The Index · Legend
Bob LanierDetroit Pistons · #16
Bob Lanier is a retired center best known with the Detroit Pistons. Skilled two-way center. Career averages: 20.1 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
Balladex Impact · 71
B
⬢ Rare
Detroit Pistons · #16 · Center
Bob Lanier
Season avg13.6 pts · 6.3 reb · 2.6 ast · .572 fg
Career avg20.1 pts · 10.1 reb · 3.1 ast · .517 fg
IMPACTBalladex Impact 71 — Star starter tierINDEXBob Lanier · Detroit PistonsIMPACTBalladex Impact 71 — Star starter tierINDEXBob Lanier · Detroit Pistons
Scouting report
Bob Lanier — the report card
Read his whole game at a glance, then dive into any skill. Grades from the DNA model + real production.
C+
Hall of Famer · center · Impact 71
Bob Lanier is a retired center best known with the Detroit Pistons. Skilled two-way center. Career averages: 20.1 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.1 assist
C-
OffenseC-
DefenseC-
Feel / IQC-
Playmaking
Below average creator
tap for the data ↓
B
Scoring
Strong scorer
tap for the data ↓
C+
Rebounding
Average on the glass
tap for the data ↓
F
3PT / spacing
Below average spacing
tap for the data ↓
D
Perimeter D
Below average on the perimeter
tap for the data ↓
C
Paint / rim D
Average at the rim
tap for the data ↓
C
Clutch
Average late
tap for the data ↓
C+
Athleticism
Average tools
tap for the data ↓
C-
Basketball IQ
Reads the game
tap for the data ↓
A+
Durability
Availability
tap for the data ↓
Act II
Where Bob Lanier stands
Live ladders from the Balladex models, and what he's chasing. Rankings recompute nightly from real production, accolades, and search demand.
The laddersmodel · recomputes nightly
✦ Balladex Consensus: Star starter tier — a blend of Impact, production and résumé.
Futures & chases
—MVP odds
71Impact index
350Star score
Career scoring average20.1 ppg
Seasons in the index15
Accolades on file2
8× NBA All-Star · HOF Hall of Fame
Stat explorer
Bob Lanier — every number, three levels deep
Headline → metric → the raw history behind it. Real career data; tracking-only metrics labeled.
B
Scoring
13.6 PPG
drill in ↓
C-
Playmaking
2.6 APG
drill in ↓
C+
Rebounding
6.3 RPG
drill in ↓
F
Shooting
.000 3P%
drill in ↓
The engine
How the model sees Bob Lanier
Projection = per-minute rate × projected minutes. Rates are recency- and health-weighted, aged along a per-stat curve, and adjusted for live usage/role. No black box — every number shows its work.
Projected 1984-85 75% confidence
14.0
pts
12.1–15.9
6.5
reb
5.6–7.4
2.7
ast
2.0–3.4
28.5
min
proj
61
gp
health
.547
fg%
~base
.113
3p%
~base
Bands widen as confidence drops. Derived live from the real 15-season history below.
What moves the points line vs last season
Last season 13.6 → projected 14.0 PPG
Minutes / role
+0.3
Development (his trend)
-0.2
Age curve
+0.0
Live context
+0.3
Net vs last season+0.4 PPG
Everything it reads
📊
15 seasons of per-minute rates
every box line, minutes-normalized
real
⚖
Recency × games-played weight
recent, healthy seasons anchor the baseline
auto
📈
Weighted least-squares trend
his own trajectory, read season over season
+dev
🕰
Per-stat aging curves
age — — applied per stat
curve
🔌
Live role context
usage & role shifts fold in when the feed is present
+ctx
🏥
Durability signal
GP last 3: 74 / 39 / 72 → games & confidence
health
The real history it trains onsource: Basketball-Reference · verified
Bob Lanier career stats, season by season
| Season | GP | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970-71 | 82 | 24.6 | 15.6 | 8.1 | 1.8 | .455 | |
| 1971-72 | 80 | 38.7 | 25.7 | 14.2 | 3.1 | .493 | |
| 1972-73 | 81 | 38.9 | 23.8 | 14.9 | 3.2 | .490 | |
| 1973-74 | 81 | 37.6 | 22.5 | 13.3 | 4.2 | .504 | |
| 1974-75 | 76 | 39.3 | 24.0 | 12.0 | 4.6 | .510 | |
| 1975-76 | 64 | 36.9 | 21.3 | 11.7 | 3.4 | .532 | |
| 1976-77 | 64 | 38.2 | 25.3 | 11.6 | 3.3 | .534 | |
| 1977-78 | 63 | 36.7 | 24.5 | 11.3 | 3.4 | .537 | |
| 1978-79 | 53 | 34.6 | 23.6 | 9.3 | 2.6 | .515 | |
| 1979-80 (Detroit) | 37 | 37.6 | 21.7 | 10.1 | 3.3 | .546 | .000 |
| 1979-80 (Milwaukee) | 26 | 28.4 | 15.7 | 6.9 | 2.4 | .519 | 1.000 |
| 1980-81 | 67 | 26.2 | 14.3 | 6.2 | 2.7 | .525 | 1.000 |
| 1981-82 | 74 | 26.8 | 13.5 | 5.2 | 3.0 | .558 | .000 |
| 1982-83 | 39 | 25.1 | 10.7 | 5.1 | 2.7 | .491 | .000 |
| 1983-84 | 72 | 27.9 | 13.6 | 6.3 | 2.6 | .572 | .000 |
| Career | 959 | 33.5 | 20.1 | 10.1 | 3.1 |
Source: Basketball-Reference. Backtested against completed player-seasons in the index. The same engine powers Tonight's projection, EraLab, and the role simulator — one model, asked different questions. Illustrative.
