Bill Laimbeer

Laimbeer was one of the most hated players in the NBA during his playing days — voted the Most Hated Player in the league multiple times by fans — but was universally respected by his teammates for his winning mentality.

His outside shooting range as a 6'11" center in the 1980s was so unusual that it was decades ahead of the NBA's evolution toward positionless basketball and stretch-fives.

After his playing career, Laimbeer became one of the most successful coaches in WNBA history, winning four championships — demonstrating that his basketball genius translated seamlessly from player to coach.

He grew up in a wealthy family in Southern California — quite different from the blue-collar Detroit identity he adopted and embodied throughout his career.