Syracuse basketball: All-time starting 5 lineup

LOUISVILLE, KY - FEBRUARY 19: Head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange looks on during a game against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC YUM! Center on February 19, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville defeated Syracuse 90-66. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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4. G Dave Bing (1963-1966)

Next up in our starting lineup is one of Syracuse’s most prolific guards of all time, Dave Bing. A one-time roommate of Jim Boeheim when he played at Syracuse, Bing provided an early look at what today’s modern guard would look like.

Bing played primarily as a point guard with Syracuse but still was a prolific scorer, leading the Orangemen in points per game as a sophomore (22.2 points per game), junior (23.2 ppg) and senior (28.4 ppg). During his senior season, Bing became Syracuse’s first All-American in 39 years and was named the school’s athlete of the year after finishing fifth in the nation in scoring.

Following his tremendous Syracuse career Bing turned pro, getting picked second overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 1966 NBA Draft. Bing was an outstanding NBA player, winning the Rookie of the Year award for Detroit and making seven All-Star teams in a 12-year career.

The school honored Bing by retiring his no. 22 jersey, a feat that was well-deserved since Bing was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990. Bing has also become quite a well-rounded individual off the court, starting several successful business ventures and serving as the mayor of Detroit from 2009-2013.

As a forerunner to many of the great Syracuse players to come Bing simply had to be on this team. Bing has the ability to play off the ball in this group, adding to his scoring potential, but Bing can also run the point if necessary.