Height: 6'7"
BORN: June 3, 1943
COLLEGE: UNC
DRAFT: 1965; Round 1, 5th Overall Pick
CAREER AVERAGES
20.8
Points
4.0
Assists
44.6%
FG
10.1
Rebounds
34.6
Mins
72.0
FT
THE KANGAROO KID
Few basketball careers can match that of Billy Cunningham, who starred on the New York playground, at North Carolina, and with the 76ers. Known as “The Kangaroo Kid” because of his leaping ability, Cunningham was a fierce competitor who won three NBA Championships in Philadelphia as a player and as a coach. His winning percentage (.698) as a coach ranks among the highest in NBA history.
The 1966 NBA Rookie of the Year would go on to make four consecutive NBA All-Star Game appearances, and he remains the only person in franchise history to capture a title as both a player (1967) and coach (1983).
Cunningham’s jersey number 32 was retired by the Sixers in December 1976, but was “unretired” at Charles Barkley’s request. Barkley asked permission to wear it in honor of his close friend and Lakers legend, Magic Johnson for the duration of the 1991-92 season.
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