Over and Back: The life and career of Bob Lanier

Mar 1978; Detroit, MI, USA; FILE PHOTO; Detroit Pistons center Bob Lanier (16) in action during the 1978 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1978; Detroit, MI, USA; FILE PHOTO; Detroit Pistons center Bob Lanier (16) in action during the 1978 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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On today’s episode, the Over and Back Classic NBA Podcast discusses the life and career of Detroit Pistons legend Bob Lanier.

RIP to Bob Lanier, who passed away on May 10, 2022, at the age of  73.

“Dobber” was an iconic player on and off the court, combining his rough and tumble inside game with a silky smooth outside jumper. Lanier helped re-legitimize the Detroit Pistons franchise and later was brought in as the last piece to help the upstart Milwaukee Bucks get over the hump.

Ultimately, Lanier would never win an NBA Championship but he was an eight-time All-Star, 1984 NBA All-Star Game MVP and his No. 16 was retired by both the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons.

In this episode, we begin with an overview of Lanier’s career, beginning with his illustrious college career at St. Bonaventure, entering the NBA injured, finally helping the Detroit Pistons return to the postseason, continually being overshadowed by Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and others, the remainder of his record-breaking Pistons career, his eventual trade to the Milwaukee Bucks and, finally, his last few years in the league helping lead Milwaukee to several playoff runs but no titles.

In the last half of the show, we cover a handful of notable games in Lanier’s career including record-breaking performances, career-highs, his first and last games with the Pistons & more.

Lastly, we’ll look at a few anecdotes, fun trivia & his important and prolific post-playing career, his tenure as president of the NBA Player’s Union, his work with NBA Cares and more.

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