Robert Jerry Lanier Jr. (September 10, 1948 – May 10, 2022) was an American professional basketball player. He played center for the Detroit Pistons and the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Lanier was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.
In 14 NBA seasons, Lanier played in eight NBA All-Star Games and was named Most Valuable Player of the 1974 game. His accomplishments came despite a long history with knee injuries. He had his No. 16 jersey retired by both the Pistons and the Bucks and his No. 31 jersey retired by St. Bonaventure University, for whom he played college basketball. After retiring from playing he was an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors, and briefly served as their interim head coach. He went on to work as an NBA Cares Global Ambassador.
Early life
Robert Jerry Lanier Jr. was born on September 10, 1948, in Buffalo, New York. He was the son of Robert Sr. and Nannette Lanier. His mother raised him in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Growing up, Lanier initially was rejected in his efforts to play basketball. When he tried out to play for his grammar school team, Lanier was told by a coach that his feet (size 11 at age 11) were too large for him to become a successful athlete. Although he was tall by age 16, Lanier did not make the varsity basketball squad in his sophomore year at Bennett High School because he was deemed to be too clumsy.
During his junior year, he was encouraged to try out again by new coach Fred Schwepker, who taught Lanier as a student in his biology class. Lanier tried out again and made the team. He averaged 21.5 points and was named to the All-City team as a junior. In his senior year, he averaged 25.0 points and he earned All-Western New York State honors. In each year, he led Bennett to a Buffalo city title.
Lanier was recruited by more than 100 universities; however, he chose to attend St. Bonaventure University, approximately an hour and a half away from his home. There, he played for coach Larry Weise.
In 2009 as The Buffalo News celebrated 50 years of All-Western New York (WNY) basketball selections, Lanier, who was a 1965–66 All-WNY first team selection was named to the All-time All-WNY team along with Christian Laettner, Curtis Aiken, Paul Harris and Mel Montgomery.
College career
Lanier was a three-time All-America selection (1968–1970). As a senior in 1970, he led the St. Bonaventure to the NCAA Final Four. Near the end of the regional championship game, he injured his knee in a collision with Villanova's Chris Ford and did not play in St. Bonaventure's national semifinal loss to Jacksonville University.
That year, Lanier was named the Coach and Athlete Magazine player of the year and the Eastern College Athletic Conference's Player of the Year. Since 2007 their basketball court has been called the “ Bob Lanier court”
Freshman year (1966–1967)
Per NCAA rules at the time, Lanier played on the freshman team during his first year at St. Bonaventure.
Sophomore year (1967–1968)
thumb|200px|Lanier at St. Bonaventure
As a sophomore in the 1967–68 season, Lanier made an immediate impact and gained national recognition. Lanier led St. Bonaventure (13–9 in the previous season) to an undefeated regular season (26–0) and a number three final poll ranking. He averaged 26.2 points and 15.6 rebounds per game for the season. Against Loyola Maryland, Lanier had 27 rebounds, leading St. Bonaventure to a 94–78 victory.
Lanier was named a second-team All-American, behind Lew Alcindor (who later changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) at center.
Junior year (1968–1969)
In the 1968–69 season, St. Bonaventure finished with a 17–7 record after starting the season 3–5. Against Seton Hall, Lanier scored 51 points, setting the single-game scoring record for St. Bonaventure.
However, Lanier injured his knee near the end of the regional championship game in a collision with Villanova's Chris Ford. The injury was severe enough that he could not play in the Final Four and eventually required the first of eight knee surgeries he would undergo throughout his life. In the Final Four, the Bonnies lost to Jacksonville University, whose center was future Hall of Famer Artis Gilmore. St. Bonaventure was whistled for 32 personal fouls and was outscored 37–15 at the free-throw line in the 91–83 loss. In the third-place game, the Bonnies lost to New Mexico State, finishing the season 25–3.
In March 2018, St. Bonaventure won its first game in the NCAA tournament since 1970, defeating UCLA. Coach Mark Schmidt said, "It can't get better. Our guys just fought, we persevered. ... In 1970, you know, Bob Lanier got hurt, and didn't have a chance to play UCLA and ... this is for him." "When I got the job here 11 years ago, we hear the stories about 1970," Schmidt said. "And everybody talks about if Lanier was healthy, they would have taken on UCLA. This victory is for those guys."
Professional career
Detroit Pistons (1970–1980)
Lanier was the first overall pick by the National Basketball Association's Detroit Pistons in the 1970 NBA draft. He was also a territorial pick by the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association in the 1970 ABA Draft.
Lanier played while still recovering from surgery. He was named to the 1971 NBA All-Rookie Team, Lanier rehabilitated his knee with the help of Coach van Breda Kolff, who had Lanier stay at his beachfront house for 2½ weeks to run in the sand and strengthen his knee and legs.
