'He’s always been a team player': Celtics owner pays visit, tribute to Bob Cousy, with NBA championship trophies in tow

WORCESTER — Celtics governor and majority owner Wyc Grousbeck brought the 2008 and 2024 NBA championship trophies to Bob Cousy’s home on Salisbury Street Tuesday morning.

“I think it’s fantastic,” Cousy said. “It’s completely unexpected.”

Grousbeck and Jeff Twiss, Celtics vice president of media and alumni relations, paid homage to Cousy, who helped the Celtics win the first six of their record 18 NBA championships.

Grousbeck also showed the Celtics great a book of ring designs and informed him that he’ll receive an NBA championship ring along with the Celtics players before they open the next season against Miami at the Garden on Oct. 27. Grousbeck called the announcement of the ring an early birthday present for Cousy, who will turn 96 on Aug. 9.

“You’ve been instrumental in all the championships,” Grousbeck said.

In addition to playing 13 seasons for the Celtics, Cousy served as a color commentator for 35 years, and he has cheered them on ever since.

Cousy is the only Celtic remaining from their first championship season in 1957, the year he was voted NBA MVP. He’s also the only one left from the 1947 Holy Cross NCAA championship team.

Cousy was an All-Star in all of his 13 Celtics seasons, a member of the All-NBA first team 10 times and of the second team twice. He led the league in assists eight years in a row. Only he, Bill Russell, George Mikan and Bob Pettit were selected to each of the 25th, 30th, 50th and 75th NBA anniversary teams.

Grousbeck said bringing the trophies to Cousy was his way of “honoring the people that built” the Celtics.

“It’s a great honor to be here with you, Bob,” Grousbeck said.

Grousbeck explained that when he and his partners purchased the Celtics in 2002, they sought advice from Celtics greats.

“I literally tried to think what would Red (Auerbach) do, what would Bob do, what would Bill Russell do,” he said.

Asked if Cousy was “Mr. Celtic,” Grousbeck replied, “He’s always been a team player. I don’t think he’s all about Bob.”

Cousy agreed, saying the only way to be successful is to put the team above yourself.

Grousbeck told Cousy that the team owed him “a huge thank you” for predicting that they’d beat the Mavericks in the NBA Finals in four or five games. They won in five.

“You called it, and you know every one of our guys read that, heard it and talked about it,” Grousbeck said. “We were talking about it before the Finals. You called the shot. That gave them even more confidence because you have won so many (titles).”

“I’m glad they paid attention,” Cousy said.

“They paid attention,” Grousbeck said.

“That was an easy call,” Cousy said.

Cousy said he was relieved when the Mavericks won the Western Conference because he thought the Celtics would beat them easily and he wouldn’t have to stay up until 11:30 on game nights to watch the end of the games. He was convinced that Jrue Holiday and Derrick White would be able to defend Kyrie Irving and to a lesser extent Luka Doncic.

Cousy appreciated that the trophies made their way to his beloved Worcester, a city he never left since attending Holy Cross.

“It means something between myself and my relationship with the Celtics,” Cousy said, “but it also means something in terms of they came to Worcester to display these trophies. Worcester is still an All-American city. It’s been my choice for 78 years now to live in Worcester rather than Boston or anyone else. For me to be able to bring a little attention to Worcester in any regard is meaningful, and this gives me an opportunity to do that.”

Grousbeck was born in Worcester and lived for a short time in a house on Forest Street near Indian Lake, a mile or so from Cousy’s home, before the family moved closer to Boston.

“I was only one (years old) when we moved. It was over my objections. I wanted to stay,” he said with a chuckle.

Grousbeck didn’t drive by his old house on Tuesday, but he did in his previous visit to Cousy.

When Cousy helped the Celtics win their first six in the 1950s and 1960s, the team wasn’t awarded championship trophies, and he remembers getting only one ring.

“We had quick dinners,” he said. “Had a few beers.”

Cousy remembers receiving a set of golf clubs after one championship. After another title season, coach Auerbach’s brother, a jeweler in Chicago, made necklaces for the players’ wives, but Cousy doesn’t recall that the players received anything.

“The reward is in the accomplishment,” he said.

The Walter A. Brown Trophy, named after the former Celtics owner, wasn’t awarded until 1977, and it was renamed the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 1984 after the former NBA commissioner.

Cousy’s daughter Ticia Cousy could see how moved her father was with the visit.

“I think he’s very honored and pleased, and it’s pretty amazing that he can reach this age and still have these honors,” she said.

By the way, Twiss has worked for the Celtics for nearly 44 years, and he’s the only remaining employee who was hired by Auerbach.

“Quite flattering,” Twiss said.

Grousbeck mentioned that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown took their games to a higher level in the playoffs and that Brown accepted the burden of signing a five-year, $285 million contract last summer and played his best basketball.

“I agree,” Cousy. “His game this year moved forward.”

Cousy was impressed with all of the Celtics in the playoffs, but he got a special kick out of Payton Pritchard sinking half-court shots to beat the buzzer at the end of the half and third quarter in the Finals. Cousy follows Pritchard closely because Pritchard won the Bob Cousy Award as the top men’s college point guard in 2020.

Grousbeck recalled that the 2008 championship trophy sunk to the bottom of a pool when Ray Allen borrowed it that year. Grousbeck said he’ll bring the 2024 trophy to Pritchard’s wedding on Cape Cod on Aug. 10, and it remains to be seen if the trophy sinks in a pool or the ocean.

“Larry’s had a busy time,” Grousbeck said of the trophy. “He’s got some dents and scratches already, but you can send them to Tiffany, and they’ll remanufacture them.”

Lauren Stowell, director of a nine-part, as-yet untitled series about the Celtics that is scheduled to debut in April on Max, formerly known as HBO Max, was on hand with a videographer to shoot scenes for the series. The first of the 97 interviews that have been conducted for the series was also held at Cousy’s home in May 2023. Grousbeck is an executive producer for the series.

So what’s Cousy’s prediction for next season? Will the Celtics repeat?

“I think they have the potential to create a mini-dynasty,” Cousy said, “obviously because of their age, their motivation. Joe (Mazzulla, Celtics coach) seems to be a good coach. So on paper, if I would choose who is going to be the favorite the next few years, I’d say the Celtics again.”

—Contact Bill Doyle at sports@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @BillDoyle15.

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