Bob Cousy was a playmaking maestro in the NBA's early days and a crucial part of Boston's 6 championship teams, too.
The place where Bob Cousy began his rise to fame will forever be tied to his name.
The College of Holy Cross announced Monday it will dedicate the court at its Hart Center Arena in honor of Cousy. The event will take place on Feb. 7 in which the court will be known as Bob Cousy ’50 Court thanks to a gift made to the school in Cousy’s honor, school officials said.
The formal dedication will take place on Feb. 7 before Holy Cross’ game against Lehigh.
“Bob is the ultimate Crusader Legend and epitomizes what it means to be a person for and with others,” said Holy Cross vice president for intercollegiate athletics Kit Hughes said in a statement. “His impact on our College, the Worcester community, the sport of basketball, and the world as a whole cannot be overstated.
“We are grateful for the incredible generosity shown in his honor — so that his iconic status can be further imprinted on our community for years to come.”
🔜 Bob Cousy ’50 Court 🏀
In February, we will officially dedicate the court at the Hart Center Arena in honor of one of the most iconic individuals in Holy Cross and basketball history: https://t.co/FusuwgsrD1@HCrossMBB | #GoCrossGo pic.twitter.com/OY9VyLU4az
— Holy Cross Athletics (@GoHolyCross) December 22, 2025
As a freshman at Holy Cross, Cousy was a contributing member of the 1947 NCAA championship team. In his sophomore, junior and senior seasons, he led Holy Cross to two more NCAA Tournaments and garnered All-East and All-America honors in the process. His teams also set the school record for consecutive victories, winning 29 straight games from March 4, 1949 to March 4, 1950.
Cousy, 97, was the No. 4 pick in the 1950 draft by the Boston Celtics. He played 13 of his 14 seasons with the team and was the NBA MVP in 1956-57, made 12 All-NBA teams (10 on the First Team), was a 12-time All-Star, and won six NBA championships. He led the league in assists for eight straight seasons and was named to the NBA’s 35th, 50th and 75th anniversary teams.
He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1971 and joined Holy Cross’ Hall of Fame in 1956. His jersey has been retired by both Holy Cross (No. 17 in 2008) and the Celtics (No. 14 in 1963). In 2019, President Donald Trump presented the then-91-year-old Cousy with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Beyond his accomplishments on the hardwood, Cousy was a major and early proponent of diversity in the NBA and was a supporter of his Black teammates during the civil rights movement. He has extensively worked with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass. & Metrowest organization for decades, with the “Bob Cousy Assist Program” — founded in 2023 — pairing Holy Cross basketball players with middle school students from the Nativity School of Worcester in a mentorship role.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
