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Billy Cunningham

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Billy Cunningham
Cunningham with the Philadelphia 76ers
Personal information
Born (1943-06-03) June 3, 1943 (age 83)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High schoolErasmus Hall
(Brooklyn, New York)
CollegeNorth Carolina (1962–1965)
NBA draft1965: 1st round, 5th overall pick
Drafted byPhiladelphia 76ers
Playing career1965–1976
PositionSmall forward / power forward
Number32
Coaching career1977–1985
Career history
Playing
1965–1972Philadelphia 76ers
1972–1974Carolina Cougars
1974–1976Philadelphia 76ers
Coaching
1977–1985Philadelphia 76ers
Career highlights
As player:

As coach:

Career ABA and NBA playing statistics
Points16,310 (21.2 ppg)
Rebounds7,981 (10.4 rpg)
Assists3,305 (4.3 apg)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference
Career coaching record
NBA454–196 (.698)
Record at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Basketball Hall of Fame
Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame

William John Cunningham (born June 3, 1943) is an American former professional basketball player and coach, who was nicknamed the Kangaroo Kid at the University of North Carolina for his leaping and record setting rebounding abilities. Cunningham spent a total of 17 seasons with the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers (nine as player, eight as coach), and two seasons as a player with the Carolina Cougars of the American Basketball Association (ABA). He was an NBA champion both as a player (1967) and as a head coach (1983). He was the sixth man on the 1966–67 76ers team that is considered among the greatest teams in NBA history; and head coach of the 1982–83 76ers team that is likewise considered one of the greatest teams in NBA history.

As a professional, Cunningham was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, an NBA All-Star, All-NBA First and Second Team, an ABA All-Star, All-ABA First Team, and the ABA Most Valuable Player. He was selected first-team All-NBA three consecutive seasons (1968 to 1971) and was voted the ABA's Most Valuable Player in the 1972–73 season; his first year in that league. He averaged a double-double over 11 professional seasons.

Cunningham played college basketball at the University of North Carolina in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). He was first-team All-ACC three consecutive seasons, the ACC Player of the Year in 1965, and received All-American recognition in 1964 and 1965. Cunningham was later named to the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team honoring the fifty best players in Atlantic Coast Conference history. He averaged a double-double in each of his three years at North Carolina.

Cunningham became the 76ers head coach at 34-years old, and coached the 76ers for eight seasons (1977 to 1985). His teams were in the NBA playoffs every season. His 76ers teams reached three NBA finals, winning the 1983 NBA Finals over the Los Angeles Lakers, with a 12–1 record in the playoffs that season. The 1982–83 76ers are considered among the greatest teams in NBA history. Cunningham reached the 200-, 300- and 400-win milestones faster than any coach in NBA history. When he retired in May 1985, his teams had won 454 regular season games and he has the second-best regular-season winning percentage in league history (.698). Cunningham's playoff record as a coach is 66–39 (.629). He is the winningest coach in the 76ers' history. Former 76ers player and coach, Hall of Famer Doug Collins said Cunningham might be the greatest 76er, when looking at his overall impact on the franchise.

One of basketball's all-time greats, Cunningham was elected to the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in 1986 and honored by selection to both the NBA's 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams as one of its legendary players, as well as to the ABA All-Time Team. He was further honored in 1990 when he was selected as part of the first class to enter the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame; and in 2006 when he was named to the inaugural class of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

After retiring as a player, Cunningham worked for the CBS broadcasting network as a television color analyst on NBA games. He discontinued working for CBS when he returned to the NBA as a coach in 1977; but once again worked for CBS after retiring from coaching in 1985. Cunningham eventually became CBS' top analyst for NBA games in 1988; but discontinued that work again, after the 1987–88 NBA season. Cunningham was part owner and general manager of the expansion Miami Heat of the NBA, which played their inaugural season in 1988–89. Cunningham returned as a color analyst for CBS briefly during the NBA playoffs in 1990; and was an analyst for the 1991 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. He sold his interest in the Heat in early 1995.

Early life

[edit]

Billy Cunningham was born in the Parkville section of Brooklyn on June 3, 1943, the son of a fireman, John Cunningham. John had served in World War II and ultimately became the Assistant Chief of New York City.[1][2]

Cunningham's fame began while he was playing at the St. Rose of Lima grammar school playground, and later Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn,[3][4] where he was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the Brooklyn League in 1961.[5] He led an undefeated Erasmus to the New York City Championship in 1961.[6][7] That year, he was first-team All-New York City, and a member of the Parade magazine All-America team.[5]

College career

[edit]
Cunningham while at UNC.

Frank McGuire and Dean Smith

[edit]

Cunningham attended the University of North Carolina (UNC), where he played basketball for the Tar Heels' varsity from 1962 to 1965 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).[8] Frank McGuire was the coach at North Carolina (1952 to 1961). McGuire's sister lived in the Cunningham family's neighborhood, and Cunningham delivered her newspaper. McGuire had been recruiting New York high schoolers, and Cunningham's parents told him after his junior year in high school that he "'could either go play ball for Uncle Frank or go to a Catholic university'". Cunningham said he "'wanted to at least visit some of the other schools. I knew I’d go to Carolina, but I wanted the big-shot treatment. But my dad said no, that I might be depriving another kid of a scholarship'".[4][9]

McGuire, however, would never coach Cunningham at North Carolina. Since 1960, McGuire and North Carolina had been under investigation by the NCAA for alleged recruiting violations at North Carolina. McGuire and the school vigorously defended against this allegation, but the school was ultimately put on probation for one year. McGuire was also in conflict with the chair of the ACC in 1960–61.[10][11][12]

Separately, two of North Carolina's basketball players had allegedly been connected to a gambling controversy, and the school was intending to deemphasize basketball because of that going into the 1961–62 school year.[13][14] By April of 1961, McGuire decided it was time to move on from North Carolina. He began pursuing coaching and executive positions in the NBA, and in August 1961 McGuire took a head coaching job with the Philadelphia Warriors of the NBA; North Carolina having agreed to release McGuire from the remainder of his contract with the school.[12][13][11]

