Billy Cunningham
The Kangaroo Kid: A two-time NBA champion with the Philadelphia 76ers as a player in 1967 and a coach in 1983.
William John Cunningham, known affectionately as the Kangaroo Kid for his leaping ability and record-setting rebounding, is a Philadelphia 76ers icon who spent 17 seasons with the franchise. He competed in nine of those years as a player and eight as a coach, becoming one of basketball's all-time greats. His career includes stints with the ABA's Carolina Cougars, where he was named MVP, before returning to Philadelphia to win an NBA championship in 1983. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame, he is honored on both the NBA's 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams.
- Role
- Player and Head Coach
- Affiliation
- Philadelphia 76ers
- First Appears
- 1965 (as a player)
- Status
- Hall of Famer / Legend
- Key Achievement
- NBA Champion as Player and Coach
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Cunningham's journey began at Erasmus Hall High School, where he led his team to an undefeated New York City Championship in 1961. Recruited by Frank McGuire, he eventually played under Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina after McGuire left for the NBA. There, Cunningham set a school record with 27 rebounds against Clemson on February 16, 1963, and scored 48 points against Tulane on December 10, 1964. He averaged double-doubles from 1962 to 1965, an NCAA record, finishing his career with 1,709 points and 1,062 rebounds. His number 32 jersey is honored at the Dean E. Smith Center.
In Their Own Story
After being drafted seventh overall in 1965, Cunningham joined a powerful Sixers squad that won the 1967 NBA championship alongside Wilt Chamberlain and Hal Greer. Following Chamberlain's departure, he became the franchise player, averaging 24.8 points and 12.8 rebounds in the 1968–69 season. A legal dispute saw him sign with the Carolina Cougars in 1970, but a court reversal forced him to honor that contract. He played two seasons there, winning ABA MVP and leading the league in steals before returning to Philadelphia. His playing career ended early in the 1975–76 season due to torn knee cartilage. He later succeeded Gene Shue as head coach on November 4, 1977, leading the team to three NBA Finals and a title in 1983 with Moses Malone.
Reader's Guide
Billy Cunningham's legacy is defined by his dual success as an All-Star forward and a championship-winning head coach. As a player, he was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, multiple All-NBA teams, and the ABA All-Time Team. His rebounding prowess saw him grab 7,981 rebounds across his career, while his scoring total reached 16,310 points. He recorded 14 triple-doubles in the NBA. Transitioning to coaching, he became the winningest coach in Sixers history with a .698 regular-season winning percentage. He reached 200, 300, and 400 wins faster than any coach in NBA history at the time, guiding Philadelphia through a dominant 12–1 playoff run to secure their third championship.
Did You Know?
- Cunningham tore down an effigy of his coach, Dean Smith, that angry fans had hung from a tree in 1965.
- He was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers sight unseen based on a recommendation from Frank McGuire.
- His 1,062 career rebounds at North Carolina were the best in school history upon his graduation.
- Cunningham led the ABA in total steals during his first season with the Carolina Cougars.
- He reached the 400-win milestone as a coach faster than any other coach in NBA history at that time.
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