The NBA’s 50 Greatest Duos Of All-Time
By Duncan Smith
23. John Havlicek and Dave Cowens, Boston Celtics
One of many championsip winning duos across the decades for the Boston Celtics, John Havlicek and Dave Cowens were second to none. Others may have won more titles (although in their eight years together they did in fact win two NBA championships), but these guys not only won, they nearly bridged the gap between the eras of Bill Russell from the 1950s and 1960s and Larry Bird in the 1980s and 1990s.
As a duo, Havlicek and Cowens and their Celtics posted a record of 414-242 and a winning percentage of 63.1 percent. They missed the playoffs just twice, in their first year in 1970-71 and in their last year in 1977-78, won two championships and made it to the Eastern Conference Finals an additional three times, running up against the New York Knicks the first two times and the Washington Bullets the final time.
In their time together, Havlicek averaged 21.6 points per game, and in their first season alongside each other he averaged 28.9 points, nine rebounds and 7.5 assists per game.
Cowens averaged a stellar 18.8 points and 15.2 rebounds per game while playing with Havlicek.
Next: Number 22