Billy Cunningham

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 expansionMiami 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.