When Cunningham started his varsity career at North Carolina for the 1962–63 season, Dean Smith, who had been McGuire's assistant coach, was the Tar Heels' head coach.[4][10] Smith would go on to coach North Carolina for 36 years and win 879 games and two NCAA championships;[15] but after taking over as head coach he was not allowed to recruit outside of North Carolina.[4] Smith had some success, but not to the extent McGuire had with earlier Tar Heel teams.[16] In early January 1965 the team was not consistently playing a high level. After a difficult loss to Wake Forest, some North Carolina students hanged a dummy of Smith in effigy. It has been stated that when the team arrived back after the loss, Cunningham, who was Smith's first true star player, got off the team bus and tore down the dummy.[17][18][19]

Playing career

[edit]

Cunningham excelled as a player at North Carolina, where he was known as the "Kangaroo Kid" for his leaping ability. In addition to the height he attained, Cunningham was described as being able to stay suspended in air longer than other players. This ability was combined with Cunningham's unique movement and shot making skill as an offensive player, the ability to score inside and outside on offense, high-level rebounding ability, and being a prolific shot blocker on defense.[20][21]

As a sophomore (1962–63), Cunningham averaged 22.7 points and 16.1 rebounds per game; leading the Tar Heels in both categories. He led the ACC in rebounding and was second in scoring.[22][23] As a junior (1963–64), Cunningham averaged 26 points and 15.8 rebounds per game; leading the ACC in both categories.[24][25] As a senior, Cunningham was team captain.[5] He again led the ACC in scoring and rebounding averages, with 25.4 points per game and 14.3 rebounds per game.[26] Over his three-year Tar Heel career, Cunningham averaged 24.8 points and 15.4 rebounds per game.[8]

During the 1963–64 season, Clemson Tigers coach Bobby Roberts said "'Anybody who things they can get away with a normal defense against Cunningham is crazy . . . You try everything you can think of and you never really stop him, but at least you're trying'".[27] Cunningham set a single-game North Carolina record with 48 points against Tulane on December 10, 1964. He also had 25 rebounds in that game.[28] He had 27 rebounds in a game vs. Clemson on February 16, 1963; setting a school record at the time.[29] In his UNC career, Cunningham scored 1,709 points and had 1,062 rebounds.[8]

From 1962 to 1964, Cunningham set a North Carolina record with double-doubles in 40 consecutive games.[30] From 1962 to 1965, he had 60 games with double-doubles; a school record until broken by Armando Bacot in 2023.[31][32] Cunningham's 60 double-doubles came in 69 games over three years; while Bacot broke the record during his fourth season, having already played 100 games in his first three seasons.[8][33]

Cunningham's 15.4 rebounds per game career average is the highest in Tar Heel history, and third all-time in ACC history.[34][35] His 24.8 points per game scoring average is second all-time at North Carolina and ninth all-time in the ACC.[34][36] Upon graduation, Cunningham's 1,062 rebounds were the best in North Carolina history, and is now fourth highest.[34] After Howard Deasy's 17.3 rebounds per game average in 1950–51, Cunningham has the next three highest rebounding averages per season in Tar Heel history.[37]

As a senior, he was the ACC's Player of the Year.[38][39] Cunningham was selected first-team All-ACC from 1963 to 1965.[40] He was named to the first-team 1963 All-ACC Tournament team and 1964 All-ACC Tournament team.[41][42] As a junior (1964), Cunningham was named to the 10-player U. S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) All-America Team for Look magazine,[43] and was among the last candidates eliminated from inclusion in the 1965 10-player team.[44] In 1965, United Press International (UPI) named Cunningham a second-team All-American,[45] and the Associated Press (AP) named him a third-team All-American.[46]

Professional career

[edit]
Phil Jackson (#18), Walt Bellamy (#8), Bill Cunningham (with ball), and Lucious Jackson (#54), in a Knicks vs. 76ers game.

Philadelphia 76ers

[edit]

The Philadelphia 76ers selected Cunningham with the seventh overall pick in the 1965 NBA draft.[47] He was drafted sight unseen on the recommendation of Frank McGuire.[4] In 1965, Cunningham joined the Philadelphia 76ers and settled into the role of sixth-man in his rookie year.[4] He played 80 games, primarily as a sixth man, while averaging 14.3 points and 7.5 rebounds a game.[48] At the conclusion of the season he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team, along with fellow future Hall of Famer Rick Barry, Fred Hetzel, Tom Van Arsdale and Dick Van Arsdale.[49][50]

The following season (1966–67), under future Hall of Fame head coach Alex Hannum, the 76ers had a 68–13 record and won the 1967 NBA championship. Along with Cunningham, the 76ers also featured future Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer, and Chet Walker, as well as Wali Jones and Luke Jackson.[51][52][53][54][55] Cunningham, Chamberlain, and Greer were later named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team as among the greatest 76 players in NBA history.[56] The 1966–67 Philadelphia 76ers are considered one of the greatest teams in NBA history.[47][57][58][59][60]

Again playing as the sixth man, Cunningham averaged 26.8 minutes, 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game during the regular season.[60][51] The 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics in five games to win the 1967 Eastern Division finals. Cunningham averaged 20.4 minutes, 12.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and two assists per game in that series.[61] The 76ers won the NBA finals in six games over the San Francisco Warriors. Cunningham averaged 25.7 minutes, 19.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and three assists per game in the series.[62] In Game 2 of the 1967 NBA Finals, Cunningham scored 28 points during a 126–95 win over the Warriors.[63]

The 76ers were 62–20 during the 1967–68 regular season, the best record in the NBA that season.[64] Cunningham played in 74 games, averaging 28.1 minutes, 18.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.[65] The 76ers defeated the New York Knicks in six games in the 1968 Eastern Division semifinals.[66] However, on the first play in overtime during Game 3 of that series, Cunningham suffered an injury that left him with a broken arm in three places, and he was unable to play for the rest of the 1968 playoffs.[67] In the three games he had played against the Knicks, Cunningham played nearly 29 minutes per game; and averaged 20.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game.[66] Playing without Cunningham, the 76ers lost in seven games to the Celtics in the Eastern Division finals.[68] That series opened on Friday, April 5, 1968, and was overshadowed by Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination that occurred a day earlier.[69][70][71]

