10.7 10.6 10.0 9.5 8.7 8.3 6.8 6.2 3.6
Bill Laimbeer 86.0 10.8 10.5 10.1 9.8 9.2 9.0 8.8 8.5 8.0 5.4 4.7
Bob Lanier 85.4 14.4 12.4 10.6 10.3 10.1 10.1 8.4 7.4 6.8 5.9 5.2
Dikembe Mutombo 85.4 11.3 10.8 9.9 9.6 9.4 8.8 8.7 8.1 7.9 7.6 4.8
Jack Sikma 82.9 12.6 9.8 9.7 9.4 8.8 8.6 8.3 8.0 7.8 7.4 5.4
Patrick Ewing 82.2 13.5 13.1 13.0 10.9 10.6 10.0 9.6 8.1 6.8 3.5 3.1
Clyde Lovellette 81.3 10.1 9.0 8.5 8.5 8.2 8.1 6.5 5.2 3.6 2.1 1.3
Alonzo Mourning 81.2 12.9 9.9 9.4 8.4 8.2 7.9 7.5 7.4 6.3 0.9 0.6
Zelmo Beaty 80.8 16.0 15.1 11.8 10.8 10.3 9.0 8.4 7.7 5.2 4.8 4.5
Career Win Shares (Best to Worst)
Player Sim 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Dave Cowens 12.0 10.8 10.7 10.4 9.5 9.3 6.4 5.4 4.8 4.4 2.6
Alonzo Mourning 83.2 12.9 9.9 9.4 8.4 8.2 7.9 7.5 7.4 6.3 4.8 3.5 1.2 0.9 0.8 0.6
Wes Unseld 81.3 11.1 10.8 10.7 10.6 10.0 9.5 8.7 8.4 8.3 6.8 6.2 5.5 3.6
Clyde Lovellette 81.3 10.1 9.0 8.5 8.5 8.2 8.1 6.5 5.2 3.6 2.1 1.3
Larry Foust 81.0 13.3 11.1 10.4 7.1 6.4 6.3 4.7 4.5 4.2 3.1 3.1
Bill Laimbeer 80.2 10.8 10.5 10.1 9.8 9.2 9.0 8.8 8.5 8.0 5.4 5.4 4.9 4.7 0.5
Zelmo Beaty 79.6 16.0 15.1 11.8 10.8 10.3 9.0 8.4 7.7 5.2 4.8 4.5 2.3
Bill Cartwright 79.0 10.1 10.0 9.8 9.7 6.4 5.8 5.0 4.5 4.2 2.5 2.1 1.3 1.2 0.2 0.0
Brad Miller 77.9 10.0 9.6 9.1 8.6 8.3 6.5 5.1 4.0 3.8 3.4 3.0 2.7 2.1
Mel Daniels 77.5 11.4 10.3 9.2 9.2 8.6 8.6 5.4 2.2 0.0
Bob Lanier 77.5 14.4 12.4 10.6 10.3 10.1 10.1 8.4 7.4 6.8 6.7 6.6 5.9 5.2 2.3

College

Light text indicates college freshman or JV participant
Totals Shooting Per Game
Season Age College G MP FG FGA 3P 3PA FT FTA ORB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS FG% 3P% FT% MP PTS TRB AST
1966-67 18 FLORIDAST 18 105 208 49 90 357 259 .505 .544 14.4 19.8
1967-68 19 FLORIDAST 27 206 383 96 131 456 508 .538 .733 18.8 16.9
1968-69 20 FLORIDAST 25 202 384 104 164 437 508 .526 .634 20.3 17.5
1969-70 21 FLORIDAST 26 174 355 115 169 447 463 .490 .680 17.8 17.2
Career 78 582 1122 315 464 1340 1479 .519 .679 19.0 17.2