Act III
The Lab
Every number, live and interactive. Real career data; models labeled.
Gold = MVP / Championship season · hover any bar. Real per-game data; per-36 & totals derived.
EraLab · the stat time machinenovel
Re-express a season in today's pace-and-space.
—raw PPG
→
—in 2026 pace
why
Player DNA + compssimilarity model
Scoring map · clickable zonesShotChart
Team-tinted. Modeled where tracking data is absent.
Role simulatorpowered by GM engine
Change the roster around him — his projection updates live.
Projected line shifts to — usage , assists rise as primary initiator. Title odds . Illustrative.
Context
Are the Detroit Pistons built to win?
Team projection rolled up from the roster + last-season baselines — and what it means for his role.
64–18proj record
#1conf seed
+9net rtg
117.6off rtg
108.6def rtg
99%playoff odds
Roster delta · what changed
Aggressive hedge & help — Hedges hard on ball screens and rotates aggressive help from the weak side. Core trending improving. Defensive anchors: Ausar Thompson, Javonte Green.
How his role moves
Projected 64–18, 1st in the East. Real team projection from the roster + last-season baselines. His usage, minutes and creation load move with roster health.
Balladex Impact
71 of 99
Star starter tier.
Rarity
◆ Rare
Rank #136 of 715 in NBA.
Résumé
2 accolades
8× NBA All-Star · HOF Hall of Fame
Act IV
The Ballad of Bob Lanier
Birth to now — the making of a legend, narrated and scored.
Detroit Pistons
Turning pro
Drafted 1970 as a Center.
true
Bob Lanier is a retired Hall of Famer. Skilled two-way center.
Chapter
He averaged 20.1 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists over his career.
Where things stand
A Hall of Famer and Detroit Pistons name.
▶
▶
Lanier's story
The documentary, narrated
Highlights
Off the court
Measurables ESPN
- Height
- 6' 11"
- Weight
- 256 lbs
- College
- St. Bonaventure
- Experience
- Rookie
- NBA debut
- 1970
- Draft
- 1970
- Jersey
- #16
Legacy
Skilled two-way center.
In the news ESPN
2026 NBA buzz: Latest free agency and trade updates
We're tracking deals, trades and buzz across the NBA, including the latest on Jonathan Kuminga.
Timberwolves trade 3-and-D wing Josh Green to Jazz
The Timberwolves have traded Josh Green and cash to the Jazz for Cody Williams and John Konchar.
Eala, Clarkson: It's been a big year for the Philippines
"When you got Filipino blood, you take the whole country with you, the whole pride... I don't think any other nationality does it the same." Alex Eala and Jordan Clarkson discuss the importance of representing the Philippines.
'So proud of you': Jordan Clarkson meets Alex Eala at the US Open
Alex Eala and Jordan Clarkson, among the brightest Filipino sports stars, get together at the US Open in New York to share their stories of success and heritage.
Knicks fan reflects on viral Finals Game 4 win probability graph tattoo
The Knicks pulled off the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history in Game 4 against the Spurs earlier this summer, and one fan paid tribute with some distinctive ink.
'The Hoop Collective': Episodes of Brian Windhorst's NBA podcast
Here are the top highlights from Brian Windhorst's "The Hoop Collective" podcast, from breaking news to the latest intel and reaction from around the NBA.
The person
A retired Hall of Famer and Detroit Pistons name.
Hall of Fame
Detroit Pistons
Standout
Verified profiles & sources
FAQ
Bob Lanier — frequently asked
The questions people ask most about Bob Lanier, answered.
What were Bob Lanier's career averages?
Bob Lanier averaged 20.1 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
Is Bob Lanier retired?
Yes — Bob Lanier is a retired center and a Hall of Famer.
Bob Lanier career stats & accolades are real, and team projections and recent-game home/away splits are computed from real production. DNA ratings, grades, tonight's projection, ladders, live win probability and simulator outputs are Balladex model output. Not affiliated with the NBA.
