Bill Laimbeer Biography

Fast Facts

• Retired from the NBA as the Detroit Pistons' all-time leader in rebounds and games played
• The Detroit Pistons retired his No․ 40 jersey
• Played basketball for Notre Dame University when not attending technical college
• Was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1979 NBA Draft
• Attended Palos Verdes High School in California
• During the 1979-80 basketball season, he played in Italy
• Quote: "I don't fight․ I agitate, then walk away․"
• Quote: "As far as centers go, I'm not Moses [Malone] or Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar]․ I'm striving to be the best of the rest․"
• Developed a notorious reputation in the NBA for throwing elbows, thrusting hips and feigning being fouled
• In 1982, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons, where he proved himself to be a skilled center
• After retiring from the NBA, he served as president of Laimbeer Packaging Corp․, a corrugated box-making factory
• Unpopular with fellow NBA players, he was punched by such greats as Robert Parish, Bob Lanier, Larry Bird and Charles Barkley
• Returned to his basketball roots later in life as the head coach of the WNBA's Detroit Shock