Fansided

Picking the best NBA player from each state

By Brad Rowland

Apr 10, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the American Flag being displayed prior to the game between the Denver Nuggets and the Utah Jazz at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the American Flag being displayed prior to the game between the Denver Nuggets and the Utah Jazz at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 03: Head coach Bill Laimbeer of the New York Liberity directs his team against the Los Angeles Sparks during a WNBA basketball game at Staples Center on July 3, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 03: Head coach Bill Laimbeer of the New York Liberity directs his team against the Los Angeles Sparks during a WNBA basketball game at Staples Center on July 3, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images) /

Massachusetts – Bill Laimbeer

To be frank, Bill Laimbeer is best known for his antics as something of a leader for the “Bad Boys”-era Detroit Pistons. That means that, for all of his on-court accomplishments, Laimbeer is remembered largely as a dirty player and an enforcer for those Chuck Daly-led teams in the late 1980’s.

That said, Bill Laimbeer enjoyed a very nice and extremely productive NBA career.

For example, Laimbeer is the Massachusetts career leader in both scoring (13,790 points) and rebounding (10,400 rebounds) with a massive edge in blocked shots (965) over the rest of the field. Part of that undoubtedly comes from playing 14 years in the league, but Laimbeer finished his career with averages of 12.9 points and 9.7 rebounds per game — nothing to scoff at, given his role.

In terms of inter-state competition, we would be looking at Vinny Del Negro and Dana Barros. Both players were quite solid in their time, but Laimbeer played in over 200 games more than both guards, and his production level was simply higher on the aggregate.

It won’t be easy to convince anyone that Bill Laimbeer was more than Isiah Thomas’s personal protector, but he could play, too.

Next: Michigan

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