LANDSBERG, Germany, Sept. 26 — Many people recognize Bob Cousy as an alltime basketball playing great, but few are aware of the role he plays as Boston Celtics and Eastern Division player representative in the National Basketball Assn.

Cousy, twice All America at Holy Cross, was one of the organizers of a player-representative body among NBA performers. Now each team has a spokesman with two men selected as Eastern and Western Divisions' representative. Goals are much the same as those for similar groups in pro football or organized baseball.

As soon as he leaves here, where he's working with a star-studded staff of instructors conducting the annual USAFE basketball training school, Cousy and his Western Division counterpart plan to meet with NBA President Maurice Podoloff. Jim Pollard, Minneapolis Lakers, handled the Western Division job last year but has since stepped down from playing ranks.

"We certainly don't want to dip into the owners' pockets," Cousy says, "but we feel it's about time we started pressing for player benefits." The players realize none of the owners are taking in big profits on their games, but added that increased league take through television and boosts in gates provide a source for financing retirement plans.

"Right now we know the owners can't afford such an idea," Bob says. But he plans to pump for elimination of present evils. He feels the 50 exhibition games played by some clubs is too severe. "That makes a total of 130 games in six months," Cousy says. And he goes on to state his personal feelings on the jump from college ball to the pro court.

"The biggest difference," Bob feels, "is the longer schedule and the big travel hops." He'd like to see a limit on exhibitions so that players know what is expected of them over a season. "Too many games slow you up physically," Bob claims.

The players will also shoot for a change in the territorial rights setup. Under the NBA system, each club has exclusive rights to the services of any star on a college team located within 50 miles of the pros.

A club has to declare their lack of interest in the court ace before he can be placed on the regular draft list. Then he can be selected by anyone but has to play with the team that picks him — or spend the season at leisure without pay.

Bob thinks some clubs have used the system to their advantage at the expense of the player. "If a club can't use him at the moment, he sits it out until they choose to sell him," Cousy explains. Sometimes they won't sell him for an obvious reason. Strengthening a rival club is no way to win a league crown.

One of the weapons occasionally brought into play by the owners is the offering of a ridiculously low salary to a college ace. If he spurns it, he's on the sidelines no matter how much another club may want him. So a minimum salary provision for the NBA is high on the list of player goals.

Cousy, as chief architect in formation of the player group, plans to keep pushing his ideas despite the fact that league reception has only been lukewarm in the past. In fact, Bob feels that the league powers have given him the brush off on several occasions.

To strengthen player bargaining, Cousy plans to let a legal expert present player arguments in the future negotiations. He emphasizes that he has no gripe with owners or league officials. But Bob feels that adoption of some of the player-inspired ideas will minimize future owner-player difficulties and give each player — from top star to rookie — a chance for better security and longer playing life.

"Basketball is our bread and butter," is the way he explains his interest.

Questions from the student group here brought forth some other Cousy opinions. Asked to name the defensive man who gives him the most trouble, he replied, "They all do." Pressed, he picked two — Bobby Wanzer and Frank Selvy.

Cousy hit the pro trail after a brilliant college career with Holy Cross. Twice All America there, he has been named to the All-Pro team in the last four of his five seasons in a pro uniform.

Many fans, coaches and officiate rate him an alltime great already. A brilliant ball-handler, the league's top man in the assist department, a high-powered scorer, he's a fan-pleasing drawing card on all the NBA courts. And he is a top team man in the eyes of his coach and teammates.

His dribbling exploits while demonstrating maneuvers here have several times brought forth spontaneous applause from the USAFE, Army and NATO coaches. According to Cousy, some of his pro cohorts don't always look on his ball-handling magic with the same favor. "I've often been accused of showboating by an opponent," Bob says in talking about his famous behind-the-back dribble and other Cousy-spawned tricks of the court trade. Bob pleads "not guilty" to the charge.

"Every trick I use is justified offensively," Cousy retorts. He'll readily admit, though, that he's aware the crowd appeal of his style of play — and as quick to add that he would be inclined to use them if only because they keep his salary up.

Bob claims he's not too fast afoot. Big hands, long arms and fast reflexes — that's the way he explains his unique ability. "The behind-the-back dribble gives me the jump on the defender," he points out.

Cousy insists he never sets out to ridicule an opponent as some have claimed. "They are all too good as it is without having them all hopped up and gunning for me," he rationalizes.

Listening to Cousy, an extremely quiet and modest individual, one gets the idea that here is a unique athlete — one with outstanding athletic ability who can well understand the business side of the game, the viewpoint of owner and fan.