Slap the Sign
Fansided

Best Notre Dame NBA Players of All Time

By Bobby Norell

Mar 22, 2015; Notre Dame, IN, USA; The Notre Dame Fighting Irish logo on a chair before the game against the DePaul Blue Demons at Edmund P. Joyce Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2015; Notre Dame, IN, USA; The Notre Dame Fighting Irish logo on a chair before the game against the DePaul Blue Demons at Edmund P. Joyce Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next

Bill Laimbeer – Power Forward

Laimbeer did not have the typical college career as he enjoyed two stints at Notre Dame. He flunked out of ND after his freshman year in 1976, regained eligibility, and came back to Notre Dame before the 1977-1978 season. Like Woolridge, Laimbeer did not put up gaudy numbers while donning the Blue and Gold. He only averaged 7.3 points and six rebounds for the Irish. Laimbeer was part of Notre Dame’s only final four team in 1978. Laimbeer showed enough with the Irish to be drafted in the third round by Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1979 draft.

If you’re not a fan of the Detroit Pistons then you most likely hated Laimbeer. Laimbeer is known for being a member of the “Bad Boy” Pistons of the late 1980s. He may have been the baddest of them all. Laimbeer was not afraid to throw elbows, knock people down or throw guys to the floor. Laimbeer had a knack for getting under the opponents skin. He was a big physical enforcer, which played perfectly on those Pistons teams. He played an integral role on Detroit’s back-to-back championship teams in 1989 and 1990.

Laimbeer became only the 19th player ever to amass 10,000 points and 10,000 rebounds for a career. His 13,790 points are second most among Notre Dame NBA players. Laimbeer is currently the head coach of the WNBA’s Detroit Shock. For a middling college player and a third round pick, Laimbeer did more than anyone could have imagined.

Next: Mr. Cavalier

Home/Notre Dame Fighting Irish