Dave DeBusschere
 |
Few professional American athletes can say they played in two major American sporting leagues. Dave DeBusschere is one of them however. He was a star NBA player and a solid MLB pitcher. He is one of only 11 people to have ever played in both leagues.
Starring at the University of Detroit, DeBusschere averaged an astounding 25 points and 20 rebounds his first year. His numbers declined slightly over the next two seasons, by 2 points his second year and one rebound both years but his last season he averaged nearly 27 points a game. He played only three seasons at the University of Detroit averaging 25 points and 19 rebounds in 80 career games.
He was selected by the Detroit Pistons with a territorial draft pick in 1962. He averaged 13 points and 9 rebounds his rookie season and was named to the all-rookie team. He also was signed by the Chicago White Sox and made his Major League Pitching debut on April 22 of that year.
|
He was injured in his second season and played only 15 games. He also played his last MLB game that year finishing his career with a 3-4 record and a 2.90 ERA. He quit baseball to pursue a full time career in the NBA.
In his third year he was named head-coach of the Detroit Pistons, at age 24 this makes him the youngest coach in the history of the NBA. He continued playing for the Pistons and averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds. The next season he finally made the all-star team.
DeBusschere lead the Pistons for the next four seasons before being traded to the New York Knicks. He had stopped coaching the Pistons the season earlier. DeBusschere is most notable for his time with the Knicks. He spent only 5 and a half seasons there in comparison to six and a half with the Pistons, but the Knicks seen the greatest success in their franchise history with him on the team.
The Knicks won the 70 and 73 NBA championships, their only two in franchise history, and DeBusschere made the all-star team in each of his seasons with the Knicks.
DeBusschere retired in 1974 after averaging a career high 18 points a game. He owns career averages of 16 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists a game in 875 career games. He was selected to the basketball hall of fame in 1983. DeBusschere died in 2003.
#110 Main index
#112
| 