BOB COUSY - Holy Cross Class of 1950
With exceptional peripheral vision, large hands, sloping shoulders and extremely sturdy legs, Bob Cousy was an outstanding all-around player. In basketball circles, however, Cousy was best known for his razzle-dazzle ball handling abilities. Nicknamed the "Houdini of the Hardwood" by sports writers, Cousy is considered by many as the best playmaker ever.
Bob Cousy arrived at the College of the Holy Cross in the fall of 1946, fresh off an oustanding high school career at Andrew Jackson High School in New York City. Just a freshman during Holy Cross' NCAA Championship season of 1947, Cousy was the team's third leading scorer behind George Kaftan and Dermott O'Connell.
His final three years saw him lead the Crusaders in scoring each time, setting the single-season scoring mark as a sophomore and then breaking it as a senior. He graduated as the college's all-time leading scorer. He was a first-team All-American in each of his final three seasons -- the only Crusader to earn such honors three times.
Considered to be one of the best playmakers of all time, Cousy unfortunately played in a collegiate era when assists were not kept as an official statistic. In fact, the NCAA began tracking assist totals in 1951 -- the year after Cousy graduated from Holy Cross.
After being drafted in 1950 by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks and immediately traded to the Chicago Stags, the unwanted and untested Cousy's rights were drawn out of a hat by the Boston Celtics in a dispersal draft of the Chicago Stags franchise. Cousy's arrival coincided with that of head coach Arnold "Red" Auerbach, whose up-tempo style of coaching suited Cousy's remarkable playmaking talents perfectly.
Cousy finished ninth in the league in scoring (15.6 ppg) his first season. It wasn't until midway through his second season that Cousy began to show the type of courtmanship that would make him a featured attraction in NBA arenas across the country. As a "sophomore," Cousy averaged 21.7 ppg, his highest single-season mark. With the addition of fellow Hall of Famer Bill Russell in 1956, the Celtics became a dynasty, winning six championships with the combination of Cousy and Russell. Cousy led the NBA in assists eight consecutive years (1953-60), played in thirteen straight NBA All-Star Games, earned MVP honors in the 1954 and 1957 Games, and racked up career total 16,960 points.
A fierce competitor, Cousy was named to the NBA's 25th and 35th and 50th Anniversary All-Time teams in 1970, 1980 and 1996. After retiring in 1963, Cousy coached Boston College from 1963 to 1969, taking the Eagles to two NCAA tournaments. He also coached the NBA's Cincinnati/Kansas City Royals from 1969 to 1974 and, at age 41, reactivated himself onto the 1969-70 Royals roster, making him the oldest performer in NBA history.
A Holy Cross Hall of Famer since 1956 and a Basketball Hall of Famer since 1971, Mr. Cousy wanted to continue both his legacy and ensure that the best point guards in the collegiate game are appropriately recognized. Entering its twelfth year of existence, the Cousy Award has both recognized some of the games' best players and students.
A BOB COUSY TIMELINE
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COUSY'S CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
COLLEGE
COLLEGE PLAYING HIGHLIGHTS
- The Sporting News First Team All-America (1950)
- The Sporting News Second Team All-America (1949)
- NCAA championship (1947)
- Two-time All-Conference and All-New England (1949, 1950)
- Team MVP and leading scorer (1949, 1950)
PRO
- NBA Boston Celtics (1950-63)
- NBA Cincinnati Royals (1969-70)
PRO PLAYING HIGHLIGHTS
- Drafted in 1950 by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks
- Immediately traded to the Chicago Stags
- Drawn by the Boston Celtics in a dispersal draft of the Stags franchise
- NBA MVP (1957)
- All-NBA First Team (1952-61)
- All-NBA Second Team (1962-63)
- NBA All-Star Game MVP (1954, 1957)
- Thirteen-time NBA All-Star (1951-63)
- NBA championships with the Boston Celtics (1957, 1959-63)
- Led the NBA in assists from 1953-60, including a career high 9.5 per game in 1960
- Holds NBA record for most assists in one half (19, Feb. 27, 1959 vs. Minneapolis)
- NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time Team (1970)
- NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team (1980)
- NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1996)
2017 AWARD & CEREMONY
Kansas' Frank Mason III Wins Bob Cousy Award Sponsored by Holy Cross
University of Kansas senior Frank Mason III has been named the 2017 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year. Named for Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy '50, the annual honor now in its 14th year recognizes the top point guards in men's college basketball. Mason averaged 20.9 points, 5.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game this season for the Jayhawks, while hitting 47.1 percent of his three-point field goal attempts.
In addition to the presentation of the Cousy Award, the College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy's included the exclusive presentation of the John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy's (Player of the Year – Men), the John R. Wooden Award (Player of the Year – Women), the John R. Wooden Award (Legends of Coaching), the Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard of the Year), the Julius Erving Award (Small Forward of the Year), the Karl Malone Award (Power Forward of the Year) and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center of the Year).
