Dave DeBusschere

High school

Shrine Catholic High School

College

University of Detroit Mercy

Pro team(s)

Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks

Hall of Fame

⭐ Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Dave DeBusschere was born in Detroit, Michigan, and attended Austin Catholic Preparatory School (now Shrine Catholic) before a dual athletic career at the University of Detroit. One of the rare athletes to play two major professional sports simultaneously, he pitched for the Chicago White Sox while also playing for the Detroit Pistons. By 24 he was the Pistons' player-coach — one of the youngest in NBA history. Traded to the New York Knicks in 1968, his defensive intensity became the cornerstone of the championship Knicks teams of 1970 and 1973. An eight-time All-Defensive Team selection, DeBusschere was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983.