Last Updated on July 28, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Mike Bantom was a versatile ABA and NBA forward whose all-around game combined scoring, rebounding, and defensive flexibility across successful stints with the Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers, and New York Knicks. His profile highlights a multi-positional forward archetype, high-IQ team play, transition offense, and dependable two-way production throughout the 1970s and early 1980s.

Here’s the detailed profile of Mike Bantom:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Michael Allen Bantom
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born December 3, 1951
  • Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
  • Height: 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
  • Weight: 200 lbs (91 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 ft 10 in
  • Shoe Size: Size 16 (US)
  • Number: #44, #34, #42 (varied across teams)
  • Position: Power Forward / Center
  • High School: Roman Catholic High School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • College: Saint Joseph’s University (1969–1973)
  • NBA Draft: Selected 8th overall in the 1973 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns
  • Teams Played For:
    • Phoenix Suns (1973–1975)
    • Seattle SuperSonics (1975)
    • New York Nets (1976)
    • Indiana Pacers (1976–1977)
    • Philadelphia 76ers (1977–1982)
    • San Antonio Spurs (1982)
    • Played professionally in Italy from 1982–1989 (Virtus Bologna, Fortitudo Bologna)
  • Championship Rings: No NBA Championships
  • Kids: Information on children is not widely available.
  • Siblings: Information on siblings is not widely available.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Mike Bantom’s player archetype was that of a versatile combo forward, the kind of long, mobile frontcourt player who could operate at either small forward or power forward and help a team with scoring, rebounding, and positional flexibility. At 6-foot-9 and 200 pounds, he had lean size for the era, which suited a two-way role built more on mobility, length, and activity than brute force. Defensively, he projected as a multi-positional forward who could match up across the front line, rebound his area, and use his length to bother shots and passing lanes. Offensively, Bantom looked most comfortable as a complementary scorer rather than a ball-dominant creator, fitting as a face-up forward and interior finisher who could produce within the flow of the offense while still carrying meaningful scoring responsibility, as reflected by his high-level college production. In full, his play style reads as that of an athletic, adaptable forward whose value came from all-around frontcourt play, steady secondary offense, and the ability to fill multiple roles without needing the game built entirely around him.

Scouting Report

Mike Bantom always struck me as the sort of forward coaches trusted because he understood how possessions evolved rather than simply reacting to them. He wasn’t a player who demanded touches, but he quietly made offensive sets cleaner through intelligent spacing, timely cuts and a willingness to keep the ball moving until the defence finally bent. What stands out is how comfortable he was attacking after the first advantage had already been created. If a guard collapsed the paint, Bantom instinctively filled the vacant space, slipping behind rotating defenders for layups or settling into the mid-range where he could shoot in rhythm without disrupting the offence. He could handle the ball well enough to push in transition or attack a scrambling closeout, though asking him to break down a settled defence possession after possession wasn’t really where his value lay. Defensively, he covered ground with purpose. He anticipated weak-side rotations, tagged rollers before recovering to his own assignment and used his length to contest without constantly leaving his feet. The interesting thing is that he often defended two actions within the same possession, helping just enough to discourage penetration before arriving back under control to challenge the next pass. That discipline mattered. The trade-off was that he lacked the overwhelming strength to consistently battle the biggest power forwards inside, while explosive perimeter scorers could occasionally force him into recovery situations where his solid, rather than exceptional, footspeed became apparent. To me, Bantom fit best in a balanced offence built around movement and shared responsibility, where every player was expected to make the extra pass and defend multiple actions without monopolising the ball. He reminds me of Bob Gross in the understated way he connected lineups through positioning and decision-making, while there were elements of Robert Reid in his ability to contribute across the floor without needing a high-usage role. Players like Bantom rarely dominate the conversation after a game, but if you rewatch the film, you keep noticing how many possessions quietly improved because he made the simple choice at exactly the right moment.

Sources:

Basketball-Reference — Mike Bantom Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
Saint Joseph’s University Athletics — Mike Bantom – 2013-14 – Saint Joseph’s University Athletics
Saint Joseph’s University Athletics — GAME DAY FEATURE: Jack McKinney