When discussing the rich history and unparalleled success of the Boston Celtics before the turn of the century, which led to 16 Larry O’Brien trophies, most of the credit naturally goes to legends like Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Bob Cousy, and Larry Bird — players who were categorized as “alphas” in different eras.
Yet one player who rarely receives the same level of recognition despite overcoming the odds is Dave Cowens.
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For critics, Cowens was a player who might have won an MVP award as an undersized center, but never logged an All-NBA First Team nod or even reached the 21.0 points-per-game mark during his decade-long career with the Celtics. However, those who played against him in the rugged era of the 1970s understood that Dave’s value remained underappreciated.
When big men like Bill Walton and Kareem Abdul Jabbar took over the NBA, it was Cowens who fought hard to lead the Celtics to two titles, and former Finals MVP and scoring legend Rick Barry wholeheartedly recognized that Dave was unlike any other player in that era.
“There are many players with great desire, but none play with greater desire than Dave Cowens,” Barry said.
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Cowens was hellbent on leading the Celtics to success
After Russell retired in 1969, the Celtics no longer looked like the untouchable powerhouse they once were. While the Los Angeles Lakers were already a title threat, another superteam — the New York Knicks — seized the moment, winning two titles in the space of four years.
The Knicks reached the NBA Finals by eliminating the Celtics in the ’72 and ’73 Eastern Conference Finals. However, Cowens refused to let history repeat itself in the 1973-74 season.
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He played with relentless passion throughout the regular season, averaging 19.0 points and 15.7 rebounds per game while playing 41.7 minutes per contest. For context, Michael Jordan, widely admired for his desire to compete and win, never reached that mark.
In the ECFs against the Knicks, Cowens averaged 19.0 points and 15.0 rebounds, helping the Celtics defeat the Knicks in five games. However, when Boston faced its toughest task in the championship round, facing Kareem and Oscar Robertson’s Milwaukee Bucks, Dave dropped 28 points and 14 rebounds in 47 minutes in Game 7 to help the Celtics raise the Larry O’Brien trophy in front of a hostile crowd in Milwaukee.
Cowens wasn’t done
The following season ended in disappointment as the Celtics were eliminated in the Conference Finals by the Washington Bullets. But as many gave up, Cowens proved otherwise once again.
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In the 1975-96 campaign, the big man seemed determined to set a standard from the beginning, deservedly earning an All-NBA Second Team and All-Defensive First Team honor after averaging 19.0 points and 16.0 rebounds in the regular season. Then, as the Celtics reached the Finals after enduring two six-game series, Cowens left his best for the last 20.5 points and 16.3 rebounds to help Boston win yet another title.
Sure, after that campaign, the Celtics were well below the level of a team that could chase titles until Bird arrived, but it wasn’t for Cowens; this franchise would never have won two titles in three years.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.