Trump awards Medal of Freedom to NBA star Bob Cousy, 91, and praises him for speaking out against racism during civil rights movement
President Donald Trump has presented 91-year-old basketball legend Bob Cousy with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Trump praised the Boston Celtics star as 'one of the all-time greats in the history of sports' at a ceremony in the Oval Office on Thursday.
Cousy played for the Celtics from 1950 to 1963, winning six league championships and the 1957 MVP title. The Bob Cousy Award, given to the country's best point guard in men's college basketball, is named for him.
He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and played a pivotal role in founding the NBA Player's Association.
'This acknowledgment allows me to complete my life circle,' Cousy said during the Oval Office awards ceremony. 'I can stop chasing a bouncing ball. The Presidential Medal of Freedom allows me to reach a level of acceptance in our society I never once ever dreamed of.'
Trump spoke of Cousy's childhood during the Great Depression and discovering his talent for basketball at a young age. The president said Cousy never forgot his first mentor's advice to never be predictable, and jokingly added: 'Hey, I've heard that lesson, too.'
Cousy is the 10th honoree under Trump, who is Cousy's candidate of choice in the 2020 presidential election.
In a recent interview with NBA.com, Cousy described himself as politically moderate. He said that although he disagrees with some of the president's actions, he plans to vote for Trump next year.
Trump awards Medal of Freedom to NBA star Bob Cousy | Daily Mail Online