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Dave DeBusschere
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
David Albert DeBusschere (October 16, 1940 – May 14, 2003) was an American professional basketball player in the NBA. He was drafted by the Detroit Pistons out of the University of Detroit in 1962 and won two championships with the New York Knicks. He was the youngest coach in league 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 tenacious defense, as he was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team six times. 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. DeBusschere later became commissioner of the ABA. At the age of 24, he was given the position of player-coach for the Detroit Pistons and thus became the youngest-ever coach in league history. DeBusschere was also the author of a book entitled The Open Man, which was a chronicle of the New York Knicks' 1969-1970 championship season.
He was also a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox in 1962-63.
In his later years, New Yorkers remember him for his Lee Muffler ("Take if from me, take it to Lee") television commercials. DeBusschere died of a heart attack in New York in 2003, aged 62.
DeBusschere made his first video game appearance in NBA Ballers Phenom.
- Dave DeBusschere career summary @ NBA.com
- Basketball Hall of Fame profile @ hoophall.com
- Baseball statistics and analysis @ Baseball-Reference.com
| Preceded by Charles Wolf |
Detroit Pistons Head Coach 1964 – 1967 |
Succeeded by Donnie Butcher |
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This biographical article relating to a U.S. basketball coach is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
Categories: United States basketball coach stubs | 1940 births | 2003 deaths | American Basketball Association executives | American basketball coaches | American basketball players | Basketball Hall of Fame | Chicago White Sox players | Deaths from cardiovascular disease | Detroit Pistons coaches | Detroit Pistons players | Detroit Titans men's basketball players | Major league pitchers | Major league players from Michigan | New York Knicks players | People from Detroit | Belgian Americans | Sportspeople of multiple sports