Bob Lanier - The Dobber

[keithmoon29]

More than any athlete EVER, I wonder what BIG BOB would have been, had he had health on his side. He had something like 6 or 7 MAJOR operations on EACH knee in 12 years. They claimed he was basically playing at about half the speed and agility he had in college prior to his first huge injury in the NCAA tourney. St. Bony was expected by many to win it all with a healthy Lanier. Everyone wanted to see Bob vs Walton and Jabbar. He did just fine, but we'll never really know what COULD HAVE BEEN?

[DJDStebb716]

Even though I am a Bonaventure student and love Lanier, Shaq would've dominated any of the big men back then.

[radovlasic12]

ok, lets be honest to ourselves 70's weren't great times for the NBA. viewer interest was low until bird and magic came along, but that does not, by any means, mean there weren't great players bacl then. I actually kinda think it was bliss for people who like watching dominant big men : jabbar, chamberlain(tho he was in his twilight), willis reed, bill walton, mcadoo... yeah, laimbeer was one of 'em. his fundamentals excelled for his era, and that left-hand is just irresistable...

[Ariamaluum]

@radovlasic12. I think lack of viewership made better players because sometimes playing when the camera is on is harder. Many of them strived to get on camera. Look at the WNBA.

[radovlasic12]

@Ariamaluum

i would think that after a while you would get used to it. fair point tho, never really thought about that one, but still, pro hoops is intended as a show business of sorts, and whats he point if noone were watching, right?

[Ariamaluum]

@radovlasic12. What I mean to be on TV on a Saturday or Sunday, you really had to have marquee players or teams. You look at the WNBA today, that is what the NBA had to go through. The man who started this for the NBA was Ted Turner. He was the one who started to show regular season games or Tuesday's and Thursday's of first Larry Bird and a bit of Isiah Thomas but he broke the mold by showing games of Michael Jordan who didn't win a championship, yet on weekdays. Jordan could handle it. Others?

[bertmustin]

Is battles with Roger Murdock were epic.

[elfirrepins]

The MUSIC!

[rmartin232]

ok what exactly does dobber mean in america? because its not a particularly flattering word here in scotland lmao (basically means wanker lol)

[warheart999]

Big Bad Bob Lanier!

i didn't know he writes with his right hand!

but myself being a lefty who shoots with his right it's pretty cool!

[CrankyOldster]

Great video. Thanks from a Pistons fan for the awesome memories of #16. Lanier had the second-deadliest hook shot in the NBA after KAJ, and the best offensive repertoire of ANY center. From the right wing he'd bedevil opponents with a choice of moves that was ahead of its time - faceup J, upfake and drive, or that sweeping hook after crashing his 265 pounds across the lane like a rampaging buffalo. 80% from the stripe, and an excellent passer, too.

[teenonator]

Always remember a St Bonaventure - Purdue game where Rick Mount put up about 40, but Big Bob was like 15 of 16 from the field, mostly from the perimeter.

[aceirmada]

Another guy who writes right-handed but shoots/throws left-handed. Barry Bonds, Phil Simms and Andre Dawson also do this (write with opposite hand from their dominant hand). I wonder if this is more common among elite athletes than in the rest of society.

[asscopper]

I am a student at bonaventure where hes from

[Brookssee821]

Lanier was a good big man. Opt10opt, I think Shaq could handle all of the big men you said except maybe Jabbar. Anyway it would be interesting.

[ddenuci]

I watched quite a few Big Bob games. I don't think I ever saw this guy dunk. Wasn't his style.

[ddenuci]

The NBA had a great competion back in the early '70s, where they would have one player from each team compete in a one-on-one game. Believe it was a single elimination tournament. The NBA would show the taped one-on-one tournament games during their Sunday game of the week. It was sponsered by Vitalis. I believe they only did it for two years. Anyway, Big Bob won it one of those years, defeating JoJo White of the celtics in the finals. The NBA should bring back this tournament.

[vombat16]

i didnt know lanier had hook shot.

[opt10opt]

Oh yea Man Lanier had a sweet hook shot . Would have loved to see how Shaq would have done against guys like Lanier, Gilmore, Unseld , Walton, Jabbar and others.I dont think he would have been as dominant as he was.