Legends profile: Dave DeBusschere

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Dave DeBusschere earned the nickname “Big D,” with the “D” representing Defense.

DeBusschere, a relentless and tough forward, was recognized as one of the top defenders in the history of the game. He achieved a place on the All-Defensive First Team for the first six years of the award’s existence. Despite his average build of 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds, DeBusschere’s unparalleled work ethic set him apart. Throughout his 12-year NBA career, he exemplified the archetype of the hardworking, blue-collar basketball player.

DeBusschere, with his dark hair and rugged appearance, was a formidable presence on the basketball court, always seen with a determined scowl, a clenched jaw, and a sweat-soaked jersey. Opponents knew they were in for a tough game whenever they had to face him. He was a defining figure for the Knicks in the 1970s and his legacy lives on in New York, even after his death from a heart attack in 2003, at the age of 62.

“There’s not one other guy in this league who gives the 100 percent DeBusschere does, every night, every game of the season, at both ends of the court,” Bill Bridges of the Atlanta Hawks once told Newsday.

The “D” might as well represent Detroit, as DeBusschere was a local legend there. He was raised in the city, excelling in both basketball and baseball. His education was at Austin Catholic High School, where he guided the basketball team to a state championship. Additionally, he was the star pitcher of a baseball team that clinched the city championship, and he also pitched a local team to a national junior championship.

Numerous colleges sought DeBusschere’s enrollment, however, he chose to stay local and attend the University of Detroit. During his time there, he held an average of 24.8 points per game, helping the school make one NCAA tournament and two NIT appearances. In addition to basketball, he showcased his skills as a pitcher for the Titans’ baseball team, participating in three NCAA tournaments.

In 1962, upon his graduation, DeBusschere had to choose between baseball and basketball. Despite basketball being less popular than baseball in the early 60s, DeBusschere opted to play both sports. He managed to secure a $75,000 signing bonus from the Chicago White Sox and a $15,000 contract from the Detroit Pistons, where he was a territorial draft pick.

For four seasons, DeBusschere was a professional baseball player. He was a tall right-handed pitcher with a dynamic fastball and was brought up to the White Sox team in 1963, securing a 3-4 record with a 3.09 ERA. In the following two years, DeBusschere amassed a 25-9 record playing for Chicago’s Class AAA Indianapolis farm club.

DeBusschere commenced his NBA career on a high note. In the 1962-63 season, he had an average of 12.7 points per game and made it to the NBA All-Rookie Team. Right from the start, DeBusschere showcased impressive offensive skills. Despite battling for many points under the basket, he also demonstrated his ability to score with a decent, albeit inconsistent, long-range shot. For a big man, his ball handling was commendable, and the Pistons occasionally utilized him as a guard. DeBusschere, as a rookie, displayed extraordinary maturity. While he might have appeared as a bruiser, he was intelligent, analytical, and maintained a cool head on the court.

During DeBusschere’s rookie season, the Pistons made it to the playoffs. However, in the 1963-64 season, misfortune hit when DeBusschere suffered a broken leg, restricting him to just 15 games and leading to the team securing only 23 victories. Despite DeBusschere starting the 1964-65 season in good health, the team got off to a disappointing start. This prompted Pistons owner Fred Zollner to take a bold step in November – he named DeBusschere as the player-coach, making him, at 24, the youngest coach in NBA history.

There was speculation that DeBusschere was assigned coaching responsibilities as a strategy to lure him away from baseball. If this was the case, the strategy was successful. DeBusschere played another season in the minor leagues, but he soon ended his dual-sport career. He rejected a call-up from the White Sox at the end of 1965, reportedly disappointed that he had not been kept on the major league roster that spring. With the start of basketball training camp, his coaching responsibilities required his attention, forcing him to make a decision.

DeBusschere’s tenure as a coach did not yield successful outcomes. His Detroit teams, excluding himself, were disadvantaged due to a shortage of talent. When DeBusschere, as the coach, inquired about which Pistons other team’s general managers would be willing to trade for, the consistent response was, “You.”

DeBusschere’s effectiveness was likely limited due to his inexperience and youth – he took on coaching duties just 18 months after graduating from college. He held the position for nearly three seasons before Donnis Butcher replaced him following the 1966-67 season. Despite retiring from his coaching role with a record of 79-143, DeBusschere stayed on with the Pistons as a player.

DeBusschere often said that he learned a great deal about basketball from his experience as a coach but that he found it burdensome. “It was a relief to give up coaching,” he later told Newsday. “I realize now there were things I wasn’t mature enough to handle. As soon as I was back on my own again, I had my best season. I was scoring better, rebounding better, defending better and doing everything else better.”

