David "Dave" Bing

Dave Bing was all business when he stepped onto the basketball court, one of those rare talents that played the game for all of the right reasons paying no mind to the spotlight or excesses of his celebrity. His ability as a playmaker, his scoring aptitude, and his soft outside shooting touch made him a backcourt whiz and a great leader, the kind of player every coach wants in the locker room. Bing launched his exceptional career at Syracuse University, where he became the school's first consensus All-America in 39 years during a season when he was also the nation's fifth leading scorer at 28.4 points per game. After an illustrious collegiate career at Syracuse, Bing was named the NBA's Rookie of the Year in 1967. His game, more fundamental than flashy, saw him average better than 20 points per game in the NBA where he enjoyed 12 productive seasons. Bing was named MVP of the 1976 All Star Game and All-NBA First Team in 1968 and 1971. A wonderful gentleman in the game and outside it, Bing was presented the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 1977.