Robert Jerry Lanier Jr. (Bob Lainer) was an American professional basketball player who played for the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
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Lanier was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.
In his 14 seasons in the NBA, 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.
Lanier played in eight NBA All-Star Games, and was named Most Valuable Player of the 1974 game.

Lanier had his No. 16 jersey retired by both the Pistons and the Bucks and his No. 31 jersey retired by St. Bonaventure University and was also made an NBA ambassador.
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At college, Lanier was a three-time Converse All-America selection (1968–1970), playing for coach Weise at St. Bonaventure.
In 1970, Lanier led the St. Bonaventure to the NCAA Final Four and was named Coach and Athlete Magazine player of the year, and the ECAC Player of the Year.
Sadly, Bob Lanier died on Tuesday (May 10, 2022) evening, aged 73, after an illness, the NBA announced.
In 2019, The Athletic reported that Lanier was being treated for bladder cancer but as of now, it is not known if the illness was related tp the bladder cancer.


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