Over the years, DeBusschere’s talents were coveted by a number of teams, but the New York Knicks were more persistent than most. Every year the Knicks tried to pry him loose from Detroit but were continually rebuffed. “DeBusschere was our Holy Grail,” Knicks coach William “Red” Holzman later revealed in his book, A View from the Bench.

When Paul Seymour became the Pistons’ coach, the situation changed. With a desire to overhaul the club, he sought new players. DeBusschere was the most appealing star on the team. In December 1968, Detroit finally consented to trade him to the Knicks in exchange for center Walt Bellamy and guard Howard Komives.

DeBusschere felt like he was given a new lease on life when he escaped to New York. “I was constantly frustrated as a coach because we kept losing,” he revealed. “As a player, my past was filled with six years of defeats. So, when the trade was announced, I was thrilled to be joining a winning team.”

The Knicks were optimistic that DeBusschere would strengthen their frontcourt and bolster their title run. With Bellamy’s departure, Willis Reed was able to transition from forward to center. DeBusschere’s strength and rebounding skills at the power forward position enabled the Knicks to incorporate sharp-shooter Cazzie Russell and finesse player Bill Bradley in the other forward position.

DeBusschere quickly found success in New York, ending the 1968-69 season with an average of 16.3 points per game and earning a spot on the All-NBA Second Team. Following this, he played a pivotal role in pushing the Knicks to the Eastern Division finals. However, they were defeated by the Boston Celtics in six games.

Despite not being an excellent shooter, DeBusschere possessed the capability to rake in 20 points each game. He had a penchant for scoring in flurries, occasionally launching a succession of long jump shots from the corner. Much like Bradley, he was adept at subtly moving behind picks to discover a gap from where he could execute a 5-foot jump shot. Additionally, he was an expert at nimbly sidestepping his opponent to tap in an offensive rebound.

However, his main responsibility with the Knicks was to secure crucial rebounds and neutralize the top forward of the rival team. As a defensive spark, DeBusschere utilized his coaching experience effectively in New York, guiding a tactical, shrewd Knicks squad that put team objectives before personal accomplishments.

“Holzman confessed, “I didn’t fully appreciate how talented he was until he joined us. I had always recognized him as an impressive player, but I didn’t know he was this extraordinary. I guess it’s often like that. You don’t comprehend a person’s true ability until you witness them perform every night.”

Richie Guerin, ex-coach of the Hawks, also highly respected DeBusschere like Holzman did. He stated, “Dave is among the top 10 forwards I’ve ever witnessed playing basketball, and he might even be among the top five or six I’ve ever seen.”

The 1969-70 Knicks, a team filled with incredible talent, gained national attention. Led by the flamboyant Walt “Clyde” Frazier, known for his flashy playing style and wardrobe, the Knicks of this era were truly characterful. “Dollar Bill” Bradley, a Rhodes Scholar and a player known for his cerebral approach to the game, later became a respected U.S Senator and presidential candidate. However, during this period, he was known for his exceptional passing and shooting skills. The linchpin of the team was the courageous 6-foot-9 Reed.

The physical DeBusschere was indeed the final piece in the Knicks’ championship puzzle. “Sometimes he’ll score only four or six points in 40 minutes,” Holzman told Newsday. “People say to me: ‘How come you play him so long?’ I say because he does a hell of a rebounding job for us, a hell of a job on defense for us.”

DeBusschere immediately became a fan favorite. Unlike Frazier and Bradley, DeBusschere was seen as a “regular guy” – a straightforward, hardworking individual who relished having beers in the locker room post-games.

Throughout the 1969-70 season, the Knicks met their fans’ high expectations. Madison Square Garden echoed with chants of “DEE-fense” as DeBusschere and his teammates dominated the league with a 60-22 track record. In the playoffs, they effortlessly subdued the Baltimore Bullets in seven matches, then swiftly overcame the Milwaukee Bucks and Lew Alcindor (later renamed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) in a mere five games, earning them a spot in The Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The final round of the championship was nothing less than dramatic. It showcased the Knicks’ teamwork against the Lakers’ glamour, the latter being spearheaded by the legendary Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor. The concluding match of the seven-game series has now become a part of sports legend.

Despite being injured and anticipated to be on the sidelines, Reed stunned both players and spectators when he entered the court at Madison Square Garden at the game’s onset. Although he was limping, he managed to score the first two baskets for the Knicks and spurred the team to a 113-99 triumph.