In July 1968, after a dispute over his salary and the right to be included in hiring a head coach to replace Alex Hannum, the 76ers traded Wilt Chamberlain to the Los Angeles Lakers for Archie Clarke, Darrall Imhoff, Jerry Chambers and cash.[72] Cunningham became the 76ers' franchise player.[47] He left his role as sixth man and became the 76ers' starting power forward, with Luke Jackson moving to center. Cunningham played in all 82 76ers' game, averaging nearly 41 minutes per game. During the 1968–69 regular season, he led the 76ers in scoring (24.8 points per game) and rebounding (12.8 rebounds per game). He also averaged 3.5 assists per game.[73][74][75]

Cunningham was third in the NBA in scoring and 10th in rebounding.[76] He was selected to play in the 1969 All-Star Game,[77] was first-team All-NBA, and third in the NBA's Most Valuable Player voting behind Wes Unseld and Willis Reed.[78][79] Luke Jackson had replaced Chamberlain at center for the 1968–1969 season; and was averaging a double-double until a devastating injury ended his season in December 1968. He was replaced by Imhoff.[75][73][74] Even without Chamberlain, and Jackson for most of the season, the 76ers had a 55–27 record under new head coach Jack Ramsay; tied for second best in the NBA that season.[80] The 76ers lost in the first round of the 1969 NBA playoffs to the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics, in five games. Cunnigham led the 76ers in minutes played (43.4 per game) and points (24.4 per game), and was second to Imhoff in rebounding (12.6 per game).[81]

During the 1969–70 season, Cunningham led the 76ers in minutes played (39.4 per game), points (26.1 per game), rebounding (13.6 per game), and was third on the team averaging 4.3 assists per game.[82] He was fourth in the NBA in scoring and seventh in rebounding.[83] On November 8, 1969, he played the entire game against the Seattle SuperSonics, with 46 points and 22 rebounds.[84] Cunningham was selected to the All-Star Game again, where he started and scored 19 points.[85] He was again named first-team All-NBA and was tied for fifth in Most Valuable Player Voting.[86][79]

The 76ers' record fell to 42–40 that season.[87] They lost in five games in the first round of the 1970 NBA playoffs to the Milwaukee Bucks. In that series, Cunningham led the 76ers in minutes played (41 per game), points (29.2 per game), and rebounding (10.4 per game); while also averaging four assists per game.[88] Cunningham had 37 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in the 76ers' Game 2 win;[89] a career-high 50 points and 10 rebounds in Game 4;[90][91] and 28 points and 18 rebounds in Game 5.[92]

In the 1970–71 season, Cunningham played in 81 games, and again led the 76ers in scoring (23 points per game) and rebounding (11.7 rebounds per game); while averaging 38.1 minutes and 4.9 assists per game.[93] On December 20, 1970, Cunningham scored 31 points and grabbed a career-high 27 rebounds en route to a 134–132 road win over the Portland Trail Blazers.[94] He was ninth in the NBA in scoring and 15th in rebounding that season.[95] Cunningham was named first-team All-NBA for the third consecutive season,[79] and started in the All-Star Game for a second consecutive season.[96] He was ninth in the NBA Most Valuable Player voting.[97]

The 76ers lost a seven-game series in the first round of the 1971 NBA playoffs to the Baltimore Bullets. Cunningham led the 76ers in minutes played (43 per game), points (25.9 per game), rebounds (15.4 per game), and assists (5.7 per game).[98] He had a triple-double in the 76ers' Game 3 loss (21 points, 19 rebounds, 10 assists);[99] 18 points, 17 rebounds, and eight assists in Game 4;[100] 32 points and 20 rebounds in Game 5;[101] 33 points, 16 rebounds, and five assists in a Game 6 victory to avoid elimination;[102] and 30 points, 19 rebounds, and four assists in Game 7.[103]

Cunningham played 75 games for the 76ers in 1971–72, with the team finishing with a 30–52 record.[104] In a December 17, 1971 game against the Portland Trail Blazers he played 46 minutes and had a regular season career-high 47 points, along with 13 rebounds, nine assists, five steals, and two blocked shots.[105][106][91] Cunningham was an All-Star Game starter for the third consecutive season,[107] and was named second-team All-NBA, along with teammate Archie Clark.[108] Cunningham averaged 38.7 minutes, 23.3 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game that season.[104]

Cunningham in 1972
[edit]

Cunningham signed a three-year contract on August 5, 1969, to begin play with the American Basketball Association's (ABA) Carolina Cougars in 1971–72. Contending that the Cougars had reneged on paying the remaining $80,000 of a $125,000 signing bonus due on May 15, 1970, he reversed himself and signed a four-year, $950,000 contract extension to stay with the 76ers through 1974–75, on July 15, 1970. The Cougars' attempt to file an injunction against him was denied in United States District Court on September 24, 1971.[109]

The reversal of that judgment in the United States Court of Appeals 6+1⁄2 months later on April 5, 1972, meant that Cunningham was obligated to honor his Cougars' contract until its expiration in October 1974.[110] He announced on June 15, 1972, that he was going to play with the Cougars beginning with the upcoming season, at press conferences in Charlotte and Greensboro, North Carolina. This occurred almost simultaneous to the Sixers' introduction of Roy Rubin as its new head coach.[111]

Carolina Cougars

[edit]

In his first ABA season (1972–73), Cunningham averaged 24.1 points per game, 12.0 rebounds per game,[91] and led the league in total steals. He was fourth in the ABA in scoring and seventh in rebounding.[112] Cunningham led the Cougars to the best record in the league (57–27).[113] The Cougars were coached by future Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown,[114] who had been Cunningham's teammate at North Carolina.[115]

