About Bing

Dave Bing is a Detroit success story.

As a National Basketball Association (NBA) rookie and the first-round draft choice of the Detroit Pistons in 1966, Dave Bing earned $15,000 a year.  At that time, he lived on Detroit’s west side near Greenfield Road and 7 Mile Road with his young family.  During summers off from the NBA, he worked as a management trainee at a bank, then an auto dealership, and eventually, a steel plant. In 1980, Bing launched his own steel company. Today, Dave Bing is still in Detroit as Founder and Chairman of The Bing Group, a diversified base of unionized manufacturing companies housed on 30 acres in Detroit’s North End that employs some 500 people. Knowing a good job is the key to a strong family and a good life, Bing is committed to providing better opportunities for people and insists that everyone “from my executive vice-president to my hourly workers” be treated with respect.

Dave Bing is a survivor.

Bing learned about teamwork, discipline, hard work and compassion for others from his mother, a domestic worker, and his father, a brick layer and construction contractor. Working with his father as a youth gave Bing a desire to own a business one day. One of four siblings, Bing was raised in a Northeast Washington D.C. neighborhood where money was scarce. He learned the lesson of overcoming adversity when he accidentally stuck a nail into his left eye at the age of five.  Bing has suffered fuzzy vision ever since.  He’s never allowed it to stop him. Even after the Bing Group Companies were disrupted twice by devastating fires, Bing remained in Detroit, rebuilding the business while continuing to support the workers and families who depend on it. Nearly three decades later, The Bing Group continues to operate and provide jobs.

Dave Bing is a leader for Detroit.

As a community leader, Bing has donated countless hours and personal resources to uplift the lives of others, particularly young people. A classic example of Bing’s commitment and generosity occurred in 1989 when the Detroit Public Schools announced plans to eliminate all high school sports programs due to budget shortfalls. Bing immediately launched a successful campaign to raise the funds to help save them. Bing also participates in numerous civic activities.

Dave Bing is a basketball legend.

Bing was an All-American guard at Washington D.C.’s Spingarn High School, and repeated that feat at Syracuse University, where he was the first in his family to graduate from college with a degree in economics. Bing spent 12 years in the NBA, the first nine with the Pistons. His list of accomplishments is staggering: Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1990; Named to the NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team; Two-Time All NBA; Seven-time NBA All-Star; All Star Game MVP, 1976; Rookie of the Year 1966-67; NBA Scoring Champion, 1967-68; Career scoring average of 20.3 ppg over 901 games; Captain of the Detroit Pistons. He’s brought the tenacity and leadership skills demonstrated during a career in professional athletics to his business and civic pursuits.

Dave Bing is a source of pride and inspiration for Detroit.

Dave is married to Yvette Bing, a native of Northwest Detroit, and has three daughters. He has received numerous awards for business and civic leadership.