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2016 AWARD & CEREMONY
Kentucky's Tyler Ulis Wins Bob Cousy Award Sponsored by Holy Cross
University of Kentucky sophomore Tyler Ulis was named the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year in a season where he set a school record for assists average (7.0) in a single season. Named for Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy '50, the annual honor now in its 13th year recognizes the top point guards in men's college basketball.
In addition to the presentation of the Cousy Award, the College Basketball Awards Presented by Wendy's – in coordination with the Los Angeles Athletic Club and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame – included the exclusive presentation of the John R. Wooden Award Men's Player of the Year Presented by Wendy's, John R. Wooden Award Women's Player of the Year as well as four positional honors created and managed by the Basketball Hall of Fame.
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2015 AWARD & CEREMONY
Utah's Delon Wright Wins Bob Cousy Award Sponsored by Holy Cross
Delon Wright from the University of Utah is the recipient of the 2015 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award presented by College of the Holy Cross. Named for Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy '50, the annual honor now in its 12th year recognizes the top point guards in men's college basketball.
Wright was presented with the award earlier this evening during ESPN's inaugural College Basketball Awards show at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. Hosted by ESPN's Rece Davis and his College GameDay colleagues Jay Bilas and Jay Williams, the event was broadcast live on ESPN2.
To read the rest of the press release, click here.
PAST WINNERS
| Year |
Player Name |
School |
| 2017 |
Frank Mason III |
University of Kansas |
| 2016 |
Tyler Ulis |
University of Kentucky |
| 2015 |
Delon Wright |
University of Utah |
| 2014 |
Shabazz Napier |
University of Connecticut |
| 2013 |
Trey Burke |
University of Michigan |
| 2012 |
Kendall Marshall |
University of North Carolina |
| 2011 |
Kemba Walker |
University of Connecticut |
| 2010 |
Greivis Vasquez |
University of Maryland |
| 2009 |
Ty Lawson |
University of North Carolina |
| 2008 |
DJ Augustin |
University of Texas |
| 2007 |
Acie Law IV |
Texas A&M University |
| 2006 |
Dee Brown |
University of Illinois |
| 2005 |
Raymond Felton |
University of North Carolina |
| 2004 |
Jameer Nelson |
St. Joseph's University |
THE COUSY AWARD IN THE NEWS
Final Five Candidates Announced for 2017 Bob Cousy Award (March 7, 2017)
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the five finalists for the 2017 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award presented by College of the Holy Cross. Named after Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy, the annual honor now in its fourteenth year recognizes the top point guards in men's division one college basketball.
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2017 Bob Cousy Award Watch List Narrowed to 10 Finalists (January 30, 2017)
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the 10 watch list finalists for the 2017 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award presented by College of the Holy Cross. Named after Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy '50, the annual honor now in its fourteenth year recognizes the top point guards in Division I men's college basketball.
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Twenty Candidates Announced for 2017 Bob Cousy Award (October 17, 2016)
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the 20 watch list finalists for the 2017 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award presented by College of the Holy Cross. Named after Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy '50, the annual honor now in its 14th year recognizes the top point guards in Division I men's college basketball. A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
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Kentucky's Tyler Ulis Wins Bob Cousy Award Sponsored by Holy Cross (April 8, 2016)
University of Kentucky sophomore Tyler Ulis was named the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year in a season where he set a school record for assists average (7.0) in a single season. Named for Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy '50, the annual honor now in its 13th year recognizes the top point guards in men's college basketball.
Click here to read the rest of the press release.
Final Five Candidates Announced for 2016 Bob Cousy Award (March 7, 2016)
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the five finalists for the 2016 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award presented by College of the Holy Cross. Named after Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy, the annual honor now in its thirteenth year recognizes the top point guards in men's division one college basketball. A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel narrowed the original watch list of 20 candidates down to 10 and now the final five.
Click here to read the rest of the press release.
2016 Bob Cousy Award Watch List Narrowed to 10 Finalists (February 1st, 2016) - by Cristal Steuer
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the 10 watch list finalists for the 2016 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award presented by College of the Holy Cross. Named after Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy '50, the annual honor now in its thirteenth year recognizes the top point guards in Division I men's college basketball. A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates in October, which has now been narrowed to just ten.
Click here to read the rest of the press release.
Holy Cross Partners with Basketball Hall of Fame to Sponsor Bob Cousy Award Honor for best college point guard to be announced during ESPN live broadcast from Los Angeles April 10 (March 5th, 2015) - by Cristal Steuer
The College of the Holy Cross has partnered with the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to sponsor the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award. Named for Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy '50, the annual honor now in its 12th year recognizes the top point guards in men's college basketball. The winner of the 2015 Bob Cousy Award will be presented at ESPN's new College Basketball Awards show at Club Nokia in Los Angeles on Friday, April 10, 2015. The awards show will be televised live on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. EST.
Click here to read the rest of the press release.
MICELLANEOUS LINKS
The Basketball Hall of Fame Bob Cousy Award Website
