Legends of Basketball Official Website

Dave Bing

Founder

One of the 50 Greatest NBA Players of All-Time, Dave Bing has enjoyed a number of honors, including Rookie of the Year and NBA All-Star MVP. However, Bing’s passion for the game of basketball started in 1959 at Spingarn High School in Washington D.C.

After accumulating numerous high school awards, the All-American began his collegiate career at Syracuse University in 1962. Turning the school into the Big East Powerhouse it is today, he led the Orange in scoring as a sophomore, junior and senior. During his senior year, Bing was the fifth leading scorer in the nation, Syracuse’s first consensus All-American in 39 years, named to The Sporting News All-American First Team and was selected as Syracuse Athlete of the Year. His number (22) is now retired in the Carrier Dome among the greatest players to ever wear the Syracuse colors.

In the 1966 NBA Draft, Bing was selected by the Detroit Pistons. It is here where he would make a household name for himself and captivate the city of Detroit. Unlike many first-year players, Bing’s transition to the NBA was an easy one. His 1,601 points earned him Rookie of the Year and further propelled him into NBA stardom.

Throughout his 12 seasons in the NBA, Bing averaged 20.3 points and 6 assists per game, appeared in an eight All-Star Games and was named to the All-NBA First Team in 1968 and 1969. After spending the majority of his career with the Pistons, Bing did go on to play two years with the Washington Bullets and one year with the Boston Celtics. Bing hung up his sneakers at the conclusion of the 1977-78 season. He was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 1990, as well as the the Michigan Hall of Fame in 1984.

Bing’s life after basketball is filled with as many successes as his playing career. After his retirement, he founded The Bing Group (www.binggroup.com). Bing is the founder and chairman of “The Bing Group of Companies,” based in Detroit. Formed in 1980, The Bing Group is an automotive supplier comprised of Bing Metals Group and Bing Metals (Assembly). The Bing Group Company awards include the GM Supplier of the Year Award on five occasions, The Visteon Very Important Partner Award and The MMBDC Diamond Award. Bing’s business awards include National Minority Small Business Person of the Year, presented by President Reagan; Business Newsmaker of the Year, Crain’s Detroit Business; and Detroiter of the Year by Hour Magazine. He also received the Schick Achievement Award at the 1990 All-Star game for his work after his NBA career, and his number (21) is the first number retired by the Pistons.

Currently, Bing is building homes in the city of Detroit’s north end neighborhood and is a Partner in The Watermark, A 112 Unit Condominium Project on the Detroit Riverfront. In October of 2008, Bing declared his candidacy for Mayor of Detroit in the February 2009 primary (http://www.bingformayor.com/).


Bing is one of the five founding members of the NBRPA. He and his wife, Yvette, have three daughters and four grandchildren.