Lanier became a star for Detroit, playing alongside teammate Dave Bing. He averaged more than 21 points per game for each of the next eight seasons, with a high mark of 25.7 PPG in the 1971–72 season. Lanier averaged more than 11 rebounds per game in seven straight seasons. On November 28, 1972, Lanier scored 48 points, a Pistons franchise record to this day for points scored in a game by a center, during a 129–96 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. On January 15, 1974, Lanier led all scorers in that season's NBA All Star Game with 24 points, and was named the All-Star Game MVP.
Detroit was a franchise in constant transition. Lanier played under eight coaches in ten seasons: Butch van Breda Kolff (1970–1971), Terry Dischinger (1971), Earl Lloyd (1971–1972), Ray Scott (1972–1975), Herb Brown (1975–1977), Bob Kauffman (1977–1978), Dick Vitale (1978–1979), and Richie Adubato (1979–1980). Each coach was hired or fired in mid-season. Of his time in Detroit, Lanier said, "I think '73–74 was our best team [52–30]. We had Dave [Bing], Stu Lantz, John Mengelt, Chris Ford, Don Adams, Curtis Rowe, George Trapp. But then for some reason, they traded six guys off that team before the following year. I just didn't feel we ever had the leadership... That was a rough time because, at the end of every year, you'd be so despondent."
Milwaukee Bucks (1980–1984)
On February 4, 1980, Lanier was traded by the Pistons to the Milwaukee Bucks for Kent Benson and a 1980 first-round draft pick (which the Pistons used to select Larry Drew).
On May 5, 1982, Lanier's 27 points led the Bucks to a Game 5 playoff victory against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Bucks eventually lost the series. Lanier's 27 points represented his highest single post-season game point total for the Bucks. In Lanier's five seasons with the Bucks, they won the Midwest Division championship each year under Coach Don Nelson, with Lanier playing alongside teammates Marques Johnson, Sidney Moncrief, Quinn Buckner, Junior Bridgeman, and Dave Cowens. Still highly effective, but with aging knees, Lanier played a key role with the Bucks while averaging nearly 10 minutes less per game in his Milwaukee tenure that he had in Detroit (36.2 to 26.8). In 278 games with the Bucks, Lanier averaged 26 minutes, 13.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. He played in the 1982 All-Star Game with Milwaukee. In the 1977 NBA Playoffs, in the third game of a best of three series against Golden State Warriors, the game was marred by a 3rd quarter fight with Charles Dudley of Golden State tangling with Eric Money of the Pistons. The fight spilled into the stands as a Warriors fan punching Piston M. L. Carr and Lanier then decking the fan. Reflective of the different era in the game, personal fouls were called on Dudley and Money, and the game resumed with the Warriors winning 109–101.
Coaching career
Golden State Warriors (1994–1995)
From 1994–95, Lanier served as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors under his former coach, Don Nelson. After Nelson resigned, Lanier was named interim head coach on February 13, 1995. He compiled a 12–25 win–loss record in 37 games and the Warriors finished 26–56 overall.
Other ventures
Lanier owned and operated Bob Lanier Enterprises, Inc., a promotional marketing company which was a member of the Proforma network.
Lanier was a spokesperson and chairman of the NBA's "Stay In School" program (later renamed Read to Achieve) from 1989 to 1994.
In popular culture
Lanier appeared as a member of the Detroit team in the cult classic basketball film The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh in 1979 alongside Pistons teammates Chris Ford, Eric Money, John Shumate, Kevin Porter, and Leon Douglas.
Lanier was hired as basketball coach for the film White Men Can't Jump. Lanier was impressed with lead actors Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes, suggesting both reached a Division II college basketball skill level. He also noted that between the two of them, Harrelson was the better player.
Lanier was also mentioned in the 1980 movie "Airplane!" when an exasperated Kareem Abdul Jabbar admonished Joey, "Tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes!"
Personal life and death
thumb|right|Lanier signing autographs for USS Nimitz sailors in 2003
Lanier was married and divorced twice and had five children: Walter “Jack” Lanier, Kimberly Lanier, Tiffany Lanier, Robert Lanier III, and Khalia Lanier. At the time of his death, he had 7 grandchildren.
The knee injuries that plagued Lanier's later career worsened as he aged. He underwent several surgeries after his retirement, the last being in 2017. He was 73.
Honors
- Inducted into the St. Bonaventure Athletics Hall of Fame in 1975.
- St. Bonaventure retired Lanier's No. 31 jersey.
- Lanier's No. 16 jersey has been retired by both the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks retired his jersey in 1984. The Pistons retired his jersey in 1993.
- Lanier was enshrined into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.
