DAVECOWENS
BOSTON CELTICSDave Cowens — 2× NBA champion, MVP, 8× All-Star. Career stats, bio and legacy of the undersized center who out-hustled the NBA's giants.
2×NBA CHAMPION
1×NBA MVP
8×ALL-STARDave Cowens biography — NBA career story, legacy, championships, awards and personal background.
Career timeline, milestones, and place among all-time greats.
He led the NBA in fouls as a rookie and in guts for the rest of his career — an undersized center who out-worked bigger men through pure relentlessness. Born October 25, 1948, in Newport, Kentucky. Height 6 ft 9 in (206 cm).
He played at Florida State (1967–1970). Drafted 4th overall by the Boston Celtics in 1970, he won Rookie of the Year and spent a decade anchoring the Celtics, plus a brief return with the Milwaukee Bucks (1982–1983) after a short retirement.
Cowens won the NBA MVP award in 1973 and led Boston to two championships (1974, 1976) in the post-Russell era. An eight-time All-Star, he won the 1973 All-Star Game MVP and made the All-Defensive First Team once, known for a frenetic, undersized style that made him one of the smallest centers to ever win league MVP.
Career totals: 13,516 points (17.6 ppg), 10,444 rebounds (13.6 rpg), 2,910 assists (3.8 apg) over 766 games.
His No. 18 was retired by the Celtics. Named to the NBA's 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991. He later had a long career as an NBA head coach.
Dave Cowens quick facts — Height 6'9. 17.6 PPG career average. Championship years: 1974, 1976.
Height, weight, draft year, and years in the league.
Dave Cowens awards and honors — Championship years: 1974, 1976.
Major individual and team accolades with seasons won.
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Dave Cowens career statistics summary — 17.6 PPG career average.
Regular-season averages and totals across the full NBA career.
Dave Cowens career highs — best single-game performances in points, rebounds, assists and more.
Personal records with dates and opponents.
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vs LAL
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Dave Cowens advanced stats — PER, win shares, BPM and overall impact metrics.
Impact measured beyond traditional box score statistics.
Dave Cowens playoff stats — postseason points, rebounds, assists and games played.
Postseason production across every playoff run.
Dave Cowens All-Star Game stats — appearances, minutes and showcase performance.
Mid-season exhibition stats across every All-Star selection.
→DID NOT PLAY - RETIRED→
Dave Cowens NBA transactions — trades, signings and team changes by date.
Team moves and dates across every NBA stop.
FAQ about Dave Cowens — rings, MVP awards, career stats, height.
Answers to the most searched questions about championships and career honors.
Dave Cowens averaged 17.6 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists per game in the regular season.
Players similar to Dave Cowens — statistical peers by position, peak seasons and career arc.
All-time comparisons with the closest playing profile.
NoteThe club shown in the profile isn't necessarily the player's last team, but the one he's most associated with and that defined his career. See the full team history in the Transactions section.