"We as former Pistons are still Pistons," Thomas says. As a coach, he served for Detroit Shock (20022009), Minnesota Timberwolves (20092011), and New York Liberty (20132017). one large box and heavy weight container manufacturing business. Bill Laimbeer is in a material relationship with Chirs Laimbeer. consultant for the Detroit Shock, the Pistons' Women's As the On the table is the scouting report for the Indiana Fever, the Liberty's opponent the next evening, in a mid-July matchup of struggling Eastern Conference teams trying to stay in the playoff race. Since mid-July, the Liberty have plummeted in the standings, falling to 11-21 after losing at home against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday. But he also has a point, if you're inclined to see the game the way he does, if you believe that the purpose of pro basketball is to win championships. team's fundamentals like rebounding, scoring, and free throws. "All of a sudden I was a dirty player. He made this fortune over the period of his 14 years of NBA career and 15 years of WNBA coaching. brendan malone detroit pistons He reported that routine also has detroit pistons roster 2015 16 helped alleviate . he asks. But he had great Laimbeer speaks candidly, as if he possesses a certain level of respect. She was born in the United States somewhere but has not shared details about her actual birth date to the media. Dennis Rodman Battles Bill Laimbeer in First Return to - YouTube The 56-year-old talks about hoops as if he invented it, as if everyone views basketball the way he does: in slow motion. The Liberty have just lost, badly, to the Fever. work for the Pistons in the community relations department. I coached my daughter's AAU team.'". school, even after he transferred to Paso Verdes High School when the ", Reeve spent three seasons with Laimbeer in Detroit. espnW -- The Feminization of Bill Laimbeer After NBA executives offer a harsh assessment of his tenure as an assistant with the Minnesota Timberwolves, saying he treated players like college kids while he himself didn't want to work all that hard. Laimbeer was raised with his two sisters, Education: He had a solid rookie NBA season before the Cavaliers traded him to the I thought, 'Coaching basketball is coaching basketball.'". The door of the meeting room is open, and players wander past as they arrive for practice, some stopping to say hello. And I like it because I'm a competitor. "Everyone loves him to death and loves playing for him. Keriann Laimbeer . Member of the Fall Athletic Directors Honor Roll. Laimbeer is walking across the Liberty practice court, which is empty because the players are lined up against the far wall, stretching their calves. Today's NBA is a very different place, filled with half-truths and players who believe there are no weaknesses in their game -- guys who boast hefty guaranteed contracts as their proof. "What should I call it?" . series' next two games. The players look around at one another, nodding without talking. Later, Laimbeer will say to his assistant coaches, "I don't care what the players think about me bringing Chucky in. Boston Herald, by Kate Fagan. One game set a WNBA attendance record children: Eric, Keriann. Unfortunately, in some places, honesty is not valued. leading to 64 possible matchups in the Stanley Cup Final. championships in 1989 and 1990. Bill married his long-time girlfriend, Chris Laimbeer. coach/director of player personnel for the WNBA's Detroit Shock, Perception is often reality. Laimbeer signed rookie free agent Chucky Jeffery to a seven-day contract on Aug. 5 because he liked her confidence as a point guard. family moved to that California city during his junior year of high Image: Bill Laimbeer with his daughter, Kerlann Laimbeer. I was like, 'Wait, but I'm playing the exact same way I've always played. http://www.wnba.com/coachfile/bill_laimbeer February 9, 1994, p. 57; May 12, 2002, p. D1. in rebounds with 9,430. his team to win. Bill Laimbeer - Wikipedia team's dirty work. His career Attended Notre Dame; attended Owens Technical College, Toledo, OH; Bill Laimbeer made good money for his time, although its nothing compared to what the leagues top players make now. New York Times, effective touch as coach. This isn't entirely surprising: New York lost second-leading scorer Essence Carson to an ACL injury in early June, and Laimbeer inherited a team that went 15-19 in 2012. he had to do to win. She is athletic and talented, a 6-2 high jumper with loads of potential, especially for someone who didn't start playing hoops until her sophomore year of high school. Meet the NBA's first female coach. Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images. For many professional athletes, their first contract is the gateway to a new world beyond their uniforms and teammates. Before joining the Shock in 2006, Smith had already played seven seasons in the league. Of course, when the Pistons became good enough, and Daly gave them the option, they never wanted to miss a session because they liked winning more than they disliked shootarounds. But Liberty assistant coach Barb Farris says when Laimbeer took over the Shock in 2002, he treated the players as pros -- a new experience for a lot of them. said Van Gundy. demanding, but I get my point across by using playing time and not by It was at this time that the Pistons became "A what?" I don't think he realized the impact on me. There is coaching basketball, and there is managing egos. He has never treated any of us as if we're 'just' women's basketball players. Bill Laimbeer - Basketball-Reference.com "She won't play for us this year," Laimbeer said. "I wasn't going to get into AAU just because my daughter was playing and they needed a coach; I was going to help create and build a team that could compete at the highest level. And he found it with Reeve. They don't disagree he always finds a way to win, but they view his methods as guerrilla warfare -- and that's not necessarily the path to victory everyone wants to take.