Steve Kuberski

Stephen Phil Kuberski (born November 6, 1947) is an American former professional basketball player.

Kuberski became a starter for the Moline Maroons in the 1963–64 season, as a 6-foot-5 junior.

He averaged a team-high 14.0 points, as Moline finished 15–8 under Coach Harv Schmidt.

As a senior in 1964–1965, Kuberski, under new Coach Herb Thompson, led Moline to the Illinois High School Association Tournament Elite Eight as the Maroons finished 25–3.

In his final home game at Wharton Field House, Kuberski scored 50 points against Cedar Rapids Washington.

The Maroons lost in the Illinois High School Association Tournament semifinal to Chicago Marshall 75–72.

"It was the most disappointing loss of my career, college or pro," Kuberski said later.

"I had some big losses with the Celtics that cost a lot of money. We lost to the Knicks in the seventh game in the NBA playoff, but the Marshall loss was even more disappointing. We should have been the first Quad City champion."

Kuberski made the All-Tournament Team at the conclusion of the IHSA Tournament, scoring 64 points in two games.

During his senior year at Moline, Kuberski scored 749 points in 28 games, an average of 26.7 per game.

Listed as a Top-30 national recruit, Kuberski was recruited by UCLA, but ultimately chose to attend the University of Illinois over Notre Dame University.

Kuberski attended the University of Illinois, playing for the Illini freshman team in 1965–1966, as NCAA freshman did not play varsity in that era.

Kuberski, and teammates Rich Jones and Ron Dunlap, along with two others, had been suspended indefinitely while Illinois did an internal investigation during the 1966–1967 Illini season.

Numerous other athletes in other sports were involved and Coach Harry Combes subsequently resigned.

Kuberski, Jones and Dunlap never played for Illinois again.

After the ruling, Kuberski transferred from Illinois to Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois after the 1966–1967 school year.

In 1966–1967, Kuberski had played in 5 games for Illinois under Coach Combes, averaging 3.2 points and 2.3 rebounds, before being suspended.

Kuberski was then ruled ineligible for the 1967–68 academic year by the Big Ten Conference on March 4, 1967.

Kuberski was suspended for receiving financial assistance of US$35 per month from a slush fund established illegally by the school's athletic department.

After transferring to Bradley, Kuberski sat out the 1967–1968 season due to the transfer.

In the 1967–68 season, Kuberski played for an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team from Macomb, Illinois and landed a tryout with the 1968 U.S. Olympic team.

"That was a good experience for me because we played against older, more experienced players," Kuberski said.

In 1968–1969, Kuberski averaged 23.0 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists for the Bradley Braves, as the team finished 14–12 under Coach Joe Stowell in the Missouri Valley Conference.

"I had planned to play as a senior at Bradley," Kuberski recalled, "but I had played with (former Rock Island High School star) Don Nelson at the Moline YMCA and he tipped off the Celtics about me."

"We were just playing one-on-one but he went back to Boston and said they should take a look at this kid when his class comes up," Kuberski reflected.

"They drafted me on whim a year early."

Kuberski was drafted out of Bradley University by the Carolina Cougars in the 1969 ABA draft and by the Boston Celtics in the 1969 NBA draft.

Kuberski was drafted by the Celtics in the 4th round of the 1969 NBA draft, as he was eligible because his original class was graduating.

Kuberski signed with the Celtics and GM Red Auerbach in September 1969, foregoing a potential final season of collegiate eligibility.

Kuberski rejected an initial one-year contract and signed when Boston offered a three-year contract.

As a rookie in 1969–1970, Kuberski played alongside Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers John Havlicek, Satch Sanders, his Quad City friend Don Nelson, Bailey Howell and rookie Jo Jo White, averaging 6.4 points and 5.0 rebounds under Coach Tommy Heinsohn.

In 1970–1971, Kuberski averaged 22 minutes for the 44–38 Celtics, averaging 9.3 points and 6.6 rebounds, playing alongside rookie and future Hall of Famer Dave Cowens.

The Celtics finished 56–26 in 1971–1972, with Kuberski averaging 6.3 points and 4.5 rebounds.

The Celtics were defeated by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals 4–1 after defeating the Atlanta Hawks 4–2 in the earlier series.

Coach Heinshohn said of Kuberski in 1972, “Steve’s been playing like a Polish lineman from Notre Dame.”

Kuberski won two NBA titles with the Boston Celtics, in 1974 and 1976 and had a nine-year National Basketball Association (NBA) career.

Kuberski was the last Celtic to wear number 33 before Larry Bird.

Born in Moline, Illinois to Elaine (d.2015) and Felix Kuberski (d. 1983), Steve was raised with siblings Susan, Kathy, Carol and Brian.

Kuberski played high school basketball at Moline High School in Moline, Illinois, one of the Quad Cities.

Moline played in Wharton Field House, a former home of the early NBA's Tri-Cities Blackhawks, who were coached by a young Red Auerbach.