This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 9/9/2007.
Wearing an incredible size 22 on the court, Lanier joked at his retirement that he only stepped down because the Bucks had found another player that could literally fill his shoes - Alton Lister also "stepped in" at size 22. Lanier was actually preceded into the Hall of Fame by a bronzed pair of his shoes, the biggest the NBA had ever seen. Lanier was a three-time Converse All-America selection (1968-1970), and in 1970, he led St. Bonaventure to the NCAA Final Four. He was drafted number one overall by the Pistons and was named to the All-Rookie Team in 1971. He starred for Detroit until being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in 1980, and in his five seasons there the Bucks won the division championship each year. In his 14 NBA seasons, Lanier averaged 20.1 ppg and 10.1 rebounds per game, playing in eight All-Star Games; he was the MVP of the 1974 contest. Admired for his solid work habits and a deadly hook shot, he excelled in an era of outstanding centers such as Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Willis Reed, Dave Cowens and Bill Walton. Lanier was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992 and had his #16 jersey retired by both the Pistons and the Bucks. On the left front tail of the jersey is the "Sand-Knit" manufacturer's "EAST SIDE SPTG. GDS." tag. Inside the rear collar is a second "Sand-Knit" manufacturers tag. Adjacent is a size "46" flag tag. Across the front of the jersey is "EAST" in blue vinyl lettering. Below that is the player number "16" in red vinyl lettering. Across the back is the player name "LANIER" in white vinyl lettering. Below on the back is the player number "16" in blue vinyl lettering. On the back waistband of the shorts is the "Eastside Sporting Goods" distributors tag. Below that is the "Sand-Knit" manufacturer's tag. Also, a wash instructions tag and a size 38 flag tag. The jersey and shorts show game-use and appear to have no alterations of any kind.