Billy Cunningham

1. Overview

William John "Billy" Cunningham (born June 3, 1943), often known by his nickname the Kangaroo Kid, is an American former professional basketball player and coach. His distinguished career spanned 17 seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA-nine as a player and eight as a coach-and two seasons as a player with the Carolina Cougars in the ABA.

Cunningham is celebrated as one of basketball's all-time greats, recognized for his exceptional leaping ability and record-setting rebounding. He achieved the rare distinction of winning an NBA championship both as a player (1967) and as a coach (1983). His significant contributions to basketball earned him induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1986, the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990, and selections to both the NBA 50th Anniversary Team and the NBA 75th Anniversary Team as a legendary player. He was also named to the ABA All-Time Team.

2. Early Life and Education

Billy Cunningham's foundational years and academic pursuits laid the groundwork for his illustrious basketball career.

### Birth and Childhood ###
William John Cunningham was born on June 3, 1943, in the Parkville section of Brooklyn, New York. His father, John Cunningham, was a fireman who had served in World War II and eventually became the Assistant Chief of New York City. Billy received his first basketball on his fifth birthday and, from that point, regularly snuck out of his home to play at the basketball court of St. Rose of Lima school, three blocks away. He quickly became a regular fixture on the playgrounds, earning the nickname "Kangaroo Kid" due to his extraordinary leaping and record-setting rebounding abilities.

### High School Career ###
Cunningham's fame began while he was playing at St. Rose of Lima and later at Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn. In 1961, he was named the Most Valuable Player in the Brooklyn League. That same year, he led an undefeated Erasmus Hall High School team to the New York City Championship. He was also selected as First-Team All-New York City and was a member of the Parade Magazine All-America Team.

### College Career ###
In 1960-1961, Frank McGuire served as the coach for the North Carolina Tar Heels at the University of North Carolina. McGuire, whose sister was a neighbor of the Cunninghams, had been actively recruiting high school players from New York. Billy's parents wanted him to attend North Carolina, which he did. However, McGuire took a head coaching job with the Philadelphia Warriors (now the Golden State Warriors), and when Cunningham began his varsity career in 1962, Dean Smith became his coach. Smith would go on to coach North Carolina for 36 years, accumulating 879 wins and two NCAA championships. Cunningham was recognized as Smith's first true star player. In 1965, he notably came to Smith's defense when angry fans hung Smith in effigy, tearing down the dummy from the tree.

Cunningham excelled at North Carolina, leading the Tar Heels as their ace from his first year, the 1961-62 season, where he averaged 20.7 points and 12.7 rebounds. He set a single-game North Carolina record by grabbing 27 rebounds against Clemson on February 16, 1963. He further established a record by scoring 48 points against Tulane on December 10, 1964. Over his college career, he amassed 1,709 points (averaging 24.8 points per game) and 1,062 rebounds (averaging 15.4 rebounds per game), maintaining double-doubles from 1962 to 1965, an NCAA record. Upon graduation, his 1,062 rebounds were the best in North Carolina history (now fourth highest), and he held single-season records for most rebounds (379 in 1964; now eighth) and rebound average (16.1 in 1963, now second). His number 32 jersey is honored at the Dean E. Smith Center.

During his collegiate career, Cunningham earned numerous honors and achievements:

• Three-year letter winner (freshmen were ineligible for varsity athletics at the time).
• All-Atlantic Coast Conference (1963-1965).
• ACC Player of the Year (1965).
• All-ACC Tournament Team (1963-1964).
• ACC Academic All-Conference (1965).
• USBWA All-America (1964-1965).
• Helms Foundation All-America (1965).
• The Sporting News All-America Second Team (1965).
• Team Captain (1965).
• Played in the East-West Game in 1965.
• Played at the World University Games in 1965.
• Named to the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team, honoring the fifty best players in ACC history (2002).

3. Professional Playing Career

Billy Cunningham's professional playing career spanned both the NBA and ABA, marked by significant individual achievements and a championship title.

### Philadelphia 76ers (1965-1972) ###
Cunningham began his professional journey with the Philadelphia 76ers, making an immediate impact.

