80. Bob Lanier
One of the greatest bigs that for one reason or another always gets left out of greatest ever talks. But Bob Lanier was a constantly 20 points per night scorer and a fantastic defender. Yet he played in an era where scandalous players where in the news more and his lack of deep playoff success hurt his standing.
Lanier grew up in Buffalo, New York and attended near by St Bonaventure University. He played four seasons at St Bonny’s where he put up some gaudy numbers. In his 4 seasons there he appeared in 75 career games and averaged 28 points and 16 rebounds.
Because of his stellar college career he was selected #1 overall in the 1970 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons. He had a solid rookie season averaging 15 points and 8 rebounds. He really took off his second year averaging a career high 26 points and 14 rebounds and was selected to his first all-star game.
Unfortunately for Lanier, the Pistons struggled for most of his tenure with them. They did have a nice four year playoff streak from 1974-77 but the team only advanced to the second round twice and were never a real threat to win the title.
Lanier became one of Detroit’s most beloved players. He scored 20 or more points a game in every season but his rookie season for the Pistons and was a double digit rebounded seven times. He also was selected to the all-star team 7 times as a Piston and was named the 1974 All-star game MVP.
After 9 and a half seasons with the Pistons Lanier was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Kent Benson and a first round pick in 1980. Lanier would make one all-star appearance as a member of the Bucks and would enjoy some of his best success with the Bucks.
Lanier played four and a half seasons with the Bucks and was a key player on some very good teams, teams who won the division title each year he was with them and made a run to the eastern finals in 1984.
Lanier retired in 1984 after 14 seasons in the NBA in which he appeared in 959 career games and averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds a game. He was selected to the hall-of-fame in 1992.
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