Last Updated on April 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here are the details for Bob Lanier:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Robert Jerry Lanier Jr.
  • Nickname: “Dobber”, “Bob-A-Dob”, “Moses”
  • Nationality: American (en.wikipedia.org)
  • Date of Birth: September 10, 1948
  • Hometown: Buffalo, New York, USA (en.wikipedia.org)
  • Height: 6 ft 11 in (211 cm)
  • Weight: 250 lb (113 kg)
  • Wingspan: Not officially recorded
  • Shoe Size: Size 22 (nba.com)
  • Jersey Number:
    • #31 — St. Bonaventure
    • #16 — Detroit Pistons
    • #16 — Milwaukee Bucks
  • Position: Center
  • High School: Bennett High School (Buffalo, New York) (basketball-reference.com)
  • College: St. Bonaventure (1967–1970) (en.wikipedia.org)
  • NBA Draft: Detroit Pistons — 1970 — 1st overall pick (basketball-reference.com)
  • Player Archetype: Power scoring center with interior touch (nba.com)
  • Primary Offensive Role: High-usage low-post scoring hub (nba.com)
  • Defensive Role: Interior anchor and rebounder (en.wikipedia.org)
  • Play Style: Left-handed post scorer with hook shot and mid-range touch (nba.com)
  • Handedness / Shooting Hand: Left-handed (nba.com)
  • Athletic Profile: Strong, wide-bodied center; mobility impacted by knee issues (nba.com)
  • Recruiting Status: Major college recruit and St. Bonaventure centerpiece (gobonnies.com)
  • Draft Status Detail: Consensus No. 1 overall selection in 1970 (basketball-reference.com)
  • Injury Status Category: Career impacted by chronic knee injuries (nba.com)
  • Career Stage: Retired Hall of Fame center (en.wikipedia.org)
  • Comparison Style: Traditional power scoring center with touch (nba.com)
  • Teams Played For:
    • Detroit Pistons (1970–1980)
    • Milwaukee Bucks (1980–1984)
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Parents: Robert Sr. and Nannette Lanier (en.wikipedia.org)
  • Children: Khalia Lanier (nba.com)
  • Siblings: Not widely documented
  • Athlete Relatives: Khalia Lanier — collegiate volleyball (nba.com)
  • Retirement Age: 36
  • Retirement Year: 1984

Player Archetype / Play Style

Bob Lanier’s player archetype was a power scoring center who operated as a high-usage low-post hub, blending physical interior scoring with soft left-handed touch while anchoring the defense as a paint protector and rebounder. At 6-11 and around 250 pounds with a massive frame and famously large feet, he relied on strength, balance, and positioning to create deep seals and finish with sweeping hooks, short turnarounds, and face-up mid-range jumpers. Defensively, he played a traditional interior role, using size and anticipation to control space rather than explosive verticality. His overall play style was methodical and physical, built around half-court offense, interior efficiency, and skilled touch that allowed him to dominate inside despite knee injuries that reduced mobility later in his career.

Sources:
Basketball Reference — Bob Lanier
NBA.com — History: NBA legend Bob Lanier
Wikipedia — Bob Lanier
St. Bonaventure Athletics — Bob Lanier Hall of Fame Profile