Best NBA Draft Sleepers of All-Time
10. Bill Laimbeer (1979 NBA Draft, 3rd Round, 65th Overall)
Before going on to become the face of a more physical era in the NBA, Bill Laimbeer was a center out of Notre Dame that fell into the late third round before the Cleveland Cavaliers swooped him up back in 1979. He played only a season and a half with the Cavs before being traded to the Detroit Pistons where he would become a four-time All-Star over his 12-plus seasons in the Motor City.
Laimbeer is probably best known for his physicality as a player. The Pistons’ big man was like a bloodhound when it came to looking for a fight. Beyond that, he toed the line between physical and dirty when it comes to contact in the lane. Laimbeer had no qualms about a hard foul as someone went into the lane. That was part of his game and something that never changed as part of his game.
Despite his fame for his rough style of play, though, Laimbeer also put up the numbers that made him much more than just a gun-for-hire. From 1983 to 1987, Laimbeer put up 16.7 points, 12.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting a solid 50.7 percent from the floor and, of course, racking up 3.5 fouls per game.
There are many players from Laimbeer’s era who don’t remember him fondly due to the physical nature of his style. However, you can’t discount the fact that he went on to have immense success that you wouldn’t have expected based on where he fell to in the draft.
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