3.3. Franchise Player

After Wilt Chamberlain's departure from the team in 1968, Cunningham emerged as the Philadelphia 76ers' franchise player. Luke Jackson initially replaced Chamberlain at center for the 1968-69 NBA season until a devastating injury sidelined him in December. Cunningham was subsequently made the starting power forward. That season, he led the team in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 24.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, guiding the 76ers to a 55-27 record. His outstanding performance earned him his first NBA All-Star Game selection and the first of three consecutive All-NBA First Team honors. Despite his contributions, the 76ers once again fell to the Celtics in the playoffs, losing 1-4.

In the 1969-70 NBA season, Cunningham achieved career highs in scoring and rebounding, with averages of 26.1 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. However, as Cunningham reached his peak as a player, the 76ers began to decline. After trading Chet Walker, the team's record dropped significantly to 42-40. They were defeated in the first round of the playoffs by the Milwaukee Bucks, led by star rookie Lew Alcindor.

During the 1970-71 NBA season, Cunningham averaged 23.0 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 4.9 assists, earning his third consecutive All-Star and All-NBA First Team selections. With the development of Archie Clark and the addition of Jim Washington, the 76ers improved their record to 47-35. However, in the 1971-72 NBA season, Clark was traded, and Hal Greer's performance began to decline. Despite Cunningham's strong averages of 23.3 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 5.9 assists, the 76ers finished with a losing record of 30-52, missing the playoffs.

On December 20, 1970, Cunningham recorded 31 points and a career-high 27 rebounds in a 134-132 road victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. By the end of the 1971-72 season, Cunningham decided to leave the 76ers. His departure had a devastating impact on the team, as the 76ers finished the 1972-73 NBA season with an NBA-record low winning percentage, achieving only 9 wins against 73 losses.

### Carolina Cougars (ABA, 1972-1974) ###
Cunningham's next destination was the ABA, a rival league to the NBA, where he joined the Carolina Cougars. His transition was not without complications. He had signed a three-year contract on August 5, 1969, to play with the Cougars starting in the 1971-72 ABA season. However, he later reversed this decision, signing a four-year, 950.00 K USD contract extension to stay with the 76ers through 1974-75, claiming the Cougars had reneged on an 80.00 K USD signing bonus. The Cougars filed an injunction against him, which was initially denied on September 24, 1971. This judgment was overturned on April 5, 1972, meaning Cunningham was obligated to honor his Cougars contract until its expiration in October 1974. He announced his intention to play with the Cougars starting with the 1972-73 Carolina Cougars season on June 15, 1972, at press conferences in Charlotte and Greensboro, North Carolina, almost simultaneous to the 76ers introducing Roy Rubin as their new head coach.

Cunningham quickly became a star in the ABA, just as he had been in the NBA. In his first ABA season (1972-73), he averaged 24.1 points, 12.0 rebounds, and led the league in total steals. His outstanding performance helped the Cougars achieve the best record in the league with 57 wins and 27 losses, and he was selected to the All-ABA First Team and named the ABA MVP. In the postseason, the Cougars swept the New York Nets in five games in the Eastern Division Semifinals. However, they lost a tight seven-game series to the Kentucky Colonels (4 games to 3) in the Eastern Division Finals. The Cougars were coached by future Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown, who had also been Cunningham's teammate at North Carolina. In the 1973-74 Carolina Cougars season, despite his presence, the Cougars finished third in the Eastern Division and were again defeated by the Kentucky Colonels in the Eastern Division Semifinals. Cunningham's playing time was limited to 32 games that season due to a foot injury, though he still averaged 20.5 points and 10.3 rebounds.

### Return to 76ers and Retirement (1974-1976) ###
Following the 1973-74 season, Cunningham returned to his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers, for the 1974-75 NBA season. Despite the previous contract dispute, fan backlash to his return was minimal, perhaps due to the 76ers' struggles during his absence. Hal Greer had since retired, and the team was now led by players like Fred Carter, Doug Collins, and Steve Mix. In his first season back, Cunningham averaged 19.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists, helping the team improve its record from 25 wins the previous year to 34 wins and 38 losses.

