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Detroit Pistons: 25 Best Players To Play For The Pistons

By Phil Watson

Oct 8, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; A general view of The Palace of Auburn Hills prior to the game between the Detroit Pistons and the Brooklyn Nets. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; A general view of The Palace of Auburn Hills prior to the game between the Detroit Pistons and the Brooklyn Nets. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Original Caption) Bob Cousy (14) is shown playing during the third quarter of the first playoff game of the National Basketball Association championship at Madison Square Garden March 16. The six-foot-two Celtic drew cheers as the shot found its mark to add to Boston's 93-71 win over the New York Knickerbockers. Partly hidden is New York player Harry Gallatin, leaping with Cousy. Cousy was injured in the final quarter and his knee is to be x-rayed when his team returns to Boston. Number 17 is Knick Fred Schaus.
(Original Caption) Bob Cousy (14) is shown playing during the third quarter of the first playoff game of the National Basketball Association championship at Madison Square Garden March 16. The six-foot-two Celtic drew cheers as the shot found its mark to add to Boston’s 93-71 win over the New York Knickerbockers. Partly hidden is New York player Harry Gallatin, leaping with Cousy. Cousy was injured in the final quarter and his knee is to be x-rayed when his team returns to Boston. Number 17 is Knick Fred Schaus. /

Fred Schaus. 25. player. 64. <strong>How acquired:</strong> 3rd round pick from West Virginia, 1949 BAA Draft.. SF.

Fred Schaus got a late start as a basketball player, enrolling at West Virginia in 1946 at the age of 21 after serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. An All-American as a senior, Schaus was the first Mountaineer to score more than 1,000 career points.

The Fort Wayne Pistons took Schaus in the third round of the 1949 BAA Draft and he immediately jumped into the starting lineup.

DET_25_SCHAUS
DET_25_SCHAUS /

Schaus was All-NBA as a rookie and was named an All-Star in 1951, finishing fifth in the league in free-throw shooting in 1952-53.

In December 1953, his contract was sold to the New York Knicks and he retired after the 1953-54 season to return to West Virginia as head coach.

In parts of five seasons in Fort Wayne, Schaus averaged 12.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 35.0 minutes per game, shooting 34.8 percent overall and 82.6 percent at the foul line.

Schaus built a powerhouse at West Virginia, posting a record of 146-37 in six seasons and reaching the Final Four in 1959.

He was hired as the first coach of the Los Angeles Lakers following the team’s move from Minnesota and in seven seasons was 315-245 in the regular season and 33-38 in the playoffs, advancing to the NBA Finals four times, but losing all of them to the Boston Celtics.

Schaus was reassigned as the Lakers general manager in 1967 and held that post until abruptly resigning in May 1972 to take the head coaching position at Purdue.

He was 104-60 in six seasons with the Boilermakers, reaching the NCAA tournament once and winning the NIT in 1974. He would return to West Virginia as athletic director from 1981-89 before retiring.

He died Feb. 10, 2010, in Morgantown, W. Va., at the age of 84.

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