NBA Hall of Fame legend Bob Lanier dies at 73

A legend between Detroit and Milwaukee, the Hall of Fame inductee has sadly passed on, but will never be forgotten.

NBA Hall of Fame legend Bob Lanier has died

Bob Lanier, a 14 season veteran with both the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks has died. Lanier was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992 and sadly has now passed away at the age of 73. Lanier who fought in the paint with the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and was without doubt one of the premier players of the NBA during the 1970s has left behind a legacy that will be remembered. An eight time All-Star and former global ambassador for the NBA, Lanier suffered a short illness according to reports and was unable to overcome it. An NBA statement detailed the importance of Lanier and the effect he had over time:

“Bob Lanier was a Hall of Fame player and one of 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 [former commissioner] 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 in 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.”

Who was Bob Lanier exactly?

The No. 1 overall pick in the 1970 draft, Lanier averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds throughout his career - think about that. Also a member of the voting panel for the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, Lanier played 14 seasons with the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks. The Hall of Famer is third on the Pistons’ career list in both points and rebounds. As mentioned before commissioner Adam Silver referred to Lanier as being one of the the most talented centers in league history and added that his accomplishments went far beyond what he did on the court. Interestingly, though Lanier went into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992, his formidable shoes got there ahead of him, with a display of his bronzed sneakers in the shrine.