In 2003, at the age of 75, Bob Cousy started thinking about what would happen after he was gone. During this period of reflection, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer made an important choice: instead of letting his NBA memorabilia gather dust in storage, he decided it was better to sell them.
For Cousy, letting go of his belongings wasn't just about letting them go — it was about making sure they could do some good. The "Houdini of the Hardwood" wanted the money from the sale to eventually benefit his children.
"We want to leave something for them after my wife and I are gone," he told the media at the time, per ESPN.
Cousy's treasures hit the auction block
When Bob, a true Boston Celtics icon, decided to auction off his memorabilia, NBA collectors must have been excited. And for good reason — the items available were truly special. Major outlets like ESPN, Cape Cod Times, and Sun Journal reported on the auction, which offered a great selection of valuable collectibles.
Each piece shared a part of "Cooz's" remarkable 14-year NBA career. Among the highlights was his 1957 NBA Championship ring, awarded after the Celtics defeated the Bob Pettit-led St. Louis Hawks in that year's Finals. Also up for auction was the MVP trophy the point guard icon earned in 1957 after averaging an impressive 20.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game.
Several other unique items, including Bob's uniform from the 1952 All-Star Game, added even more interest. Speaking of All-Star Games, the New York native was selected 13 times and won the All-Star Game MVP award twice, in 1954 and 1957.
Another highlight was a collection of 2,500 signed checks, which gave the auction a unique and personal feel. Just as personal was a letter from President Eisenhower — also auctioned — inviting Cousy to have lunch at the White House.
The most anticipated piece, however, was a lithograph featuring the 50 greatest NBA players from the league's first 50 years, with an opening bid of $15,000.
The point guard pioneer
In total, the auction featured 155 pieces of memorabilia, drawing strong interest from collectors. It was expected to raise more than $117,000, which would be over $125,000 today.
"I am honored that basketball fans remember me and think some of these things are important enough to collect," remarked the eight-time assist leader.
But really, how could basketball fans ever forget what Cousy did for the NBA and for the game we all love?
After all, "Houdini of the Hardwood" – now 96 – won six championships with the Celtics between 1957 and 1963. But even more importantly, Cousy played a huge role in shaping the point guard position as we know it today.
Long before anyone else, the iconic number 14 showed off creativity, vision, and flair — introducing no-look passes and slick ball-handling — at a time when fundamentals were the norm.