Cunningham was selected to play in the All-Star Game,[116] was named to the All-ABA First Team,[117] and was voted the ABA's Most Valuable Player; ahead of Julius Erving and George McGinnis (both of whom he would later coach in Philadelphia).[118][119][120] During the post-season, the Cougars defeated the New York Nets in five games in the Eastern Division semifinals. Cunningham averaged 22.4 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game in that series.[121] The Cougars lost a tight seven-game series to the Kentucky Colonels in the Eastern Division finals. Cunningham averaged 24.3 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game in that series.[122]

In the 1973–74 season, Cunningham played in only 32 games for the Cougars.[123] He underwent surgery in mid-December 1973 to remove a kidney blockage; and did not play again in the regular season.[124][125] He ultimately underwent two surgeries.[126] Cunningham was averaging 20.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game when his regular season ended on December 12. The Cougars finished third in the Eastern Division.[127][125]

In early April 1974, Cunningham attempted to play in the first round of the 1974 ABA playoffs against the Kentucky Colonels. He did not play in Game 1 of the Eastern Division Semifinals versus the Colonels.[128] Cunningham was not expected to play in Game 2, except at most for a token appearance; but the team was doing poorly and Brown let Cunningham play for 17 minutes. Cunningham provided some inspiration to his teammates, though he scored only two points. He was described in the press as pale and thin.[129][130] He played 20 minutes in Game 3, with 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists.[131] In Game 4, Cunningham played 24 minutes with 10 points and seven rebounds.[132] This was the last time Cunningham appeared in a postseason series.[91]

Return to 76ers

[edit]

In May 1974, the 76ers publicly stated they wanted Cunningham to return to play in Philadelphia. However, Cunningham himself said the matter remained to be decided; and that he would prefer to stay near his home in North Carolina rather than be part of a rebuilding organization in Philadelphia.[133] In mid-August 1974, the Cougars were sold and the team relocated to St. Louis as the Spirits of St. Louis.[134] At the end of September 1974, Cunningham rejoined the 76ers.[135]

Cunningham was welcomed back by 76ers fans.[4] He played in 80 games for the 1974–75 76ers' team, under head coach Gene Shue. Cunningham started 75 games. He averaged 35.7 minutes, 19.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game; but the 76ers had a 34–48 record.[136] Cunningham believed the 76ers would be an improved team going into the 1975–76 season, with the addition of former ABA All-Star George McGinnis; and they were in first place in their division going into the season's 20th game on December 5, against the New York Knicks. Cunningham suffered a serious knee injury during that game, resulting in torn knee cartilage and ligaments, that ended his playing career, after efforts at rehabilitation were unsuccessful.[137][138][139][4]

As Cunningham described it

"We were playing the Knicks in the Spectrum, and I got a defensive rebound and went all the way to our free-throw circle and my knee just exploded,” he said. “I remember I went down like I’d been shot. People tell me I screamed, but I don’t remember that. It was like I had blacked out. Nobody had touched me; they called a foul on Butch Beard, who was about 8 feet away, but they figured they had to whistle someone. I’d never had a bit of knee trouble before".[4]

For his combined NBA and ABA career, Cunningham scored 16,310 points, grabbed 7,981 rebounds, and recorded 3,305 assists.[91] He recorded 14 triple-doubles in the NBA[140] and seven in the ABA,[141] good for 51st all-time in the NBA[140] and fifth in the ABA.[citation needed] He averaged a double-double for his 11-year career, with 21.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. He averaged 20.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game with the 76ers, even though he began his career there as a sixth man and did not play more than 28.1 minutes per game until his fourth NBA season; and 23.1 points and 11.3 rebounds with the Cougars.[91]

Legacy and honors

[edit]

In 1986, Cunningham was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.[142] In 1996, Cunningham was voted as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History as part of the NBA's 50th Anniversary.[143] In October 2021, he was also named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.[56] To commemorate the NBA's 75th Anniversary The Athletic ranked their top 75 players of all time, and named Cunningham as the 66th greatest player in NBA history.[144] Of the players named to the 75th Anniversary team, only Cunningham, Bill Russell, Bill Sharman, and Lenny Wilkens also won NBA championships as head coaches.[145][146][147]

In 2006, he was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame's inaugural class.[148] His North Carolina Tar Heel No. 32 jersey is retired and honored at the Dean E. Smith Center.[149] In 2002, Cunningham was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team, honoring the fifty best players in ACC history.[5]

Cunningham's No. 32 jersey is retired by the Philadelphia 76ers. In 1991, 76ers' future Hall of Fame forward Charles Barkley obtained Cunningham's permission to wear jersey No. 32 for the 1991–92 NBA season to honor Magic Johnson who had announced at the start of the season that he was HIV-positive, and had retired from the NBA. The 76ers agreed that Barkley could honor Johnson with this gesture during the 1991–92 season. Barkley had previously worn No. 34.[150][151][152] During Cunningham's last season as the 76ers coach (1984–85), Barkley was a rookie on the 76ers.[153]

Among his honors and accomplishments;

Among his college honors and accomplishments;

Coaching career

[edit]

Cunningham succeeded Gene Shue as head coach of the 2–4 Philadelphia 76ers, on November 4, 1977.[138] His first act was hiring future Hall of Fame coach Chuck Daly as an assistant coach.[47] The 76ers went 53–23 over the remainder of the 1977–78 season under Cunningham, and ended the season in first place in the NBA's Atlantic Division.[120] In his first playoff appearance, Cunningham led the Sixers to a four-game sweep against the New York Knicks,[154] before losing to the Washington Bullets in six games in the Eastern Conference finals.[155]

During Cunningham's eight-season tenure as the 76ers head coach (1977 to 1985),[156] the team featured, among others, Bobby Jones, Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney, Moses Malone, and Julius Erving.[157] He reached the 200-, 300- and 400-win milestones faster than any coach in NBA history.[4] He led Philadelphia to the playoffs in every year as coach,[156] and advanced to the NBA Finals three times; in the 1979–80, 1981–82 and 1982–83 seasons.[158][47] The 76ers lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1980 and 1982, but after acquiring Moses Malone before the 1982–83 season, they finally got past the Lakers in 1983, winning the franchise's third (and most recent) NBA Championship as part of a 12–1 playoff run.[47] The 1982–83 76ers are considered to be among the greatest teams in NBA history.[57]

