Robert Jerry Lanier Jr. (Bob Lanier) was an American professional basketball player who played for the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Bob was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.
In Bob’s 14 NBA seasons, he averaged 20.1 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.5 bpg, and 1.1 spg while shooting a stellar 51.4% from the field.
Bob also served as the league’s global ambassador for more than 30 years, “traveling the world to teach the game’s values and make a positive impact on young people everywhere.”
According to Bob’s NBA biography, he played center with “fluid” movements, despite his 6-foot-11 frame.
Bob retired in 1984 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992.
Nicknamed the Big Dobber, Bob Lanier, whose height was 2.08m took up a lot of room under the basket, and he dominated the middle on defense.
Bob Lanier was born on September 10, 1948 and died on May 10, 2022, aged 73, following a short illness.
Announcing Bob’s death, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a 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.”
“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.”
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