Hoops Habit
Fansided

50 greatest NBA players to never win a championship

By Maxwell Ogden

PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 01: Allen Iverson #3 of the Philadelphia 76ers expresses emotion after making a basket during their game against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 1, 2005 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Bucks won 117-108 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 01: Allen Iverson #3 of the Philadelphia 76ers expresses emotion after making a basket during their game against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 1, 2005 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Bucks won 117-108 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Bob Lanier
Bob Lanier (Photo by Henry S. Dziekan III/Getty Images) /

21. Bob Lanier

  • Years Active: 1970 to 1984
  • Teams Played For: Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks
  • Conference Finals: 2

When Bob Lanier landed with the Detroit Pistons, Dave Bing had been keeping the franchise on life support. The team made the Playoffs in 1967-68, Bing’s second season in the NBA, but went all the way through 1972-73 without reaching the postseason again.

Thankfully, Lanier was selected by the Pistons at No. 1 overall in the 1970 NBA Draft and had Detroit playing postseason basketball again within four years of being with the organization.

Lanier was named to the All-Rookie First Team in 1970-71 and made his first of eight All-Star Game appearances in 1971-72. He became a nightly double-double in his second season when he averaged 25.7 points and 14.2 rebounds per game.

It was in year four, however, that Detroit began to win—and one can easily see why.

Lanier evolved as a passer, setting the table for his teammates and making the game easier for Bing as the point guard. Lanier would finish that season with averages of 22.5 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 3.0 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game on 50.4 percent shooting from the field.

Lanier even recorded a mark of 79.7 percent at the free throw line, which illustrates the range he was capable of shooting from.

Lanier’s modern game was transcending his era, as he helped the Pistons make four consecutive postseason appearances between 1973-74 and 1976-77. It was the team’s longest string of postseason success since the early 1960s.

In 1975-76, Bing made his claim to fame when he led the Pistons past the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs. It marked Detroit’s first postseason series victory since 1961-62—an unsettling 14 years!

Lanier would actually go on to finish his career with the Bucks, providing steady production, an All-Star season, and a veteran presence for a team that upset the Boston Celtics in 1983 and reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 1984.

Had there been an All-NBA Third Team as Lanier crossed paths with the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, and Willis Reed, his résumé would likely be even greater.