- In 2007, Lanier received the National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award. It was awarded for his significant contribution to civil and human rights internationally in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- The basketball court at Lanier's alma mater, St. Bonaventure, was named in his honor in 2007. "Bob Lanier Court" is in the Reilly Center Arena. Said the 2007 press release, "Bob Lanier elevated an already established St. Bona basketball program to the next level and is an ideal ambassador of the sport. When we were thinking about names for the court he was the obvious choice and a perfect fit."
- Lanier was named co-recipient of the 2009 "The Mannie Jackson – Basketball's Human Spirit Award." The award was given by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in recognition of his passion for the game of basketball and his continued commitment to community service.
- Following Lanier's death, Detroit Pistons players wore a black stripe with No. 16 across the right shoulder (as seen from the front) of their jerseys for the 2022–23 NBA season.
NBA career statistics
Regular season
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"|Detroit
| 82 || || 24.6 || .455 || || .726 || 8.1 || 1.8 || || || 15.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"|Detroit
| 80 || || 38.7 || .493 || || .768 || 14.2 || 3.1 || || || 25.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"|Detroit
| 81 || || 38.9 || .490 || || .773 || 14.9 || 3.2 || || || 23.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"|Detroit
| 81 || || 37.6 || .504 || || .797 || 13.3 || 4.2 || 1.4 || 3.0 || 22.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"|Detroit
| 76 || || 39.3 || .510 || || .802 || 12.0 || 4.6 || 1.0 || 2.3 || 24.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"|Detroit
| 64 || || 36.9 || .532 || || .768 || 11.7 || 3.4 || 1.2 || 1.3 || 21.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"|Detroit
| 64 || || 38.2 || .534 || || .818 || 11.6 || 3.3 || 1.1 || 2.0 || 25.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"|Detroit
| 63 || || 36.7 || .537 || || .772 || 11.3 || 3.4 || 1.3 || 1.5 || 24.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"|Detroit
| 53 || || 34.6 || .515 || || .749 || 9.3 || 2.6 || .9 || 1.4 || 23.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"|Detroit
| 37 || || 37.6 || .546 || .000 || .781 || 10.1 || 3.3 || 1.0 || 1.6 || 21.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"|Milwaukee
| 26 || || 28.4 || .519 || 1.000 || .785 || 6.9 || 2.4 || 1.4 || 1.1 || 15.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"|Milwaukee
| 67 || || 26.2 || .525 || 1.000 || .751 || 6.2 || 2.7 || 1.1 || 1.2 || 14.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"|Milwaukee
| 74 || 72 || 26.8 || .558 || .000 || .752 || 5.2 || 3.0 || 1.0 || .8 || 13.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"|Milwaukee
| 39 || 35 || 25.1 || .491 || .000 || .684 || 5.1 || 2.7 || .9 || .6 || 10.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"|Milwaukee
| 72 || 72 || 27.9 || .572 || .000 || .708 || 6.3 || 2.6 || .8 || .7 || 13.6
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 959 || || 33.5 || .514 || .154 || .767 || 10.1 || 3.1 || 1.1 || 1.5 || 20.1
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|All-Star
| 8 || 0 || 15.1 || .582 || || .833 || 5.6 || 1.5 || .5 || .6 || 9.2
Playoffs
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|1974
| style="text-align:left;"|Detroit
| 7 || || 43.3 || .507 || || .789 || 15.3 || 3.0 || .6 || 2.0 || 26.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|1975
| style="text-align:left;"|Detroit
| 3 || || 42.7 || .510 || || .750 || 10.7 || 6.3 || 1.3 || 4.0 || 20.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|1976
| style="text-align:left;"|Detroit
| 9 || || 39.9 || .552 || || .900 || 12.7 || 3.3 || .9 || 2.3 || 26.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|1977
| style="text-align:left;"|Detroit
| 3 || || 39.3 || .630 || || .842 || 16.7 || 2.0 || 1.0 || 2.3 || 28.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|1980
| style="text-align:left;"|Milwaukee
| 7 || || 36.6 || .515 || || .738 || 9.3 || 4.4 || 1.0 || 1.1 || 19.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|1981
| style="text-align:left;"|Milwaukee
| 7 || || 33.7 || .588 || || .719 || 7.4 || 4.0 || 1.7 || 1.1 || 17.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|1982
| style="text-align:left;"|Milwaukee
| 6 || || 35.3 || .513 || .000 || .560 || 7.5 || 3.7 || 1.3 || .8 || 16.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|1983
| style="text-align:left;"|Milwaukee
| 9 || || 27.8 || .573 || || .600 || 7.0 || 2.6 || .6 || 1.6 || 13.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|1984
| style="text-align:left;"|Milwaukee
| 16 || || 31.2 || .480 || || .886 || 7.3 || 3.4 || .7 || .6 || 12.7
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 67 || || 35.2 || .532 || .000 || .768 || 9.6 || 3.5 || .9 || 1.5 || 18.6
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="13" style="text-align: center;"|<small>Source: