On Oct. 16, 1962, Dave DeBusschere played his first NBA game on his 22nd birthday and scored 16 points for Detroit.

He made six field goals and went 4-for-5 at the line, but Elgin Baylor's 35 and Jerry West's 30 carried the Lakers to a 122-106 win.

He had pitched for the Chicago White Sox that summer, finishing his baseball career with a 2.90 ERA in 36 games.

Detroit made him player-coach in 1964-65. He kept both jobs for parts of three seasons.

Traded to New York in 1968, he won titles in 1970 and 1973 and entered the Hall of Fame in 1983.

Dave DeBusschere (left) with John Havlicek and Terry Dischinger, circa 1964. Photo: 1964–65 Boston Celtics program, resized.

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