Last Updated on July 27, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Long before oversized lead guards became common, Dave Bing dictated games with burst, balance, and a knack for getting into the heart of the defence, emerging as an American point guard who starred in the NBA for his shot creation, scoring instincts, and steady command of the ball. Whether accelerating in transition or probing patiently in the half court, Bing blended aggressive offence with composed decision-making, giving his teams a primary creator who could control possessions without slowing the game.

Here’s the detailed profile of Dave Bing:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: David Bing
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born November 24, 1943
  • Hometown: Washington, D.C., USA
  • Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
  • Weight: 180 lbs (82 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 4 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 13 (US)
  • Number: #21, #22
  • Position: Point Guard / Shooting Guard
  • High School: Spingarn High School (Washington, D.C.)
  • College: Syracuse University (1963–1966)
  • NBA Draft:
    • Selected 2nd overall in the 1966 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons
  • Teams Played For:
    • Detroit Pistons (1966–1975)
    • Washington Bullets (1975–1977)
    • Boston Celtics (1977–1978)
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Career Highlights:
    • NBA Rookie of the Year (1967)
    • 7× NBA All-Star (1968, 1969, 1971–1974, 1976)
    • All-Star Game MVP (1976)
    • 3× All-NBA First Team (1968–1971)
    • NBA Scoring Champion (1968)
    • His jersey #21 is retired by the Detroit Pistons.
    • Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990.
    • Named to the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams.
  • Kids: Two daughters (Aleisha and Cassaundra)
  • Siblings: Dave Bing had several siblings, though detailed information is not widely available.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Dave Bing’s player archetype was that of a scoring lead guard: a polished, attack-minded backcourt creator who could run offense, pile up points, and still make smart reads as a passer. Defensively, he was more solid and competitive than disruptive, using quickness, anticipation, and effort to stay attached on the perimeter rather than overwhelming opponents with size or physicality. Offensively, Bing operated as a primary ball-handler and shot creator, thriving off the dribble, getting into the mid-range, pushing tempo, and blending scoring punch with genuine playmaking. At about 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, he was lean, fast, and fluid, with the burst and body control to beat defenders without needing a flashy style. His overall play style was smooth, fundamental, and efficient, built on poise, pace, and shot-making touch, which is a big reason he became one of the most productive guards of his era. (The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame)

Scouting Report

Dave Bing always struck me as a scorer first, but not in the way people often assume. He wasn’t obsessed with difficult shots or endless isolation possessions; he scored because he understood exactly when a defence became vulnerable. His first step forced defenders onto their heels, and once he got a shoulder past the point of attack he was excellent at keeping them there, gliding into pull-up jumpers, finishing through contact or waiting just long enough for the weak-side defender to commit before slipping a simple pass to a teammate. That’s where his playmaking was underrated. He created passing windows through the threat of his own offence rather than by overhandling the ball. The interesting thing is that Bing was just as comfortable attacking before the defence was organised as he was operating in the half court, rarely wasting dribbles and constantly looking to turn a small advantage into an easy basket. Defensively, he had the quickness to stay attached to opposing guards and disrupt the ball early in possessions, although bigger, more physical backcourt players could wear him down over extended stretches, particularly if they repeatedly forced switches or initiated contact on drives. To me, his ideal environment was an offence that surrounded him with intelligent movers rather than stationary spot-up shooters. Give him wings who relocate after penetration and a big who screens with precision before diving hard, and his ability to collapse the first line of defence becomes far more valuable. It’s easy to overlook how smooth everything looked. Bing rarely appeared rushed because he played at a pace that made defenders react to him instead of the other way around, and that calm was one of his greatest strengths. His game shared elements of Tony Parker’s ability to knife into the paint and score efficiently, while there were flashes of Chauncey Billups in the way he balanced scoring with measured decision-making, even if Bing relied much more heavily on burst than power to create his advantages.

Sources:

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame — Dave Bing
NBA.com — Legends profile: Dave Bing
Basketball-Reference — Dave Bing Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more