Appearances on Leaderboards, Awards, and Honors

All-Star Games
1972 NBA
1973 NBA
1974 NBA
1975 NBA
1976 NBA
1977 NBA
1978 NBA
Awards
1970-71 NBA Rookie of the Year
1972-73 NBA All-Star Game MVP
1972-73 NBA MVP
Honors
1970-71 NBA All-Rookie (1st)
1972-73 NBA All-NBA (2nd)
1974-75 NBA All-Defensive (2nd)
1974-75 NBA All-NBA (2nd)
1975-76 NBA All-Defensive (1st)
1975-76 NBA All-NBA (2nd)
1979-80 NBA All-Defensive (2nd)
MVP Award Shares
1972-73 NBA 0.507 (1)
1973-74 NBA 0.101 (4)
1974-75 NBA 0.321 (2)
1975-76 NBA 0.409 (3)
Career 1.338 (27)
Championships
(Minimum 1 playoff game)
1974 Boston Celtics (NBA)
1976 Boston Celtics (NBA)
Games
1972-73 NBA 82 (1)
Minutes Played
1972-73 NBA 3425 (4)
1973-74 NBA 3352 (3)
1975-76 NBA 3101 (7)
1977-78 NBA 3215 (4)
Offensive Rebounds
1975-76 NBA 335 (2)
Defensive Rebounds
1973-74 NBA 993 (2)
1974-75 NBA 729 (5)
1975-76 NBA 911 (2)
1977-78 NBA 830 (2)
Career NBA 5122 (55)
Career 5122 (61)
Total Rebounds
1970-71 NBA 1216 (7)
1971-72 NBA 1203 (5)
1972-73 NBA 1329 (3)
1973-74 NBA 1257 (2)
1974-75 NBA 958 (6)
1975-76 NBA 1246 (2)
1977-78 NBA 1078 (2)
Career NBA 10444 (30)
Career 10444 (34)
Personal Fouls
1970-71 NBA 350 (1)
1971-72 NBA 314 (1)
1972-73 NBA 311 (2)
1973-74 NBA 294 (9)
1975-76 NBA 314 (4)
Career NBA 2920 (76)
Career 2920 (86)
Minutes Per Game
1972-73 NBA 41.8 (8)
1973-74 NBA 41.9 (4)
1974-75 NBA 40.5 (7)
1975-76 NBA 39.8 (6)
1977-78 NBA 41.8 (2)
Career NBA 38.6 (11)
Career 38.6 (11)
Rebounds Per Game
1970-71 NBA 15.0 (7)
1971-72 NBA 15.2 (5)
1972-73 NBA 16.2 (3)
1973-74 NBA 15.7 (2)
1974-75 NBA 14.7 (2)
1975-76 NBA 16.0 (2)
1977-78 NBA 14.0 (3)
Career NBA 13.6 (8)
Career 13.6 (9)
Offensive Rebound Pct
1975-76 NBA 10.6 (7)
Defensive Rebound Pct
1973-74 NBA 27.9 (3)
1974-75 NBA 27.3 (2)
1975-76 NBA 29.0 (2)
1977-78 NBA 25.6 (7)
Career NBA 25.8 (9)
Career 25.8 (10)
Total Rebound Pct
1970-71 NBA 17.0 (9)
1972-73 NBA 17.5 (9)
1973-74 NBA 18.1 (4)
1974-75 NBA 18.1 (4)
1975-76 NBA 19.8 (1)
1977-78 NBA 17.0 (9)
Career NBA 17.1 (31)
Career 17.1 (36)
Turnover Pct
1979-80 NBA 9.9 (8)
Defensive Rating
1973-74 NBA 90.6 (5)
1974-75 NBA 90.7 (4)
1975-76 NBA 92.4 (8)
Career NBA 95.5 (4)
Career 95.5 (4)
Defensive Win Shares
1970-71 NBA 5.8 (7)
1971-72 NBA 6.9 (3)
1972-73 NBA 9.9 (1)
1973-74 NBA 6.7 (4)
1974-75 NBA 5.2 (5)
1975-76 NBA 5.6 (3)
1977-78 NBA 4.8 (5)
Career NBA 55.8 (29)
Career 55.8 (32)
Win Shares
1972-73 NBA 12.0 (6)
1975-76 NBA 10.7 (3)
1977-78 NBA 10.8 (8)
Win Shares Per 48 Minutes
1974-75 NBA .173 (8)
1975-76 NBA .165 (7)
Hall of Fame Probability
Career 0.989 (37)
NBA Elo Player Rating
60th (overall) as of Feb 11, 2012, 6:45AM
 

Transactions

March 23, 1970: Drafted by the Boston Celtics in the 1st round (4th pick) of the 1970 NBA Draft.

September 9, 1982: Traded by the Boston Celtics to the Milwaukee Bucks for Quinn Buckner.

August 18, 1983: Waived by the Milwaukee Bucks.

Links

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