Dave Bing

Lore & Background

After starring at Syracuse University, Bing played 12 seasons in the NBA as a point guard for the Detroit Pistons (1966–1975), Washington Bullets (1975–1977) and Boston Celtics (1977–78). He averaged over 20 points and six assists per game, made seven NBA All-Star Game appearances, and won the All-Star Game MVP in 1976. The Pistons retired his #21 jersey. He was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and named to the NBA 50th and 75th Anniversary All-Time Teams. Bing founded Bing Steel, which earned him the National Minority Small Business Person of the Year award in 1984; it grew into the Bing Group. He entered Detroit politics in 2008, won the mayoral primary, defeated Interim Mayor Kenneth Cockrel Jr., and was sworn in as mayor in May 2009. He was re-elected to a full term later that year. In 2013, he lost most of his power to emergency manager Kevyn Orr, had health problems and approval ratings as low as 14%, did not seek re-election, and was succeeded by Mike Duggan. Bing was born November 24, 1943, in Washington, D.C., to mother Juanita and father Hasker. He suffered a traumatic eye injury at age five. He played basketball and baseball at Spingarn High School, choosing basketball for a college scholarship. At Syracuse, he wore No. 22, led the Orangemen in scoring for three years, was a consensus All-American in 1966, and averaged 24.8 points and 10.3 rebounds in his varsity career. He was selected 2nd overall in the 1966 NBA draft by the Pistons, won Rookie of the Year in 1967, led the NBA in scoring in 1968, and recorded a triple-double on November 23, 1968. He sat out 2½ months of the 1971–72 season due to a detached retina. He played in six All-Star Games with the Pistons and was All-NBA First Team in 1968 and 1971. With the Bullets, he was an All-Star in 1976 and won the game's MVP. He played his final season with the Celtics, averaging 13.6 points. Overall, he averaged 20.3 points, 6.0 assists, and 3.8 rebounds in 901 games. In 1992, he co-founded the National Basketball Retired Players Association and continues to serve on its board. After retiring, he worked at Paragon Steel, then opened Bing Steel in 1980. He was an early political supporter of Kwame Kilpatrick.

In Their Own Story

The clock ticked down to single digits, the Pistons trailing by two points. Bing dribbled at the top of the key, eyes locked on the rim. He drove past a defender, spun back toward the baseline, and released a jumper that seemed to hang in the air forever. The net swished as the buzzer sounded. Silence followed, then erupted into roar.

Reader's Guide

Dave Bing is a Hall of Fame point guard who played for the Detroit Pistons, Washington Bullets, and Boston Celtics. He was the 1967 Rookie of the Year, led the NBA in scoring in 1968, and was a seven-time All-Star. After basketball, he became a successful businessman and served as mayor of Detroit from 2009 to 2014.

Did You Know?

• Bing won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 1967.
• He led the NBA in scoring in 1968 with 2,142 points (27.1 points per game).
• Bing recorded a triple-double of 39 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists on November 23, 1968.
• He co-founded the National Basketball Retired Players Association in 1992.
• Bing was awarded the National Minority Small Business Person of the Year by President Ronald Reagan in 1984.

The Foundation: Overcoming Early Adversity

At age five, an accident involving a makeshift hobby horse left him with a rusty nail injury to his left eye; lacking funds for surgery, the wound healed naturally but permanently diminished his vision. His father, a bricklayer, also suffered a traumatic head injury from a falling brick, prompting young Bing to vow never to work in construction. Despite being told he was too small for basketball and initially favoring baseball, he found a mentor in Spingarn High School coach William Roundtree. Encouraged by the path of Elgin Baylor, Bing chose basketball over his preferred sport to secure a college scholarship.

Syracuse Stardom and Political Connections

Bing's collegiate tenure at Syracuse University cemented his reputation as an elite scorer. Wearing number 22 as a tribute to Elgin Baylor, he led the Orangemen in scoring for three consecutive years, culminating in a senior campaign where he averaged 28.4 points per game and finished fifth nationally. He became Syracuse's first consensus All-American in nearly four decades, averaging 24.8 points and 10.3 rebounds over his varsity career. Beyond the court, Bing shared living quarters with future head coach Jim Boeheim and crossed paths with Joe Biden, then a law student who would later ascend to the presidency. These formative years showcased not only his athletic dominance but also his ability to navigate diverse social circles, laying the groundwork for his future roles in business and public service.

NBA Dominance and Hall of Fame Legacy

His partnership with Jimmy Walker was so potent that fans joked they could only use one ball at a time. A standout moment occurred in 1968 when he recorded a triple-double of 39 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists. Over his twelve-season career, which included stints with the Washington Bullets and Boston Celtics, he averaged over 20 points and six assists per game. His excellence earned him seven All-Star selections, the 1976 All-Star Game MVP award, and eventual enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, alongside selection to both the NBA's 50th and 75th Anniversary All-Time Teams.

Business Acumen and Mayoral Service

Transitioning from athletics to entrepreneurship, Bing founded Bing Steel, which grew into the multimillion-dollar Bing Group, one of Michigan's largest steel conglomerates. His business success was recognized with the National Minority Small Business Person of the Year award in 1984. In 2008, he entered politics as a Democrat to finish the term of Kwame Kilpatrick, who resigned amid corruption scandals. After winning the primary and defeating Interim Mayor Kenneth Cockrel Jr., Bing was sworn in as Detroit's 74th mayor in May 2009 and later re-elected for a full term. However, his tenure faced significant hurdles; by 2013, emergency manager Kevyn Orr stripped him of most powers amidst the city's financial crisis. Plagued by health issues and low approval ratings, Bing chose not to seek re-election, eventually being succeeded by Mike Duggan.