DeBusschere, David A.
Basketball
b. Oct. 16, 1940, Detroit, MI
d. May 14, 2003
DeBusschere averaged 24.8 points per basketball game at the University of Detroit and also starred as a pitcher on the school's baseball team. After graduating in 1962, he signed a baseball contract with the Chicago White Sox for a $70,000 bonus and a basketball contract with the Detroit Pistons for $15,000 a year.
After two seasons of playing both sports, compiling a 3-4 record with a 2.90 ERA as a major league pitcher, DeBusschere quit baseball in 1962 to become a player-coach with the Pistons at the age of 24.
His coaching record was only 79-143 when he was replaced late in the 1966-67 season. DeBusschere continued playing for Detroit until he was traded to the New York Knicks in December of 1968.
DeBusschere became a key player on the New York teams that won NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. Never an exceptionally high scorer, the 6-foot-6, 235-pound forward starred on defense. He was named to the NBA all-defensive team six years in a row, from 1969 through 1974.
DeBusschere was picked for the NBA's All-Defensive team six straight years from 1969-74. He retired after the 1973-74 season with a career average of 16.1 points, plus totals of 9,618 rebounds, and 2,497 assists.
He was the general manager of the ABA's New York Nets in 1974, then became the commissioner of the American Basketball Association a year later. DeBusschere was instrumental in the 1976 merger of that league into the NBA.
In May of 1982, he was named general manager of the Knicks. The team won the NBA's first draft lottery in June of 1985 and DeBusschere used the pick to select center Patrick Ewing of Georgetown.