Bill Laimbeer - Man of War!

William "Bill" Laimbeer, Jr. (born May 19, 1957) is a retired National Basketball Association player for the Detroit Pistons. Playing at center, the 6'11" Laimbeer was a four-time All-Star and integral part of the Pistons teams that won two championships. Initially raised in the Chicago, Illinois suburb of Clarendon Hills, Laimbeer attended Palos Verdes High School in Southern California and then the University of Notre Dame. Laimbeer is currently the head coach of the Detroit Shock in the WNBA.

Laimbeer was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1979. He played professionally in Italy for a year before returning to play for the Cavaliers in 1980. On February 16, 1982, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons, where he would remain for the rest of his career. During his playing career, Laimbeer was one of the most notorious players in the NBA. While highly popular among Piston fans, Laimbeer was despised by opposing players and fans for committing hard fouls himself, while seeming to bait officials into calling fouls on opponents by flopping to the ground after slight contact. In the public eye, Laimbeer's reputation for physical play tended to overshadow his skills. Even his former teammate Dennis Rodman noted this in his book Bad As I Wanna Be, saying, "He (Laimbeer) was more than a thug, but that's what he'll be remembered for." Laimbeer was also the subject of criticism in the Beastie Boys' track "Tough Guy" from their 1994 album Ill Communication. Laimbeer was one of the top outside-shooting centers of his era, draining over 200 three pointers for his career, and excelled at running the pick and roll with guards Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars. Then-head coach Chuck Daly utilized Laimbeer's skills by having him fade to the perimeter rather than roll to the basket. Laimbeer was selected to the NBA All-Star Game on four occasions (1983, 1984, 1985 and 1987) and finished among the league leaders in rebounding and free throw percentage several times, winning the rebound title in the 1985-86 season. Laimbeer started on the Pistons' 1989 and 1990 NBA championship teams.

Bill Laimbeer is the only player, other than his Detroit teammates, to have a winning record in the playoffs against NBA legends, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan.

Altogether, Laimbeer spent 14 seasons in the NBA, 12 of them with Detroit. Laimbeer became the 19th player in league history to amass more than 10,000 points and 10,000 rebounds. Laimbeer was most effective off the defensive glass, From 1982 to 1990 no player in the league totaled more defensive rebounds. His streak of 685 consecutive games played (which ended due to suspension) is the fifth longest in league history. Laimbeer retired early in the 1993-94 season at age 36, and his jersey number (40) was eventually retired by the Pistons. He remains the franchise's all-time leader in career rebounds.

Despite his statistics, his central role in the rise of the Pistons and their two world championships, and his legacy as one of the top centers of his era, Laimbeer has not yet been considered for the Hall of Fame.

Laimbeer's reputation as one of the Pistons' "Bad Boys" was such that in 1991 he even came to endorse a video game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System called Bill Laimbeer's Combat Basketball, a futuristic basketball game in which physical play is encouraged.

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[cschnei08]

Honestly, back then Laimbeer was considered a bastard, but compared to the thugs we got in the NBA now, he was just a worker. We need more guys like him today. Not a showboater or a damn crook, but just a physical, intense player.

[pandala420]

as a lifelong bullzz fan, i hated this guy more than anyone in nba history, but at the end of the day, i have to admit, i respected him.

[Gauchoo1234]

Why Barkley just let Laimbeer shoot @1:36????? Laimbeer was always a very good outside shooter, there's no sense in letting him open... plus the fact that Laimbeer had no post moves!

[xfaqtor]

The man wasn't the fastest and didn't jump the highest but he played hard and defended his team mates like no other. Although I'm a life long Knicks fan I loved Bill Laimbeer and miss watching him play!! He needs to be an NBA head coach!!!!!

[sambam2694]

@cschnei08 He was a big whining cry baby

[SuperRaficokings87]

@buster3600 What do you mean? i mean what you're saying is that he was broke back then when he retired, or that his parents were rich??

[buster3600]

Bill Laimbeer is one of the few people in the NBA who when they retired had less money in the bank than his parents.

[ZODIACMOTHERFUCKER]

ALL HAIL GOD LAIMBEER

[OneMeanBean22]

He had the ability to draw just about anyone out of their game just through rough physically intimidating play. He was the true guardian of the "Jordan Rules", his rule was simple, What goes up, must come down! One of the true hard-nosed get it done any way you can players. You've got to admire a guy who won the rebounding title and couldn't jump over a piece of paper! One of my all-time favorites

[deividcano]

What a great basketball team! The Bad Boys...

[4capulina]

This was before the NBA was filled with pussies

[chistorro12]

hate this song...