Dave DeBusschere (October 16, 1940 - May 14, 2003) was a professional basketball player in the NBA. He was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 1962 and won two championships with the New York Knicks. He was the youngest coach in NBA history. DeBusschere was born in Detroit, Michigan, and was named to the Basketball Hall of Fame after a 12-year career (1962-1974) in which he averaged 16.1 points and eleven rebounds while being named to eight NBA All-Star Teams. However, he was best known for his tenacious defense, as he was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team six times. His #22 jersey was retired by the Knicks, but not until many years after his retirement; it is thought the delay was due to DeBusschere's taking a front-office job with the rival New Jersey Nets of the then- American Basketball Association upon his retirement. At the age of 24, he was given the position of player-coach for the Detroit Pistons and thus became the youngest-ever coach in league history. DeBusschere was also the author of a book entitled The Open Man, which was a chronicle of the New York Knicks' 1969-1970 championship season.
He also was a pitcher in Major League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox in 1962-63.
DeBusschere died of a heart attack in New York in 2003, aged 62.
Preceded by: Charles Wolf Detroit Pistons Head Coach 1964 - 1967 Succeeded by: Donnie Butcher
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