Upon his retirement on May 28, 1985,[159] Cunningham's 454 wins as a head coach were the 12th best in NBA history. Among those who have coached at least 650 games, Cunningham holds the second-best regular-season winning percentage in league history of .698 (only Phil Jackson is ahead of him).[160][161] He is still the winningest coach in Sixers history.[162] Cunningham's playoff record as a coach is 66–39 (.629).[156] Among those who have coached at least 100 NBA playoff games, he has the third highest winning percentage behind Jackson (.688) and Steve Kerr (.684).[161] Former 76ers player and coach, Hall of Famer Doug Collins said Cunningham might be the greatest 76er, when looking at his overall impact on the franchise.[47][163]

Broadcasting and ownership

[edit]

Cunningham joined the NBA television broadcast team for the CBS broadcasting network in the 1976–77 season, often paired with Brent Musburger or Don Criqui, including the 1977 All-Star Game and some playoff games;[164] leaving after the season ended to coach the 76ers. Cunningham would later rejoin the CBS broadcast team starting with the 1985–86 season, again often paired with Musburger; covering both the NBA as well as NCAA men's college basketball for the network.[165][166][167][168] In late 1987, Cunningham replaced Tom Heinsohn as the lead color commentator (alongside play-by-play man Dick Stockton) for CBS' NBA telecasts; in part because Heinsohn was perceived as having a conflict in covering the Boston Celtics, his former team. Cunningham had an ownership interest in the expansion Miami Heat, who had not yet played in the NBA; and a similar conflict could arise for him.[168][169][170]

By at least February 1988, Cunningham was general manager as well as part owner of the Heat, prior to the franchise having played its first NBA season.[171][172] He left CBS Sports in July 1988 to work with the Heat.[173][6] Cunningham was subsequently replaced as CBS' top basketball analyst by Hubie Brown;[174] but would return to CBS to help fill in briefly during the 1990 NBA playoffs, partnered with Verne Lundquist in covering a game between the Celtics and the New York Knicks.[175][176][177] Cunningham then returned to CBS for one last year to cover the 1991 NCAA men's basketball tournament, partnered with Dick Stockton once again.[178][179][180] In early 1995, Cunningham sold his ownership interest in the Heat.[181][182][183]

ABA and NBA career statistics

[edit]
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
 †  Won an NBA championship *  Led the league

Regular season

[edit]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1965–66 Philadelphia 80*—26.7.426—.6347.52.6——14.3
1966–67† Philadelphia 81*—26.8.459—.6867.32.5——18.5
1967–68 Philadelphia 74—28.1.438—.7237.62.5——18.9
1968–69 Philadelphia 82—40.8.426—.73712.83.5——24.8
1969–70 Philadelphia 81—39.4.469—.72913.64.3——26.1
1970–71 Philadelphia 81—36.9.462—.73411.74.9——23.0
1971–72 Philadelphia 75—38.6.461—.71212.25.9——23.3
1972–73 Carolina (ABA) 84*—38.7.487.286.78912.06.32.6—24.1
1973–74 Carolina (ABA) 32—37.2.471.125.79710.34.71.8.720.5
1974–75 Philadelphia 80—35.7.428—.7779.15.51.1.419.5
1975–76 Philadelphia 20—32.0.410—.7737.45.41.2.513.7
Career 770—34.9.452.263.73010.44.31.8.521.2

Playoffs

[edit]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1966 Philadelphia 4—17.3.161—.8464.52.5——5.3
1967† Philadelphia 15—22.6.376—.6566.22.2——15.0
1968 Philadelphia 3—28.7.558—.8247.33.3——20.7
1969 Philadelphia 5—43.4.419—.63212.62.4——24.4
1970 Philadelphia 5—41.0.496—.66710.44.0——29.2
1971 Philadelphia 7—43.0.472—.70115.45.7——25.9
1973 Carolina (ABA) 12—39.3.502.250.68711.85.1——23.5
1974 Carolina (ABA) 3—20.3.290.000.8005.32.01.3.07.3
Career 54—32.4.440.167.6889.53.61.3.019.6

Honors

[edit]

Head coaching record

[edit]
Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
Philadelphia 1977–78 765323.6971st in Atlantic1064.600 Lost in Conf. Finals
Philadelphia 1978–79 824735.5732nd in Atlantic954.556 Lost in Conf. Semifinals
Philadelphia 1979–80 825923.7202nd in Atlantic18126.667 Lost in NBA Finals
Philadelphia 1980–81 826220.7562nd in Atlantic1697.563 Lost in Conf. Finals
Philadelphia 1981–82 825824.7072nd in Atlantic21129.571 Lost in NBA Finals
Philadelphia 1982–83 826517.7931st in Atlantic13121.923 Won NBA Championship
Philadelphia 1983–84 825230.6342nd in Atlantic523.400 Lost in First Round
Philadelphia 1984–85 825824.7072nd in Atlantic1385.615 Lost in Conf. Finals
Career 650454196.6981056639.629

