Robert Jerry "Bob" Lanier, Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played for the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. Lanier was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992. Lanier was born in Buffalo, New York. Under coach Irving J. Sarecki, he played at Buffalo's Bennett High School, where he graduated in 1966. He then played collegiately at St. Bonaventure University, in Allegany, New York. Lanier was a three-time Converse All-America selection , and in 1970, he led St. Bonaventure to the NCAA Final Four, however, he was injured... late in the regional championship game and did not participate in Bona's national semi-final loss to Artis Gilmore-led Jacksonville University. That year he was named Coach and Athlete Magazine player of the year, and the ECAC Player of the Year. Lanier was drafted number one overall by the National Basketball Association's Detroit Pistons and was named to the All-Rookie Team following the 1970-71 season. He starred for Detroit until being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in 1980. In his five seasons with the Bucks, they won the division championship each year.
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