Hey Guys,
Been watching college & pro hoops since 1950 (NBA began in '47).
I loved ALL the players & favored teams that truly played together over individual stars. EX: 50's/60's champs Celtics over Wilt & the Warriors. I used to literally live at the old MSG at 50th & 8th. Went to every basketball game ever year - tickets were only $2.50 for students with a school ID. Ha!
Best Individuals whom really I idolized & favored as a youngster:
Junior High & High School - Lew Alcindor - Used to follow him around NYC from gym to gym. Best All-Time.
College - Bill Bradley - What every mother wanted their son to be back then - 3X Princeton All-American, Straight A's, brilliant Rhodes Scholar - All-Time NCAA tournament scoring record, 57 pts. his final game. A real boy scout, great leader & complete team player. Bradley willed under-manned Princeton to a 3rd place finish in '65. Later: US Senator & Presidential candidate.
NBA - Bob Cousy - "Houdini of the Hardwoods" - the first real NBA Entertainer, whose Celtic teams usually won. Cousy's "fancy" passing & dribbling were pure magic in the '50's. First NBA player to make a $100K salary in the '50's! Russell was the second.
Best teams ever that truly played together: '70 & '73 Knicks - "Hit the Open Man." Frazier, Reed, DeBusschere, Bradley, Barnett. Phil Jackson was 6th man. Red Holzman was the coach, an original member of the 20's Original Celtics.
Father Demo