Bob Cousy shares how he became the first 'flashy' player in the NBA: “I was just a show-off by nature, blessed with a lot of God-given skills"

Bob Cousy is one of the shining examples of being an innovator in the NBA. Before he joined the league in 1950, the league was set in its ways with teams that played a more traditional style of basketball. There was no room for flashiness, so Cousy's joining the Boston Celtics was a massive change for the league.

Known as the Houdini of the Hardwood, Bob was one of the most exciting players during that time. His unique blend of ball-handling and flamboyant passes puzzled other teams because they failed to keep up with his quick dribbles and passes. Cousy went against the grain because he played a flashier style, which he took pride in.

"I was just a show-off by nature, blessed with a lot of God-given skills, which enabled me to do these things. Coaches in the '40s weren't even allowing hook shots, never mind behind-the-back stuff," Cousy said to SLAM Magazine. "Necessity is the mother of invention, and that applies to most of the unorthodox stuff I did… Ninety percent of my game was bread and butter. I am a very conservative person by nature, but I would try anything that the situation dictated, and my skills allowed."

Cousy did not need to be a flashy player

While Cousy was perceived as a magician on the court, he did not want to be flashy all the time. He started his career as a point guard who did not want to be restricted to simple moves, leading to him becoming a flashier player under Coach Red Auerbach .

As he matured, Cousy became more of a controlled player who did the most practical moves on the court. However, he still had some flashy passes and unique dribble moves when needed. That worked well for Cousy because he would become the league's golden standard at the point guard position.

He was a six-time champion, one-time MVP, 13-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA First Team player, and an eight-time assists leader. That is the resume of an all-time great, and Cousy is fondly remembered by most as a top point guard, even if some of his flashy moves have become normalized in the modern NBA.

Cousy set the tone for NBA players to be flashier

After the 1960s, the league became more accepting of flashy players. Of course, it was not a straightforward process because Pat Riley said there was some pushback to "Pistol" Pete Maravich's arrival because he was the most flamboyant player. He had some unique dribble moves and threw no-look passes, which shocked people, but it became more accepted.

That type of playing style became the norm when Earvin "Magic" Johnson joined the league and established himself as the figurehead in the Showtime Lakers. That fast-paced offense was what Cousy was trying to do with the Celtics, which he achieved, but not to the point of excitement like what the Lakers did a couple of decades later. However, that would not have happened without Cousy opening the door.

Related: “Cousy was the extension of Auerbach on the court” - How Bob Cousy embodied Red Auerbach’s style of basketball