Sports
Bob Lanier
1948–2022 · basketball player, centre
Hall of Fame centre and the Pistons' first overall draft pick in 1970, who anchored Detroit for a decade and remains the franchise's all-time leader in scoring average.
- Born
Buffalo, New York- Died
Phoenix, Arizona
aged 73- Birth name
- Robert Jerry Lanier Jr.
- Detroit years
- 1970–1980
- Field
- Sports
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Lanier arrived in Detroit as the first overall pick in the 1970 NBA draft and quickly became the young Pistons franchise's first true superstar centre, teaming for years with guard Dave Bing. On November 28, 1972, he scored 48 points against Portland, still a Pistons record for a centre, and he was named to seven All-Star teams during his ten seasons in Detroit despite chronic knee injuries that limited him late in his tenure. He remains the franchise's career leader in scoring average at 22.7 points per game and ranks among its top three in career points and second in rebounds. Traded to Milwaukee in 1980, he was later elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame, and both the Pistons and Bucks retired his No. 16.
Highlights
- First overall pick in the 1970 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons
- Scored a Pistons franchise-record 48 points by a centre on November 28, 1972
- Seven-time NBA All-Star with Detroit
- Franchise all-time leader in scoring average (22.7 points per game)
- No. 16 retired by the Pistons in 1993; elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 2
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Played here · 1970–1978
Cobo Arena
Closed · 1960–2019
The Pistons' home arena for most of his Detroit career, including his 48-point game; the building still stands as part of Huntington Place.
Played here · 1978–1980
Pontiac Silverdome
Demolished · 1975–2017
The Pistons' home for the final two seasons of his Detroit career; demolished in 2017–2018.