Last Updated on April 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

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.

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