William (Bill) Laimbeer Jr.
2x NBA Champion
Naismith Memorial Basketball HOF
Number "40" retired by Pistons
3x WNBA Champion
William (Bill) Laimbeer Jr.
Detroit Pistons Player (1982 – 1993)
Detroit Shock WNBA coach (2002 - 2009)
Bill Laimbeer was born in Boston, Massachusetts, went to high school in Palos Verdes California before moving on to the University of Notre Dame where he played basketball for four seasons. He was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the third round of the 1979 NBA draft, was traded to the Detroit Pistons in his second year and remained with the Pistons for the remainder of his NBA career. Laimbeer was a key member of the Pistons “Bad Boys” that would go on to dominate the NBA in the late 1980’s winning back to back NBA Championships in 1989, 1990. He was a four-time NBA All-Star and was one of only 19 players to score over 10,000 points and grab over 10,000 rebounds. After his retirement, Laimbeer went on to coach 13 seasons in the WNBA, winning three WNBA titles with the Detroit Shock. Bill Laimbeer had his number "40" jersey retired by the Pistons, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketbball Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.