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14. Bob Cousy
photo via Legendary Auctions
Bob Cousy changed the game of basketball with his flashed-up fundamentals and innovative play. His fancy passes and precision ball handling captivated fans, all while paving the way for the likes of Pete Maravich, Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd and Jason Williams. “The Houdini of the Hardwood,” Cousy ran the point for the Boston Celtics through out the ’50s and into the ’60s. His prestigious resume includes 6 NBA Championship Rings, 13 All-Star Games, and 12 All-NBA selections. For his efforts, Cousy was named to the 50 Greatest Players of All Time list.
While Cousy’s game had showtime written all over it, the mass marketing of athletes and shoe contracts were still years away during his playing days. Nevertheless and so much the more, Cousy would spearhead such sales tactics by becoming one of the first basketball players to endorse products and appear in commercials. As a Celtic, he endorsed PF Flyers and in many ways birthed basketball’s concept of the signature shoe decades before it became the norm.
These days, the likes of Forbes and ESPN run features based on the current athletes with the highest grossing endorsement deals. Just the same, NBA stars continue to cash in on shoe deals whether active or retired. Looking back, let’s not forget that Bob Cousy took some of the first footsteps for a business that’s still booming today and a culture that supports it.
-Ian Stonebrook
