Dave Bing, known for his graceful and fluid multi-faceted game, made a big splash when he joined the NBA in 1967. His debut was splendid: 1,601 points, a 20.0 per game average and Rookie of the Year honors hands down. Bing's debut shouldn't have been a big surprise. As a senior at Syracuse University, he was the nation's fifth leading scorer (28.4 ppg) and the Orangemen's first consensus All-America. Bing led the Orangemen in scoring three straight years and primed himself for a long and prosperous NBA career. As a first round draft pick for Hall of Famer Dave DeBusschere, player/coach of the Detroit Pistons, Bing's ability as a playmaker, coupled with his scoring aptitude, made him a backcourt whiz and an on-the-court leader. In 1968, Bing used his sweet shooting touch to lead the NBA in scoring with 2,142 points, a 27.1 per game average. In his 12-year NBA career, Bing averaged more than 20 points a game seven times. In 1972, a detached retina threatened to end his playing career, but Bing persevered, continuing his career with Detroit and Washington and ending it in Boston with the Celtics. Bing's career was fundamental, not excessively flashy, and the game's critics never failed to notice. He was an All-NBA First Team selection in 1968 and 1971, and named to the Second Team in 1974. A seven-time All-Star Game selection, Bing won MVP honors in the 1976 game after scoring 16 points with four assists. As founder of Bing Steel, he was named the "National Small Business Person of the Year" and "National Minority Supplier of the Year" in 1984. His number 21 jersey was retired by Detroit, and at the 1990 NBA All-Star Game, he received the Schick Achievement Award for his work after his basketball career.
