NBA Hall of Famer Bob Lanier has passed away Tuesday. He was 73. The NBA announced Lanier died after a short illness. Lanier played 14 seasons with the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks and averaged 20.1 points and 10.1 rebounds for his career. Detroit drafted Lanier with the No. 1 overall pick in 1970.
The left-handed center competed against other greats like Kareem-Abdul Jabbar. Lanier went into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992. He was a St. Bonaventure alumni, averaging 27.6 points and 15.7 rebounds in three seasons.
The Pistons won only one playoff series with Lanier on their roster. He played 64 games or fewer in each of his last four full seasons with Detroit due to injuries. In February 1980, he was traded to Milwaukee. He was part of the Bucks’ teams that reached the Eastern Conference finals in 1983 and 1984.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement:
“Bob Lanier was a Hall of Fame player and among the most talented centers in the history of the NBA, but his impact on the league went far beyond what he accomplished on the court. For more than 30 years, Bob served as our global ambassador and as a special assistant to David Stern and then me, traveling the world to teach the game’s values and make a positive impact on young people everywhere.
It was a labor of love for Bob, who was one of the kindest and most genuine people I have ever been around. His enormous influence on the NBA was also seen during his time as President of the National Basketball Players Association, where he played a key role in the negotiation of a game-changing collective bargaining agreement.
“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 send our deepest condolences to Bob’s family and friends.”
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