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Future Detroit Pistons legend Bill Laimbeer had reason to jump for joy upon reaching the NBA.
When a player is drafted or signs their first professional contract, it officially marks the culmination of a long journey. They have taken a monumental step in achieving their childhood dreams of reaching the pros.
Laimbeer’s father was happy for him, but William Laimbeer, father, always had the advantage over his son.
Bill Laimbeer’s father sent him a humiliating message
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For many professional athletes, their first contract is the gateway to a new world beyond their uniforms and teammates.
The money these players receive, even with all the taxes and fees they lose, is still a life changing amount. Bill Laimbeer was not one of those players, however, as his father was an executive at Owens-Illinois, a company that produces glass containers and paper products.
According to Sports Illustrated, Laimbeer Jr. said, “I am the only player in the NBA to make less money than his father.” In ESPN Bad Boys documentary, Laimbeer said he made less money in his rookie season with the Cavaliers than his father did at his job.
These are the facts that come with growing up with money like the Laimbeer family did. But if anyone in the NBA believed Laimbeer’s affluent childhood would make him spoiled or unwilling to fight, they were surprised.
Laimbeer nonetheless became a Detroit Pistons legend
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The Detroit Pistons were happy to have Bill Laimbeer, and other teams were angry about having to face the All-Star Center.
A notoriously physical great man who never backed down after a fight, Laimbeer averaged 13.5 points and 10.1 rebounds in 937 games in 13 seasons with the Pistons from the spring of 1982 to the start of the 1993-94 campaign.
Laimbeer has appeared in four All-Star Games and won two rings with the Pistons. Some of Laimbeer’s most memorable moments include fighting the Celtics and Bulls in brawls that could get pretty nasty.
How much money did Bill Laimbeer make in the NBA?
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Bill Laimbeer made a lot of money for his time, although that is nothing compared to what the best players in the league are making now.
According to Basketball-Reference, Laimbeer made $ 7.8 million from 1984 to 1994. Signing a five-year contract worth $ 3.5 million in June 1984 certainly helped Laimbeer’s bank account. .
According to the inflation calculator, the $ 500,000 Lambier earned in 1984 is worth more than $ 1.265 million in 2021.
Laimbeer has also benefited financially from being a longtime coach of the WNBA. Until the end of the 2020 season, Laimbeer – who currently coaches the Las Vegas Aces – has 282-207 in 16 seasons as the WNBA head coach, and he won three titles with the 2002 Detroit Shock. to 2009.
All statistics and contract figures are provided by Basketball-Reference.
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