Bill Laimbeer

Bill Laimbeer is a former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association and a coach in the Women’s National Basketball Association. He is a two-time NBA Champion and a four-time NBA All-Star. As a coach, he was a three-time WNBA Champion with the Detroit Pistons and he was named the WNBA Coach of the Year three times. In 2019, he was also named the WNBA All-Star Game Head Coach.

Player Profile and Personal Life

William J. Laimbeer Jr. was born on May 19, 1957, in Boston, Massachusetts in the United States of America. He stands 211 cm tall and his weight was last listed at 111 kg. He was born in Boston before he moved to California with his family.

He is known for his violent style of play and was instrumental for the Pistons, where he earned the nickname “The Bad Boys” in the early 1980s.

High School and College Career

He attended Palos Verdes High School in his hometown. Later, he played for the University of Notre Dame. While there, he received All-American honors and was named to the 1975 Parade All-American team.

Professional Career

Laimbeer was a third-round pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 1979 NBA Draft. But he did not start his career with the NBA right away. Instead, he played in Europe for the Basket Brescia. He returned to the United States and played for the United States during the 1980-1981 season. He stayed with the Cavaliers through 1982.

From 1982 to 1993, he played for the Detroit Pistons. While with the Pistons, he was twice an NBA Champion in 1989 and 1990. He was also named an NBA All-Star four times, the first time in 1983.

He retired from playing basketball in the 1993 season but did not start coaching in the WNBA until 2002. He coached the Detroit Shock from 2002 to 2009. While he coached the Shock, they became WNBA champions three times. In 2003, he was also named the WNBA Coach of the Year for the first time.

From 2009-2011, he was an assistant coach for the NBA team the – Minnesota Timberwolves.

In 2013, he returned to coaching in the WNBA for the New York Liberty, and from 2018 to 2021, he coached the Las Vegas Aces. In 2015, he was named the WNBA Coach of the Year for the second time, and in 2019, he was named the WNBA All-Star Game Head Coach.

Career Highlights

As Player:

• 1989, 1990 - NBA champion
• 1983–1985, 1987 - NBA All-Star
• 1986 - NBA rebounding leader
• No. 40 retired by Detroit Pistons
• 1975 - Second-team Parade

All-American

As a Coach:

• 2003, 2006, 2008 - WNBA champion
• 2003, 2015 - WNBA Coach of the Year
• 2019 - WNBA All-Star Game Head Coach

Team History:

As a Coach:

• 2002–2009 - Detroit Shock
• 2009–2011 - Minnesota Timberwolves

(Assistant)

• 2013–2017 - New York Liberty
• 2018–2021 - Las Vegas Aces