Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Lanier died on Tuesday after a short illness, the NBA said. He was 73. Lanier, who spent 14 seasons in the NBA until his retirement in 1984, averaged 20.1 points per game across 959 appearances. The towering 6ft 10in center spent the first decade of his career with the Detroit Pistons before joining the Milwaukee Bucks for the 1979-1980 campaign, where he would play five seasons.
“Bob Lanier was a Hall of Fame player and among 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,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.
Lanier’s Post-Retirement Contributions to the NBA
Following his retirement from basketball, Bob Lanier took on the role of NBA global ambassador. In this capacity, he led a league-backed initiative aimed at encouraging children to prioritize their education and remain in school.
