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AUBURN HILLS, MI – JUNE 13: Rick Mahorn #4 of the Detroit Pistons celebrates with his teamates in the locker room after winning the 1989 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, MI. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1989 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
via Getty
AUBURN HILLS, MI – JUNE 13: Rick Mahorn #4 of the Detroit Pistons celebrates with his teamates in the locker room after winning the 1989 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, MI. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1989 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Bad Boys Pistons terrorized the NBA in the late 1980s. While Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars made things uncomfortable for the players handling the ball, it was Bill Laimbeer who was holding his own against the big guys in the paint. Laimbeer played with the Detroit Pistons for most of his career. It goes without saying that he was an integral part of the Bad Boys Pistons era.
As both Thomas and Dumars have already gotten into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the time has finally come for Laimbeer to put his case to the test against a plethora of others to see if his resume stacks up to give him the ultimate honor.
Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame Announces Eligible Candidates For The Class Of 2024. #24HoopClass
🔗 https://t.co/ZUmjbLMc93 pic.twitter.com/csTfxFGeQS
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) December 21, 2023
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Laimbeer’s inside presence and physical play style helped his team win two championships. Along with this, Laimbeer also made four All-Star team selections during his 14 seasons in the NBA. He wasn’t a primary scorer on his team, but Laimbeer still consistently put up over 10 PPG in the playoffs.
He was also known for his rebounding, as the Boston native even led the NBA for two seasons in this category. Laimbeer was the heart of the Pistons defense. He is the all-time leader in rebounds for the team, while also being 5th in blocked shots and points scored in Pistons history.
Over his career, Laimbeer has averaged 12.9 PPG and 9.7 RPG. But has Laimbeer done enough to hold his own against the other NBA greats? Although the initial nominees have been announced, the final list will be released on February 16th.
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Can Bill Laimbeer make the cut?
A player has to be fully retired for 4 seasons to be eligible for the HoF enshrinement. Thus Vince Carter is on the list of first-time nominees. Even though Carter has not won a championship in the NBA, his impact and stats alone stand way above Laimbeer. Another nominee, Chauncey Billups, was on the championship-winning Detroit Pistons team in 2004. Furthermore, players like Tom Chambers and Michael Cooper are also on the initial list.
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Following his playing career, Laimbeer went on to coach the Piston’s WNBA team, the Shocks. During his time with the team, Laimbeer led them to win three championships. Cheryl Ford, who played for the Shocks under Laimbeer, is also a nominee this year. The 2008 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team is also in consideration of making the HoF.
The 2024 class is not a stack class. The chance of Carter missing out is extremely unlikely. But when looking at the other players on the list, it won’t be surprising to see Laimbeer make the list of finalists in February.
