Last Updated on July 24, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Dave Cowens was a relentless, high-energy center whose hustle, versatility, and leadership helped define the Boston Celtics during the 1970s. An NBA MVP, Hall of Famer, and two-time NBA champion, Cowens excelled as a scorer, rebounder, passer, and defender while earning a reputation as one of the toughest competitors of his era.

Here are the details for Dave Cowens:

  • Full Name: David William Cowens
  • Nationality: United States (born in Newport, Kentucky)
  • Age: Born on October 25, 1948
  • Hometown: Newport, Kentucky
  • Wingspan: 7 feet (213 cm)
  • Weight: 230 pounds (104 kg)
  • Height: 6 feet 9 inches (206 cm)
  • Shoe Size: Size 16 US
  • Shoes worn: Converse Chuck Taylor, Converse Pro Leather
  • Number: #18 (Celtics), #36 (Bucks)
  • Position: Center / Power Forward
  • High School: Newport Catholic High School (now known as Newport Central Catholic High School) in Newport, Kentucky
  • University: Florida State University
  • DOB: 4th overall pick in the 1970 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics
  • Teams:
    • Boston Celtics
    • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Accolades:
    • NBA Career Achievements:
      • 2× NBA Champion (1974, 1976) with the Boston Celtics
      • NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) (1973)
      • NBA Rookie of the Year (1971)
      • NBA All-Star Game MVP (1973)
      • 8× NBA All-Star (1972–1978, 1980)
      • 3× All-NBA Second Team (1973, 1975, 1976)
      • NBA All-Defensive First Team (1976)
      • 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1975, 1980)
      • NBA 50th Anniversary Team (1996)
      • NBA 75th Anniversary Team (2021)
    • College:
      • Consensus First-Team All-American (1970) – Florida State University
    • Coaching Career:
      • Head Coach of the Charlotte Hornets (1996–1999)
      • Head Coach of the Golden State Warriors (1979–1980)

Dave Cowens’ player archetype was an energetic two-way center who blended relentless rebounding with surprising mobility and playmaking. Although undersized for the position, his strength, endurance, and willingness to battle larger opponents made him a constant presence around the basket, while his ability to lead the fast break after securing a rebound gave Boston’s offense an extra dimension. Cowens defended the paint with physicality and anticipation, frequently diving for loose balls and contesting everything in his area. His scoring came from hustle, face-up opportunities, and timely interior finishes, but his greatest value was the pace and intensity he injected into every possession, often changing the flow of a game through effort as much as skill.

Scouting Report

The first thing you notice about Dave Cowens isn’t his scoring or even the rebounding—it’s how many possessions seemed to begin with him doing something uncomfortable for the opposing center. He loved dragging bigger players into movement, sprinting into early seals, initiating dribble handoffs, or simply beating them down the floor before the defense had a chance to get organized. That constant activity changed the geometry of an offense because defenders couldn’t park themselves in the paint waiting for post-ups. With the ball, he was far more creative than many centers of his era, comfortable hitting cutters from the high post or putting the ball on the floor for a couple of dribbles to collapse help before finding the next pass. He wasn’t the kind of back-to-the-basket scorer who methodically punished switches every trip, and longer, stronger post defenders could make life difficult when possessions slowed into static isolations. That’s the trade-off. Defensively, though, his mobility opened options that many big men simply couldn’t handle. He stepped out on ball handlers, recovered quickly enough to challenge at the rim, and rarely looked out of place defending actions beyond the lane because his feet stayed active instead of reacting late. What stands out is that he often won rebounds before the shot even left the shooter’s hand, carving out angles through anticipation rather than simply overpowering people. Put him in a system built around constant cutting, quick decisions, and bigs facilitating from the elbows, and his value expands well beyond the box score because every touch has the potential to trigger another action. To me, his game shares elements with Joakim Noah’s connective passing and emotional edge, while also resembling a more offensively assertive Al Horford in the way he balanced interior play with face-up decision-making. He wasn’t interested in standing still waiting for the offense to find him; he preferred making the defense adjust first, and that’s what gave his teams an entirely different rhythm.

Notes:

  • Dave Cowens was the definition of having a good motor in basketball. He always worked hard and always gave 100% effort on the basketball court. The tremendous work ethic he displayed helped him win the NBA MVP award in 1973. Cowens was also known for his very good post moves and was strong in scoring around the basket.
  • Cowens spent the vast majority of his career playing for the Boston Celtics and spent his last season before retiring with the Milwaukee Bucks.
  • Cowens wore Converse Pro Leather High Top basketball shoes. I have seen signed pairs of Converse Pro Leather shoes that he wore. Cowens liked to wear High Tops and they were usually white.