 Lanier playing for the Pistons. | |
| No. 16 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Center |
| League: | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Full name: | Robert Jerry Lanier Jr. |
| Born: | September 10, 1948 Buffalo, New York |
| Died: | May 10, 2022 (aged 73) Phoenix, Arizona |
| Nationality: |  American
|
| Physical stats | |
| Listed height: | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight: | 250 lbs (113 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Bennett (Buffalo, New York) |
| College: | St. Bonaventure (1967–1970) |
| NBA Draft: | 1970 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st |
| Selected by the Detroit Pistons | |
| Playing career: | 1970–1984 (14 years) |
| Career history | |
|
As player: | |
| 1970–1980 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1980–1984 | Milwaukee Bucks |
|
As coach: | |
| 1994–1995 | Golden State Warriors (assistant) |
| 1995 | Golden State Warriors (interim) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Robert Jerry Lanier Jr. (September 10, 1948 – May 10, 2022) was an American former professional basketball player who played for the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Lanier was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.
In his 14 NBA seasons, Lanier averaged 20.1 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.5 bpg, and 1.1 spg while shooting a stellar 51.4% from the field. He played in eight NBA All-Star Games, and was named Most Valuable Player of the 1974 game. He has had his #16 jersey retired by both the Pistons and the Bucks and his #31 jersey retired by St. Bonaventure University. Lanier was an NBA ambassador.
Lanier died on May 10, 2022, after a brief illness. He was 73.