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Billy Cunningham Basketball News & Bio - Tar Heel Times". www.tarheeltimes.com. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  2. ↑ Foundation, Michael Lynch Memorial. "NBA Legend Billy Cunningham And Entrepreneur Hunter Morin Named Honorary Co-Chairs Of Thirteenth Annual Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation Dinner". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  3. ↑ "The Rumble" Archived January 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Paul Schwartz, New York Post, December 31, 2006. Accessed December 13, 2007. "The five Erasmus Hall of Fame legends include Raiders owner Al Davis, Bears quarterback Sid Luckman, Yankee pitching great Waite Hoyt, Billy Cunningham and Knicks founder Ned Irish."
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Lyon, Bill (May 7, 1986). "Billy Cunningham goes from playground rat to the Basketball Hall of Fame | Bill Lyon". inquirer.com. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "William "Billy" Cunningham, 1990 NYC Basketball Hall of Famer". The NYC Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 "Legends profile: Billy Cunningham". NBA.com. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Pennsylvania Center for the Book". pabook.libraries.psu.edu. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Billy Cunningham College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Frank McGuire Coaching Record". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Tar Heel Coach Before Council". Monroe Morning World. Monroe, Louisiana. Associated Press. March 9, 1961. p. 8.
  11. 1 2 "North Carolina's McGuire Said Due for Knick Post". Idaho Daily Statesman. Boise, Idaho. Associated Press. April 6, 1961. pp. Twenty–Six.
  12. 1 2 Olderman, Murray (April 7, 1961). "North Carolina Untenable, McGuire Heads for Pros". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Iowa City, Iowa. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 10.
  13. 1 2 "Warriors Sign North Carolina Coach To Three-Year Contract". Wilkes-Barre Times Leader. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. August 3, 1961. p. 19.
  14. ↑ "Aycock Ejects Doug Moe, Despite Student Acquittal". Winston-Salem Journal. Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Associated Press. May 4, 1961. p. 21.
  15. ↑ "Dean Smith Coaching Record". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  16. ↑ "North Carolina Tar Heels Men's Basketball Index". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  17. ↑ "HOW BILLY CUNNINGHAM CAME TO DEAN SMITH'S DEFENSE". Fast Philly Sports. February 9, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Dean Smith Is Hanged In Effigy". The Durham Sun. Durham, North Carolina. January 14, 1965. pp. 2B.
  19. ↑ Gammons, Pete (March 14, 1982). "Dean Smith has earned peers' respect". The Birmingham News. The Boston Globe. pp. 8C.
  20. ↑ Smith, Pat (February 12, 1964). "'Kid' Will Outdo Carolina's Greats". The Charlotte News. Charlotte, North Carolina. pp. 5–B.
  21. ↑ Carmichael III, Billy (February 24, 1963). "Sporting Picture, Not Since Charlie J.". The Chapel Hill Weekly. Chapel Hill, North Carolina. p. 5.
  22. ↑ "1962-63 UNC Tar Heels Men's Roster and Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  23. ↑ "1962-63 Men's Atlantic Coast Conference Season Summary". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  24. ↑ "1963-64 UNC Tar Heels Men's Roster and Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  25. ↑ "1963-64 Men's Atlantic Coast Conference Season Summary". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  26. ↑ "1964-65 Men's Atlantic Coast Conference Season Summary". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  27. ↑ Muhleman, Max (February 12, 1964). "Tiger Boss Moans: How Do You Stop Billy Cunningham?". The Charlotte News. Charlotte, North Carolina. pp. 5–B.
  28. ↑ Cathey, John (December 11, 1964). "Scoring, Rebounding Performance Show Why Billy Is All-America". The Greensboro Record. Greensboro, North Carolina. pp. B7.
  29. ↑ Spencer, Frank (February 17, 1963). "S.C. Upsets State; N.C. Tops Clemson". Journal and Sentinel. Winston-Salem, North Carolina. pp. B1.
  30. ↑ Lucas, Adam (January 14, 2014). "Lucas: Unbreakable Records". University of North Carolina Athletics. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  31. ↑ Gullickson, Eric (January 17, 2023). "Bacot ties program record for double-doubles as Heels beat Eagles". WITN First Alert. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  32. ↑ Pearson, Zack. "BREAKING: Armando Bacot sets UNC program record". Tar Heels Wire. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Armando Bacot College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  34. 1 2 3 "UNC Men's Basketball Leaders & Records - Season". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  35. ↑ "Men's Atlantic Coast Conference Career Leaders and Records for Total Rebounds Per Game". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Men's Atlantic Coast Conference Career Leaders and Records for Points Per Game". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  37. ↑ "UNC Men's Basketball Leaders & Records - Season". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Men's Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year Winners". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  39. ↑ "Cunningham ACC player of the year". Evening Herald. Rock Hill, South Carolina. Associated Press. March 11, 1965. p. 10.
  40. ↑ "Men's All-Atlantic Coast Conference Winners". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  41. ↑ "Duke Places 4 On 1963 ACC All-Tournament". Hickory Daily Record. Hickory, North Carolina. Associated Press. March 4, 1963. pp. Eleven.
  42. ↑ "Mullins, Buckley Unanimous All-ACC Tourney Selections". The Asheville Times. Asheville, North Carolina. Associated Press. March 9, 1964. p. 16.
  43. 1 2 Strite, Dick (March 15, 1964). "Highclimber: Who Makes All-American Basketball Player". Eugene Register-Guard. Eugene, Oregon. pp. 2B.
  44. ↑ "Hetzel Is Named To Magazine's A-A". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. March 9, 1965. p. 18.
  45. ↑ "UPI All American Basketball Squad Named". The Ironton Tribune. Ironton, Ohio. United Press International. February 24, 1965. p. 8.
  46. ↑ "AP Selects Five Plus Wayne Estes As All-Americans". Fort Collins Coloradoan. Fort Collins, Colorado. Associated Press. March 3, 1965. p. 10.
  47. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bodner, Derek (February 17, 2022). "NBA 75: At No. 66, Billy Cunningham evolved into a game-changing scorer, playmaker — and more — for Sixers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  48. ↑ "1965-66 Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  49. ↑ "Year-by-year NBA All-Rookie Teams". NBA.com. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  50. ↑ "Rick Barry". The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  51. 1 2 "1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  52. ↑ "Alex Hannum". The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  53. ↑ "Wilt Chamberlain". The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  54. ↑ "Hal Greer". The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  55. ↑ "Chet Walker". The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  56. 1 2 "NBA 75th Anniversary Team announced". NBA.com.