Cunningham's playing career ended abruptly during the 1975-76 NBA season due to a severe knee injury, which involved torn knee cartilage and ligaments. This injury prevented him from ever returning to the professional court. However, he reportedly did not seem overly troubled by his forced retirement, stating, "I didn't have to agonize over the decision (to retire) that all sportsmen have to suffer from."

Throughout his career in both the NBA and ABA, Cunningham accumulated 16,310 points, 7,981 rebounds, and 3,305 assists. He recorded 14 triple-doubles in the NBA and 5 in the ABA, ranking 43rd all-time in the NBA and 5th in the ABA for career triple-doubles.

4. Coaching Career

After an illustrious playing career, Billy Cunningham transitioned to coaching, where he continued to achieve significant success, notably leading the Philadelphia 76ers to an NBA championship.

### Philadelphia 76ers Head Coach (1977-1985) ###
Billy Cunningham was appointed head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers on November 4, 1977, succeeding Gene Shue when the team's record stood at 2 wins and 4 losses in the 1977-78 NBA season. His first action was to hire future Hall of Fame coach Chuck Daly as an assistant coach. Under Cunningham's leadership, the team featured a formidable lineup including Bobby Jones, Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney, Moses Malone, and Julius Erving.

Cunningham's coaching style was characterized by intense passion and constant movement along the sidelines, which made him famous. In his first playoff appearance, he led the 76ers to a four-game sweep against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. However, they were eventually defeated by the Bullets in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals. Cunningham rapidly reached coaching milestones, becoming the fastest coach in NBA history to achieve 200, 300, and 400 wins. He consistently led Philadelphia to the playoffs every year of his tenure and guided the team to the NBA Finals three times: in the 1979-80, 1981-82, and 1982-83 seasons.

After his retirement on May 28, 1985, his 454 wins as a head coach ranked 12th best in NBA history at that time. He holds the second-best regular-season winning percentage in league history at 0.698%, with only Phil Jackson ahead of him. Cunningham remains the winningest coach in 76ers history. Former 76ers player and Hall of Famer Doug Collins remarked that Cunningham might be considered the greatest 76er when considering his overall impact on the franchise.

### 1983 NBA Championship ###
Despite consistent success, the 76ers faced repeated setbacks in the NBA Finals and Conference Finals. In 1979, the team faced a challenge from two rising stars entering the NBA. One was Larry Bird, who joined the Boston Celtics, a team in the Eastern Conference. The 76ers, who finished the 1979-80 season with a 59-23 record, defeated Bird's Celtics 4-1 in the Conference Finals. However, in the Finals, they were defeated 2-4 by the Los Angeles Lakers, who featured another formidable rookie, Magic Johnson. In the 1980-81 season, the 76ers won 62 games but were once again defeated by the Celtics in the Conference Finals. The following season, 1981-82, they won 58 games but lost to the Lakers in the Finals once more.

Determined to secure a championship, the 76ers made a pivotal acquisition before the 1982-83 NBA season, bringing in Moses Malone, a two-time MVP and one of the league's most dominant centers. The impact of Malone's arrival was immense. The 76ers finished the season with an outstanding 65 wins and 17 losses, and Malone earned his third MVP award. The team proceeded to dominate the 1983 NBA Playoffs, winning with overwhelming force. They swept the Lakers 4-0 in the 1983 NBA Finals, completing a dominant playoff run with a remarkable 12-1 record. This championship marked the franchise's third NBA title and their first since 1967, bringing another championship ring to Cunningham's career, this time as a coach.

Following this championship, the 76ers continued to be a strong team, winning over 50 games each season through the mid-1980s, but they were unable to secure another title. Cunningham gradually grew weary of the demands of NBA life and retired from coaching after the 1984-85 NBA season, which was also the rookie season of Charles Barkley.

5. Post-Playing and Coaching Career

Beyond his active roles as a player and coach, Billy Cunningham ventured into broadcasting and team ownership, further cementing his place in basketball history.

