Is Bob Lanier the greatest center in Detroit Pistons history?

Detroit Pistons fans are mourning the loss of Bob  Lanier at age 73,  as he was one of the franchise’s greatest players. But was ‘Dobber’ the greatest center in Pistons history?  Ben Wallace and Bill Laimbeer might also contend for that title.

Detroit fans literally had never experienced a winning season since the Pistons had moved there in 1957 … until Bob Lanier arrived. As the No. 1 overall draft pick in 1970, the St. Bonaventure product quickly helped the Pistons to a 45-37 record, even though he was coming off a serious knee injury.

Lanier would lead the Pistons to three winning seasons during his time there (1970-80), which may not sound like a lot, but it was the only time they had ever won more than they lost in Detroit, until the arrival of Isiah Thomas in the early 80s.

Lanier gave the Pistons what they really never had before – an elite center. Before the advent of the 3-point shot, having a dominant big man was almost mandatory for a team to be considered a championship contender,

All the NBA titles back then were going to the teams with the best big guys: Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Willis Reed, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wes Unseld were gobbling up almost all of the championships.

While the Pistons always seemed to have some sweet shooters, like George Yardley or Dave Bing, they never had the big, hulking center that other teams had – until Lanier.

What Detroit’s management did with who was considered the top center in the NBA outside of Abdul-Jabbar is a whole other story (quick answer: not much).

However, on February 4, 1980, when Lanier was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, there was no question, at the time, they were shipping off the greatest center in Pistons history.

But that was a long time ago. The Pistons have had some long periods of success (although not lately) since Lanier left the team. And they have had some very good centers in those times – like Andre Drummond (kidding!).

But seriously, Detroit won a title with Ben Wallace at center, and he now is in the Hall of Fame. Bill Laimbeer was the center on the ‘Bad Boys’ two NBA championship teams, and he probably should be in the Hall of Fame.

So let’s take a look at all three together, and see who should be considered the greatest center in Pistons history.

Bill Laimbeer greatest Pistons center ever?

If it was simply counting rings, Bill Laimbeer would be the best, as he has two championship rings to Wallace’s one and Lanier’s none. Of course, if winning titles was all that counted, Bill Russell would be considered the greatest NBA player ever, but he is not.

Laimbeer’s physical presence embodied the “Bad Boys’ era. He was 6-foot-11, 245-pounds and not afraid to use his size and bulk,

Besides his physicality, Laimbeer would have fit in with the modern NBA (except he would have received a Flagrant 2 every game and been ejected) as he was mostly an outside shooting center and a great rebounder.

He was not a shot blocker but if the opponent drove to the basket, they knew Laimbeer was waiting for them, and the result would not be good.

The ‘Bad Boys’ had so many scoring options, Laimbeer only averaged 10.6 points on the title teams. He actually had much better stats at the start of his career. Laimbeer knocked in 22.5 points a game when the Pistons lost in the first round to the Atlanta Hawks back in 1986.

Laimbeer averaged over 17 points a game for Detroit early in his career. So he could score when he had the opportunity.

He led the NBA in rebounding in the 1985-86 season and averaged 10.1 rebounds in his 13 seasons with the Pistons.

Comparing Lanier and Laimbeer

In terms of career stats in Detroit, Lanier beats Laimbeer in points (22.7 to 13.5) and rebounds (11.9 to 10.1) and  also in assists (3.3) and blocks (2.0 to 0.9), although Lanier was not a major shotblocker once his knees started bothering him.

Of course, in terms of team success, Laimbeer standing is higher. The Pistons won one playoff series during Lanier’s time there.

Of course, the NBA was different back in Lanier’s time. There was no salary cap, so teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks could go pay everybody as much as they wanted. There was no such thing as trading good players due to having to shed salary.

And the talent was more concentrated. In 1975, when Detroit lost to the Bucks in West semifinals, there were only 18 NBA teams. Now, there are 30. It was harder to move up in the standings as teams did not have to worry about salary caps, and free agency was in its infancy.

When an aging and bad kneed Lanier went to the Bucks, he helped them beat the Larry Bird-led Celtics (which took Laimbeer’s teams a few times to beat) and fell in the Eastern finals to the ‘fo’, fo’ fo’ 76ers of Julius Erving and Moses Malone (giving them their only playoff loss).

So Lanier could be a winner when surrounded by enough good players.

Oh and if doubt Lanier’s toughness compared to Laimbeer, look at this:

Edge: Lanier over Laimbeer

Is Ben Wallace the greatest Pistons center over Bob Lanier?

As all Pistons know, the last time the Detroit Pistons had the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft was 1970, when they selected Lanier. That streak ended after 51 years when the Pistons got the No. 1 last year, with Wallace being the official team representative.

When asked he had brought a good luck charm to the lottery, Wallace replied: “I am the lucky charm.”

A beloved figure in Detroit, Wallace become the first undrafted player to make the Naismith Hall of Fame this year.

Wallace was only 6-foot-9 but he was a two-time rebounding champion and four-time Defensive Player of the Year. He simply used grit and desire to become the center for the 2004 NBA champions and a squad that made at least the Eastern finals five years in a row.

So he could play defense, rebound and block shots better than pretty much any center in the NBA during the 2000s. He is also now an official Hall of Famer, so he has a pretty good case for being called the best Pistons center ever.

However, the one thing he could not do is score. In nine seasons with the Pistons, Wallace averaged just 6.6 points a game. Wallace expended so much energy on offense, he did not have much left to score.

Comparing Wallace and Lanier

Although Wallace was a fantastic rebounder, Lanier actually had a slightly higher career number (11.8 boards to 11.1 for Wallace). Of course, Lanier with a 22.7 points average in Detroit, was a way better offensive player.

And, remember, Lanier was playing at a time with less teams and more emphasis on big guys. He was being guarded by the likes of Abdul-Jabbar, Artis Gilmore, Willis Reed, Dave Cowens and Wes Unseld, all Hall of Famers, on a regular basis in the smaller NBA.

No negativity on Wallace, but Lanier’s scoring prowess combined with rebounding ability puts him over the top.

Edge: Lanier over Wallace

Overall Detroit Pistons center evaluation

The Pistons have had other good centers: RIck Mahorn, Rasheed Wallace saw time there in the ‘Goin to Wok’ time, Greg Monroe and, yes, Andre Drummond.

But Wallace, Laimbeer and Lanier stand above the rest.

However, Lanier has a higher scoring and rebounding average than either. He was an eight time All-Star and put into the Hall of Fame fairly quickly.

RIP Bob Lanier, you are still the greatest center in Detroit Pistons history.