  57. 1 2 Amick, Sam (May 20, 2020). "The 25 most dominant NBA teams ever". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
  58. ↑ Jasner, Andy (June 29, 2018). "Philly Specials series: How a wide-eyed rookie helped deliver Wilt Chamberlain and the Sixers their first NBA title". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
  59. ↑ Corpuz, D. S. "1967 Philadelphia 76ers: Greatest NBA Championship Team Ever?". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
  60. 1 2 "Panel picks 1967 and '83 76ers as greatest". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. October 28, 1986. pp. B3.
  61. ↑ "1967 NBA Eastern Division Finals - Celtics vs. 76ers". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  62. ↑ "1967 NBA Finals - Warriors vs. 76ers". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  63. ↑ "1967 NBA Finals Game 2: Warriors vs 76ers, April 16, 1967". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  64. ↑ "1967-68 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  65. ↑ "1967-68 Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  66. 1 2 "1968 NBA Eastern Division Semifinals - Knicks vs. 76ers". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  67. ↑ Keim, Roger (March 29, 1968). "76ers Turn to Green as Jackson Suffers Torn Muscle". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 34.
  68. ↑ "1968 NBA Eastern Division Finals - Celtics vs. 76ers". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 6, 2026.
  69. ↑ Tinsley, Justin (April 4, 2017). "How Martin Luther King Jr.'s death affected the NBA". Andscape. Retrieved July 6, 2026.
  70. ↑ Wimmer, Micah (May 31, 2018). "In the shadow of a King: Bill Russell, the 1968 Celtics, and an unexpected championship". FanSided. Retrieved July 6, 2026.
  71. ↑ Koppett, Leonard (April 6, 1968). "Celtics Set Back 76ers, 127-118, in Opening Game of Semi-Final Playoffs; SUNDAY'S CONTEST IN BOSTON PUT OFF". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 6, 2026.
  72. ↑ "Chamberlain traded to Lakers for three players, cash". The Oneonta Star. Oneonta, New York. Associated Press. July 6, 1968. p. 12.
  73. 1 2 "1968-69 Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  74. 1 2 Jares, Joe (February 24, 1969). "Four For The Bundle". Sports Illustrated.
  75. 1 2 "76ers Lose Luke Jackson For Season". Lebanon Daily News. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. December 12, 1968. p. 51.
  76. ↑ "1968-69 NBA Leaders". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  77. ↑ "1969 NBA All-Star Game Box Score". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  78. ↑ "1968-69 NBA & ABA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  79. 1 2 3 "Year-by-year All-NBA Teams". NBA.com. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  80. ↑ "1968-69 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  81. ↑ "1969 NBA Eastern Division Semifinals - Celtics vs. 76ers". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  82. ↑ "1969-70 Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  83. ↑ "1969-70 NBA Leaders". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  84. ↑ "SuperSonics vs 76ers, November 8, 1969". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  85. ↑ "1970 NBA All-Star Game Box Score". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  86. ↑ "1969-70 NBA & ABA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  87. ↑ "1969-70 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  88. ↑ "1970 NBA Eastern Division Semifinals - 76ers vs. Bucks". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  89. ↑ "1970 NBA Eastern Division Semifinals Game 2: 76ers vs Bucks, March 27, 1970". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  90. ↑ "1970 NBA Eastern Division Semifinals Game 4: Bucks vs 76ers, April 1, 1970". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  91. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Billy Cunningham Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  92. ↑ "1970 NBA Eastern Division Semifinals Game 5: 76ers vs Bucks, April 3, 1970". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  93. ↑ "1970-71 Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  94. ↑ "Philadelphia 76ers 134 - Portland Trail Blazers 132". NBA.com Stats. Archived from the original on February 28, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  95. ↑ "1970-71 NBA Leaders". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  96. ↑ "1971 NBA All-Star Game Box Score". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  97. ↑ "1970-71 NBA & ABA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  98. ↑ "1971 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals - 76ers vs. Bullets". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  99. ↑ "1971 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 3: 76ers vs Bullets, March 28, 1971". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  100. ↑ "1971 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 4: Bullets vs 76ers, March 30, 1971". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  101. ↑ "1971 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 5: 76ers vs Bullets, April 1, 1971". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  102. ↑ "1971 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 6: Bullets vs 76ers, April 3, 1971". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  103. ↑ "1971 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 7: 76ers vs Bullets, April 4, 1971". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  104. 1 2 "1971-72 Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  105. ↑ Kiser, Jack (December 18, 1971). "Billy's 47-Plus But It's In Lost Cause". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 32.
  106. ↑ "76ers vs Trail Blazers, December 17, 1971". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  107. ↑ "1972 NBA All-Star Game Box Score". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  108. ↑ "1971-72 NBA & ABA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  109. ↑ Munchak Corporation v. Cunningham, 331 F. Supp. 872 (M.D.N.C. 1971) – Justia.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  110. ↑ Munchak Corporation v. Cunningham, 457 F.2d 721 (4th Cir. 1972). Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  111. ↑ Goldaper, Sam (June 16, 1972). "Rubin Quits L. I. U. to Pilot 76ers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  112. ↑ "1972-73 ABA Player Stats: Totals". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  113. ↑ "1972-73 ABA Standings". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  114. ↑ "1972-73 Carolina Cougars Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  115. ↑ "1962-63 UNC Tar Heels Men's Roster and Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  116. ↑ "1973 ABA All-Star Game Box Score". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  117. ↑ "1972-73 ABA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  118. ↑ "The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame :: Billy Cunningham". www.hoophall.com. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  119. ↑ "1972-73 NBA & ABA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  120. 1 2 "1977-78 Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  121. ↑ "1973 ABA Eastern Division Semifinals - Nets vs. Cougars". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  122. ↑ "1973 ABA Eastern Division Finals - Colonels vs. Cougars". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  123. ↑ "Billy Cunningham 1973-74 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  124. ↑ "Sports In Brief". The Jersey Journal. Jersey City, New Jersey. December 15, 1973. p. 15.
