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Dave Cowens · The legendary triple-overtime Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals became Dave Cowens’ championship masterpiece. Battling through each extra session with relentless motor and fearless heart, the Florida State star anchored Boston’s title machine and proved that hustle and intelligence can outlast pure size. Cowens turned perceived disadvantages into competitive weapons. His ability to run the floor, defend multiple positions, and dominate the paint showed how basketball IQ conquers physical limitations. Voters recognized that edge when they named him co-MVP with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1973, rewarding the passion and grit that fueled his duels with giants like Chamberlain and Abdul-Jabbar. An eight-time All-Star whose jersey now hangs among Boston’s legends, Cowens embodied the sacrifices championship basketball demands. Game 5 stands as lasting proof of his warrior spirit—26 points and 19 rebounds across three exhausting overtimes, each possession a testament to the extra gear only true champions can find. · State of Mint