Bob Lanier

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Lanier's time with the Pistons was marked by constant organizational turbulence, yet he remained a steady force. He played under eight different coaches in ten seasons, including Butch van Breda Kolff, Terry Dischinger, Earl Lloyd, Ray Scott, Herb Brown, Dick Vitale, Richie Adubato, and Don Chaney, with each being hired or fired mid-season. Despite this instability, Lanier averaged more than 21 points per game for eight consecutive seasons and over 11 rebounds for seven straight years. On January 29, 1974, he set a Pistons franchise record by scoring 50 points in a 129–96 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, a mark that still stands for a center. His jersey number 16 was retired by both the Pistons and the Milwaukee Bucks, cementing his legacy as an icon for two franchises.

In Their Own Story

Lanier's professional journey began with immediate adversity; he entered the league while recovering from knee surgery. Reflecting on his rookie year under Coach Butch van Breda Kolff, Lanier admitted, "I wasn't healthy when I got to the league... My knee was so sore every single day that it was ludicrous to be doing what I was doing." To rehabilitate, he stayed at his coach's beachfront house for 2½ weeks to run in the sand and strengthen his legs. This perseverance paid off as he became a star alongside teammate Dave Bing. The highlight of his Detroit tenure came on January 15, 1974, when he led all scorers with 24 points in the NBA All-Star Game, earning the MVP award.

Reader's Guide

The Lanier Era at Detroit (1970–1980) represents a decade of high scoring and resilience. Drafted first overall in the 1970 NBA draft after being a territorial pick by the New York Nets, Lanier immediately impacted the league despite his injury history. He averaged 15.6 points and 8.1 rebounds as a rookie in just 24 minutes per game, eventually building a career of over 21 points and double-digit rebounds annually for years. His leadership was crucial during a period where the franchise cycled through eight coaches, maintaining elite performance on the court. Although his final four seasons with Detroit were limited to no more than 64 games due to knee issues, he remained a dominant force until his trade to the Milwaukee Bucks in February 1980. His ability to excel while managing chronic pain defined this chapter of Pistons history.

Did You Know?

• At age 11, Lanier was rejected from a grammar school team because his size 11 feet were deemed too large for athletic success.
• As a high school sophomore at 6-foot-5, he was cut from the varsity squad for being "too clumsy" before finding success under coach Fred Schwepker.
• He turned down a reported $1.2 million offer from the ABA's New York Nets to complete his college career after suffering a knee injury in the 1970 NCAA regional final.
• Lanier played on the St. Bonaventure freshman team during his first year because NCAA rules at the time prohibited freshmen from playing varsity basketball.

Early Life and High School Struggles

Born in Buffalo, New York, to Robert Sr. and Nannette Lanier, he was raised in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. As an 11-year-old with size 11 feet, a grammar school coach told him his feet were too large for success. By age 16, standing 6-foot-5, he was cut from the varsity squad at Bennett High School for being too clumsy. New coach Fred Schwepker encouraged him to try out again during his junior year; Lanier averaged 21.5 points and made the All-City team. In his senior year, he averaged 25.0 points, earned All-Western New York State honors, and led Bennett to a Buffalo city title. He graduated in 1966.

College Dominance at St. Bonaventure

Lanier chose St. Bonaventure University over more than 100 offers so his parents could attend every game under coach Larry Weise. After playing on the freshman team due to NCAA rules, he became a three-time All-America selection (1968–1970). As a sophomore in 1967–68, he led St. Bonaventure to an undefeated regular season and a number three final poll ranking, averaging 26.2 points and 15.6 rebounds while earning second-team All-America honors behind Lew Alcindor. In his junior year, he set the school single-game scoring record with 51 points against Seton Hall and averaged 27.3 points and 15.6 rebounds; despite a reported $1.2 million offer from the ABA's New York Nets to leave early, he stayed in school. As a senior in 1969–70, he led St. Bonaventure to the NCAA Final Four with averages of 29.2 points and 16.0 rebounds. Near the end of the regional championship game against Villanova, he suffered a severe knee injury in a collision with Chris Ford, ending his season before the national semifinal loss to Jacksonville University. He graduated with a degree in business administration, holding school records for scoring (27.6 ppg) and rebounding (15.7 rpg).

NBA Career and Accolades

Lanier was the first overall pick by the Detroit Pistons in the 1970 NBA draft. He played 14 NBA seasons, averaging a double-double of 22.7 points and 11.8 rebounds for the Pistons over ten seasons (681 games). He was named to eight NBA All-Star Games and won the MVP award for the 1974 game. His career included a franchise-record 48 points by a center on November 28, 1972. Despite recurring knee injuries that limited him to no more than 64 games in his last four seasons with Detroit, he averaged over 21 points per game for eight straight seasons and over 11 rebounds for seven straight seasons. He was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks on February 4, 1980. Both the Pistons and the Bucks retired his No. 16 jersey.

Post-Playing Life and Legacy

After retiring from playing, Lanier served as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors and briefly as their interim head coach. He later worked as an NBA Cares Global Ambassador. St. Bonaventure University retired his No. 31 jersey and named its basketball court the "Bob Lanier Court" in 2007. In 2009, The Buffalo News named him to the All-time All-Western New York team. Robert Jerry Lanier Jr. died on May 10, 2022.