  125. 1 2 "Billy Cunningham 1973-74 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  126. ↑ Rorrer, George (April 1, 1974). "Colonels-Cougars playoff series is loaded with 'ifs'". The Louisville Times. Louisville, Kentucky. pp. C5.
  127. ↑ "1973-74 Carolina Cougars Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  128. ↑ "1974 ABA Eastern Division Semifinals Game 1: Cougars vs Colonels, April 1, 1974". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  129. ↑ "Kentucky Colonels Go Ahead Of Carolina 2–0". Beaumont Journal. Beaumont, Texas. Associated Press. April 6, 1974. pp. 2–B.
  130. ↑ Hunter, Bill (April 6, 1974). "Nightmarish Night - Defeat For Cougars". Burlington Daily Times. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
  131. ↑ "1974 ABA Eastern Division Semifinals Game 3: Colonels vs Cougars, April 6, 1974". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  132. ↑ "1974 ABA Eastern Division Semifinals Game 4: Colonels vs Cougars, April 8, 1974". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  133. ↑ "76ers Announce Return Of Billy Cunningham". Washington Daily News. Washington, North Carolina. Associated Press. May 22, 1974. p. 14.
  134. ↑ "ABA Cougars Sold, Moving To St. Louis". Bristol Herald Courier. Bristol, Tennessee. United Press International. August 18, 1974. p. 32.
  135. ↑ Lee, Rodney (October 1, 1974). "'Prodigal-Son' Cunningham Here As 76er". The Evening Press. Binghamton, New York. pp. 10–A.
  136. ↑ "1974-75 Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  137. ↑ "Billy Cunningham Lost For Season With Knee Injury". The Daily News. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. United Press International. December 6, 1975. p. 20.
  138. 1 2 Goldaper, Sam (November 5, 1977). "Shue Ousted, Cunningham Named;N.B.A. Rosters Cut". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  139. ↑ "Billy Cunningham 1975-76 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  140. 1 2 "NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for Triple-Doubles". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  141. ↑ "Billy Cunningham 1972-73 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  142. ↑ "Billy Cunningham". The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  143. ↑ "NBA at 50: Top 50 Players". NBA.com. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  144. ↑ Bodner, Derek (February 17, 2022). "NBA 75: At No. 66, Billy Cunningham evolved into a game-changing scorer, playmaker — and more — for Sixers". The Athletic.
  145. ↑ "Bill Russell: Coaching Record, Awards". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  146. ↑ "Bill Sharman: Coaching Record, Awards". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  147. ↑ "Lenny Wilkens: Coaching Record, Awards". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  148. 1 2 Gorman, Briana (March 3, 2011). "Worthy joins class for induction into collegiate Hall of Fame". Thomasville Times. Thomasville, North Carolina. Durham Herald Sun. p. 8.
  149. ↑ "No. 9: Billy Cunningham". northcarolina.rivals.com. June 18, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  150. ↑ "Philadelphia's Barkley Wearing No. 32 To Pay Tribute To Magic". Tyler Courier-Times. Tyler, Texas. Associated Press. pp. 2, Sec. 4.
  151. ↑ "Heathcote: Don't call Desmond 'Magic'". Gannett Suburban Newspapers. Associated Press. November 12, 1991. pp. D4.
  152. ↑ "Charles Barkley". The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  153. ↑ "1984-85 Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  154. ↑ "1978 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals - New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers". Basketball-Reference. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  155. ↑ "1978 NBA Eastern Conference Finals - Bullets vs. 76ers". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  156. 1 2 3 "Billy Cunningham: Coaching Record, Awards". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2026.
  157. ↑ "1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  158. ↑ "Billy Cunningham: Coaching Record, Awards". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  159. ↑ Goldaper, Sam. "Cunningham Quits; Loughery Dropped," The New York Times, Wednesday, May 29, 1985. Retrieved December 1, 2020
  160. ↑ "The 25 Best NBA Coaches By Highest Winning Percentages in NBA History". Interbasket. March 20, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  161. 1 2 "NBA Coach Register". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  162. ↑ "Philadelphia 76ers Coaches". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  163. ↑ "Doug Collins". The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  164. ↑ "1976-77 NBA Season - 506 Archive". archive.506sports.com. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  165. ↑ "Saturday's Sports Listings". USA Today. May 16, 1986. pp. 3C.
  166. ↑ Martzke, Rudy (November 6, 1986). "TV Sports". USA Today. pp. 3C.
  167. ↑ Martzske, Rudy (April 18, 1986). "In spring, NBA truly is America's Game". USA Today. pp. 3C.
  168. 1 2 Modoono, Bill (December 11, 1987). "Cunningham Replaces Heinsohn As CBS' Top NBA Analyst". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Scripps Howard. pp. 3D.
  169. ↑ Taafee, William (April 25, 1988). "BILLY C SCORES FOR CBS Billy Cunningham has made NBA telecasts smoother". Sports Illustrated.
  170. ↑ "Miami Heat hires Inman". Journal and Courier. Lafayette, Indiana. September 30, 1987. pp. C6.
  171. ↑ Crombie, Al (February 18, 1988). "Inman deals with the Heat to build a team". The Columbian. Vancouver, Washington. pp. D8.
  172. ↑ "Miami Heat Historical Statistics and All-Time Top Leaders". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  173. ↑ Stewart, Larry (July 16, 1988). "Billy Cunningham Gives Up CBS Job; Network May Consider Hiring Riley". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  174. ↑ "Hubie Brown steps into Billy Cunningham's shoes". Chicago Tribune. October 26, 1988. pp. 2, Sec. 4.
  175. ↑ Martzke, Rudy (April 24, 1990). "Berman's 11th draft day might be his best yet". USA Today. pp. 3C.
  176. ↑ Doyle, Bill (April 28, 1990). "TV to blanket NBA playoffs". Telegram & Gazette. Worcester, Massachusetts. p. 14.
  177. ↑ The NBA on CBS, April 28th, 1990
  178. ↑ NCAA on CBS, March 14th, 1991
  179. ↑ "Earnhardt allows camera – as long as it sits still". Roanoke Times & World News. Roanoke, Virginia. February 16, 1991. pp. 1B, 5B.
  180. ↑ Bogaczyk, Jack (May 16, 1991). "NFL season may have an impact on NCAA Final Four". Roanoke Times & World News. Roanoke, Virginia. pp. B3.
  181. ↑ "Arison becomes majority owner of Heat - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  182. ↑ "Arison family takes control of Heat - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  183. ↑ "Sale Of Heat Is Approved". Washington Post. February 14, 1995.
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