Bob Lanier

Bob Lanier

Class of 1966

Sport(s): Basketball

Year Inducted: 2002

Bob Lanier was an outstanding basketball player. Leading Bennett in scoring in his junior and senior years, he made first team All High in each of those years. In addition, he was named to the All-WNY first team during his senior year. Lanier led all Yale Cup scorers his senior year, averaging 25 points per game, as was the main man as Bennett captured the Yale Cup and the Board of Education Playoff Trophy. Bennett has won only 9 Yale Cups in its 77 year history, and there is little doubt they would not have won the city championship without his superb scoring and defensive skills.

His storied basketball career after graduating from Bennett is synonymous with success. Highlights include leading St. Bonaventure University to the 1970 Final Four, as well as being named first team AllAmerica. A high achieving 14 year long professional career in the NBA was culminated with is induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts on May 11, 1992.

Bob Lanier’s off-court recognition rivaled his on-court production. He was the 1974 recipient of the Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award by the Professional Basketball Writers’ Association. He was presented the Jackie Robinson Award in 1981 by the YMCA of Buffalo and Erie County, and he is the former president of the NBA Players’ Association.