Dave Bing

Dave Bing was the most complete guard in the NBA during the late 1960s and early 1970s — a smooth scorer and creative passer who won the 1968 scoring title (27.1 PPG) and earned seven All-Star selections with the Detroit Pistons. His combination of scoring and playmaking from the guard position was rare for his era, and his style anticipated the do-everything guards who would come decades later.

Bing's Rookie of the Year season in 1967 (20.0 PPG) announced the arrival of a star, and he followed it with a scoring title the very next year. His mid-range game was efficient and elegant, his court vision was exceptional, and his ability to create for teammates while maintaining his own scoring made him the best guard in the Eastern Conference during the post-Oscar Robertson era.

A detached retina suffered during a game in 1972 compromised Bing's vision for the rest of his career, robbing him of depth perception and forcing him to adapt his game accordingly. That he remained an effective player for five more years after losing sight in one eye speaks to his extraordinary skill level and mental toughness. His post-basketball career as a successful businessman and eventual Mayor of Detroit added further dimensions to an already distinguished life.