Bob Lanier, the 6-foot-11 center with the famous size 22 shoe, led St. Bonaventure to new heights.
In 1967-68, Lanier’s first varsity season, he and his teammates put together an undefeated regular season. The run lasted until the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament and a matchup with North Carolina. Still, St. Bonaventure finished 23-2. Lanier averaged 26.2 points and 15.6 rebounds per game.
His junior season, Lanier averaged 27.2 points and 15.5 rebounds per outing. In 1969-70, Lanier capped his career with an unparalleled year. Even while being double- and triple-teamed, Lanier averaged 29 points and 16 rebounds per game. Led by its dominant center, St. Bonaventure earned a No. 1 national ranking and made it to the NCAA Final Four. Unfortunately, the season ended in heartbreak as Lanier suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Regional Final game against Villanova.
A consensus All-American twice (1969, 1970), Lanier finished his career as the St. Bonaventure record holder in seven categories: career scoring (2,067 points); career rebounding (1,180); single-game scoring (51 points vs. Seton Hall); single-game rebounding (27 vs. Loyola, Md.); single-season rebounding (416); single-season shooting percentage (.586); and average rebounds in one season (16) in 1969-1970.
He was the No. 1 pick of the 1970 NBA Draft, selected by the Detroit Pistons and an eight-time NBA All-Star, scoring over 19,000 career points.
Lanier was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.
In his 14 NBA seasons with the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks, Lanier averaged 20.1 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.1 steals while shooting 51.4 percent from the field.
In Bona's Centennial Season, he was selected as a member of the Bonnies All-Time Team.
Lanier passed away in 2022. To read his Bonaventure memorial, click here.
