Bob Lanier

Bob Lanier was a professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball Association for the Detroit Pistons and the Milwaukee Bucks. He was also an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors.

Lanier is an eight-time NBA All-Star and in 1974, he was named an NBA All-Star MVP.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Robert Jerry Lanier Jr. was born on September 10, 1948, in Buffalo, New York in the United States of America. He stood 208 cm tall and his weight was last listed at 113 kg.

His initial attempts at playing basketball were rejected because his feet were considered too big and he was deemed too clumsy for the sport. He later joined the varsity of his high school and college teams.

Lanier’s shoe size eventually grew to 22. Visitors to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame can compare their shoe size to that of Lanier’s.

He married and divorced twice. In total, he fathered four kids, including professional volleyball player Khalia Imani Lanier.

He died following a brief illness on May 10, 2022, in Phoenix, Arizona in the United States of America.

High School and College Career

He attended Bennett High School in Buffalo, New York. Later, he committed to play college basketball for St. Bonaventure University from 1967 to 1970. At that time, he was named to the 1970 Consensus First-team All-American.

The Bonaventure Bonnies also retired jersey Number 31 in his honor.

Professional Career

He joined the NBA during the 1970 NBA Draft. He was the first overall pick of the draft, selected by the Detroit Pistons. He played with the Pistons from 1970 to 1980.

In his time with the Pistons, he was named an NBA All-Star seven times. In 1974, he was named the NBA All-Star Game MVP and in his first year with the team, he was also named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

In 1980, he started playing for the Milwaukee Bucks. He retired from basketball in 1984. During his career, Lanier gathered 19,248 points with averages of 20.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.

Post-retirement, Lainer became interim head coach of the Golden State Warriors in 1994.

Career Highlights

• 1972–1975, 1977–1979, 1982 - NBA All-Star
• 1974 - NBA All-Star Game MVP
• 1971 - NBA All-Rookie First Team

• No. 16 retired by Detroit Pistons
• No. 16 retired by the Milwaukee Bucks

• 1970 - Consensus first-team All-American
• 1968 - Consensus second-team All-American
• 1969 - Second-team All-American – AP, NABC, UPI

• No. 31 retired by St. Bonaventure Bonnies

Career Statistics

• Points - 19,248 (20.1 ppg)
• Rebounds - 9,698 (10.1 rpg)
• Blocks - 1,100 (1.5 bpg)

• Basketball Hall of Fame as a player, 1992
• College Basketball Hall of Fame, 2006

Team History:

As coach:

• 1994–1995 - Golden State Warriors (assistant)
• 1995 - Golden State Warriors (interim)