For Dwight Davis, assists have a different meaning

The meaning of assists takes on a different form for Houston men’s basketball great Dwight Davis, who was immortalized Sunday at Fertitta Center with the retirement of his No. 42 jersey. 

For him, the most important assists he received didn’t lead to baskets but rather to the player and person he became.

In three seasons with Houston, Davis led the school to three NCAA tournament appearances. The appearances included back-to-back Sweet 16s as a sophomore and junior.

“There’s one thing I do know. There’s this statistic called assists, and it’s underappreciated and underrecognized,” Davis said during his speech.

He credited his family’s sacrifices for giving him the opportunity to play basketball and attend the University of Houston. 

Davis’ father worked multiple jobs to support him and his four other siblings. His mother also worked as a house cleaner and child caretaker. 

“We were the cleanest kids in school, and they taught us how to respect other folks,” Davis said. 

He paid his respects to several trailblazers and coaches of the program, including Don Chaney, Elvin Hayes as well as longtime coach Guy Lewis, who guided Davis for all three of his playing seasons and the four years he spent at the school overall.

They were among the advocates for getting Davis’ jersey enshrined, but none were perhaps bigger than coach Kelvin Sampson.

When he arrived in 2014, he began looking at the history of the men’s basketball program.

Sampson would ask those familiar with the school, and two names always came up for former players deserving of a jersey retirement: Don Chaney and Dwight Davis. 

“Getting your jersey retired is not for everybody,” Sampson said. “You’ve got to be pretty unique and pretty special in your time here.”

Davis has grown to be special beyond his time with the Cougars, now returning favors and the assists that helped shape his life.

In retirement, he has spent just as much time giving them. Davis currently serves as a board member of Prospero Health and Cambridge Trust, and the President of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire. Davis also served for four years on the National Basketball Retired Players Association, holding numerous positions.

After the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in December 2012, Davis and his wife knew something should be done. They went to the NBRPA, stating that they needed to take action for the children affected by the tragedy. 

The response was a nationwide effort, with basketball players from across the country coming to the school. 

In late August 2013, when classes returned, several of the kids had attended the basketball clinics over the summer.

“That was a really good feeling, to hear some of their teachers tell us that was the first time those kids had smiled since that horrible, horrible event,” Davis said.

Davis said that he and his wife try to recreate that type of act whenever they get the chance. 

As owners of Senior Helpers of Southern New Hampshire, they provide families with a variety of senior home services for elderly citizens. 

“Good man isn’t he? He’s a really good man,” Sampson said. “I’m so glad we got to honor him.”