Former Pistons and Bucks big man Bob Lanier has passed away at the age of 73, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link). A cause of death was not disclosed as of this writing.
A 6’11” center, Lanier was selected with the top pick in the 1970 NBA draft by the Pistons, following three All-American seasons at St. Bonaventure. Lanier played for 10 years in Detroit before being traded in 1980 to the Bucks, where he would finish his career after the 1983/84 season.
An eight-time All-Star with the Pistons and Bucks and the 1973/74 All-Star Game MVP, Lanier held career averages of 20.1 PPG, 10.1 RPG, and 3.1 APG, across 959 career regular season games. He was elected to the NBA Hall of Fame as a player in 1992.
Lanier also enjoyed an active career with the NBA long after his playing days had ceased. He served as a president for the NBPA and enjoyed an extended run as an ambassador for the league.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement through the league (Twitter link).
“For more than 30 years, Bob served as our global ambassador and as a special assistant to [former commissioner] David Stern and then me, traveling the world to teach the game’s values and make a positive impact on young people everywhere,” Silver said in part. “I learned so much from Bob by simply watching how he connected with people. He was a close friend who I will miss dearly, as will so many of his colleagues across the NBA who were inspired by his generosity.”
We at Hoops Rumors extend our deepest condolences to Lanier’s family and friends.
RIP Bob Lanier
A true Big of the game and in life ….
One of only 20 players to avg 20 n 10. For a career. 73-74 MVP, HOFer.
link to basketball-reference.com
link to nypost.com
How does Anthony Davis get selected top 75 over a player/big man like this?
I agree AD has nothing on Lanier.
Thats insane … I took it for granted Lanier was on that list.He is top 30 to me. And could handle any Center in NBA history.
Same here.
Selective memory blots out anything from the before times.
RIP. True gentleman and basketball ambassador
Lanier was always one of my favorites. Great player and all class. RIP.
Easily a top 75 over Anthony The Noodle Davis. From his ankles down to his size 22’s he was a top player/leader/hooper
I remember Lanier way back in his St.Bonnie’s days. What a force in the paint
When I was a kid, there wasn’t much TV coverage of college basketball, but I got to see him score 50 in the Holiday Tournament at MSG when he played for St Bonaventure. I thought it was the greatest thing I had ever seen and it triggered my interest in the game that goes on even today. What a player!
Lanier was one of the great C’s in the golden age of C’s. Then, to be great, big men needed, and the best ones had, the same basketball skills as every other player. He was his generation’s gold standard for combining raw power with high end offensive skills. A younger and bigger version of Knick great Willis Reed (Willis’ words). Unfortunately, he had Willis’ knees along with his power/skill combo. As the league became bigger and more physical, and big men less skilled, he adjusted and had a second act. Easy guy to forget if you didn’t watch the NBA in the early to mid 1970’s. Impossible to forget if you did.
Big part of Bucks late 70s-early 80s rejuvenation but they couldn’t get past either the Celtics or 76ers. I played a college exhibition soccer game at halftime of one their exhibition games and he walked out next to me and that was the first time I had ever been “face to face” with someone that freakishly tall. He also had massive feet. Made a huge impression on me. RIP Dobber!
By the time Don Nelson shipped out Kent Benson for Bob Lanier, the veteran was pretty tired. He wished he could have given more to that championship-caliber team who only needed a center to match up with the other teams in the east.
But what great wings and guards on that Squad. I really liked Junior Bridgeman and of course All Stars Moncrief and Marques Johnson were my favs.
So crazy the Bucks would have to face both the Sixers and the Celtics every playoff season, and would get past one of them but never the other to make it to the Finals.
One year maybe 1983 or 85 the Bucks SWEPT Larry and the Celtics but then of course lost to the Sixers. Big-time frustration every year from 79 through 87 or 88 when Nelson jump ship to Golden State.