Creating the perfect Detroit Pistons player
By Amaar Burton
Elbows: Bill Laimbeer
This wasn’t the no-brainer that some people might expect. I almost gave this spot to Ben Wallace.
Why?
Because while Bill Laimbeer is mainstream infamous for the damage he did with his elbows, would he be able to get away with throwing those ‘bows in today’s NBA? Would this era’s referees force Laimbeer to tone down much of what made him the game’s quintessential villain during his prime?
Wallace may not have wielded his elbows around like a Muay Thai fighter wearing basketball shorts, but he did manage to stay on the court during 21st century NBA games while using his elbows as a more subtle weapon.
In the end though, this spot was always meant for Laimbeer.