### Broadcasting Career ###
Cunningham's career did not end with his playing or coaching tenures. He joined the broadcast team for CBS Sports in the 1976-77 NBA season, frequently partnering with Brent Musburger or Don Criqui to cover NBA games, including the 1977 All-Star Game and some playoff games. He left CBS after that season to assume the head coaching position with the 76ers.

Cunningham later rejoined the CBS broadcast team, starting with the 1985-86 NBA season. He continued his role, often paired with Musburger, covering both NBA games and NCAA men's college basketball for the network. In 1987, Cunningham replaced Tom Heinsohn as the lead color commentator for CBS' NBA telecasts, working alongside play-by-play announcer Dick Stockton. He briefly returned to CBS for the 1990 NBA Playoffs, partnered with Verne Lundquist, and for the 1991 NCAA men's basketball tournament, again with Dick Stockton.

### Miami Heat Ownership and Management ###
Cunningham departed CBS Sports the following season, in 1988, to join the Miami Heat expansion franchise as a minority owner and general manager. This move was part of a larger effort to bring an NBA team to Miami, in which he played a significant role. He eventually sold his interest in the Heat in early 1995.

6. Playing Style and Legacy

Billy Cunningham's playing style was distinctive and highly impactful, contributing significantly to his lasting legacy in basketball. According to former Philadelphia 76ers General Manager Pat Williams, Cunningham's career trajectory is remarkable, encompassing superstar status in high school, an All-American collegiate career, a first-round NBA draft pick, multiple All-Star selections, an impressive coaching record with one of the best winning percentages in NBA history, successful stints as a commentator, and a key role in an NBA expansion franchise. Williams described it as if Cunningham "read the textbook for walking through a legend."

Known as the "Kangaroo Kid" for his exceptional leaping and rebounding abilities, Cunningham was a highly versatile and all-around player. He consistently posted strong numbers in points, rebounds, assists, and steals every season. Beyond his fundamental skills, Cunningham's most defining characteristics were his fierce will to win and his intense, emotional demeanor on the court. He frequently ranked among the league leaders in personal fouls each season, and his high number of technical fouls and ejections were notable. In one particular season, he accumulated 32 technical fouls, incurring 50 USD fines for each. Cunningham himself stated, "I am an emotional person. I am no longer myself if I don't release my emotions."

John Havlicek, a contemporary and rival, described Cunningham's play as: "He was so fast and could jump so high that it was impossible to keep him in one place. Moreover, he was a good team player and an excellent passer." This combination of athleticism, all-around skill, and competitive fire solidified Billy Cunningham's status as a formidable force on the basketball court and a significant figure in the sport's history.

7. Awards and Honors

Billy Cunningham has received numerous significant individual and team awards and honors throughout his illustrious career as both a player and a coach.

• Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1986)
• New York City Basketball Hall of Fame (1990)
• NBA Champion (as player, 1967)
• NBA Champion (as coach, 1983)
• All-NBA First Team (1969, 1970, 1971)
• All-NBA Second Team (1972)
• Four-time NBA All-Star (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972)
• NBA All-Rookie First Team (1966)
• ABA Most Valuable Player (1973)
• ABA All-Star (1973)
• All-ABA First Team (1973)
• Selected to the ABA All-Time Team
• One of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996)
• Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team (2021)
• His number 32 jersey is retired by the Philadelphia 76ers. Notably, he agreed for the number to be worn by Charles Barkley for the 1991-92 NBA season. Barkley had previously worn number 34 but switched to 32 to honor Magic Johnson, who had announced at the start of that season that he was HIV-positive.
• Four-time NBA All-Star Game Head Coach (1978, 1980, 1981, 1983)
• ACC Player of the Year (1965)
• All-ACC First Team (1963, 1964, 1965)
• All-America First Team - USBWA (1964)
• All-America Second Team - NABC, UPI (1965)
• Named to the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team (2002)

8. Statistics

This section provides a detailed overview of Billy Cunningham's statistical performance during his playing and coaching careers in both the NBA and ABA.

### Player Statistics ###

### Coaching Statistics ###