BOB COUSY

When he was thirteen years old, Bob Cousy had the good fortune to fall out of a tree and break his right arm. Forced to dribble and shoot as a lefty in neighborhood pickup games, he developed an ambidexterity that served him well when he pioneered the position of point guard. The cornerstone of the Celtics’ dynasty, he led the club to its first winning season in 1951 and eventually to six NBA championships.

Cousy played his first four years in the Deadball era when the two-handed set shot dominated the offensive repertoire of NBA teams. The introduction of the 24-second clock during the 1954-55 season encouraged teams to run and shoot more quickly, however, and permitted Boston to take full advantage of Cousy’s skills as a dribbler and playmaker. He led the league in assists for eight consecutive seasons while finishing near the top in scoring and free throw shooting. He also is credited with having invented the behind-the-back pass.

Cousy is still the gold standard for point guards and had no peer before Magic Johnson played for Los Angeles. He also may be the most beloved figure in the history of Boston sports. As Hall of Fame member Tom Heinsohn said of his teammate: “What Russell was on defense, that’s what Cousy was on offense—a magician. Once that ball reached his hands, the rest of us just took off, never bothering to look back. We didn’t have to. He’d find us. When you got into a position to score, the ball would be there.”