Bob Davies

Robert Edris Davies (January 15, 1920 – April 22, 1990) was an American professional basketball player and coach. He entered Seton Hall University in 1938 on a baseball scholarship, but coach John "Honey" Russell persuaded him to concentrate on basketball after watching him practice. Never a high scorer—his best college average was 11.8 points a game—Davies was a consummate passer and play-maker. Known as the "Harrisburg Houdini," he led Seton Hall to 43 consecutive victories from 1939 into 1941.

In the National Basketball Association's early years, Davies and Bobby Wanzer formed one of the strongest backcourt pairings of the era. Together they led the Rochester Royals to the 1951 NBA championship. Davies later served as a basketball coach at Seton Hall University.

Although Bob Cousy is often credited as the originator of the behind-the-back dribble, many hold that Davies deserves the credit. Russell once said of him, "He had such uncanny control of the ball behind his back that it never concerned me. He made it look as easy as the conventional dribble." Davies was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on April 11, 1970.