Bill Laimbeer Calls It A Career With Retirement From Hoops As Aces Defeat Minnesota, 93-87, Thursday
Story by Alan Snel and Cassandra Cousineau Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
The man who played a pivotal role in the launching of the Las Vegas Aces franchise realized it was time to step away once the WNBA team had the chance to sign Becky Hammon to coach the Aces this season.
But Bill Laimbeer, the Aces’ first coach, was back for one night Thursday when the Aces hosted Minnesota. Not only was Laimbeer saluted for his career as a prominent coach in the W and as the Aces leader, the former Detroit Pistons Bad Boy celebrated his 65th birthday tonight.
After the Aces bowed out of the playoffs with a deciding Game 5 loss to Phoenix here in Las Vegas last year, Laimbeer met with Aces President Nikki Fargas.
When Laimbeer learned from Fargas that Hammon could coach the Aces, Laimbeer said go for it and he knew it was time to step aside. Aces owner Mark Davis signed the Aces’ new coach to a five-year $1 million deal to guide a very competitive team anchored by star A’ja Wilson.
Fargas introduced Laimbeer before tonight’s game and Laimbeer got a nice hand from everyone from Davis and Aces CEO Larry Delsen to the fans inside the Michelob Ultra Arena in Mandalay Bay.
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From the early part of his tenure, Laimbeer contended he had a three-year-plan for the team.
Las Vegas went, 77-45, under Laimbeer and reached three straight playoffs, including the 2020 WNBA Finals.
Under Hammon, the team has gone to a smaller, faster lineup led by Wilson, the franchise’s anchor. Wilson has more of a presence in the middle since the departure of All-Star center Liz Cambage, whom Laimbeer was instrumental in landing.
Hammon has turned the guards loose, opting for an up-tempo style that flows through the guards like Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray. Young has especially been lighting it up. Young poured in 11 points on 4-for-4 shooting in the first quarter as the Aces led Minnesota, 26-25, after the first 10 minutes.
Nice nugget: The Aces made their first nine shots against the Lynx — the second-best made first shots in WNBA history.
Young, a six-foot-tall guard averaging 18 points a game, has blossomed into an offensive force in her fourth year in the WNBA. She nailed two three-pointers in the first quarter.
Four minutes into the second quarter, the Aces opened a 41-30 lead behind Young’s 14 points.
At halftime, the Aces were up, 54-43.
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The Aces started sluggishly in the third quarter.
But Las Vegas stretched the lead back to 11 points at 70-59.
Minnesota rebounded with seven straight points to close the third quarter.
Score after three quarters: Aces 70 Minnesota 66.
The Aces won their fifth game in six outings as Young led Las Vegas with 25 points. Wilson added 17 points and so did Gray. Hamby and Plum each scored 14 points. The bench, however, contributed only six points.
After the game, Hammon said she thinks the team’s defense can get better.
“I’m not happy with our defense right now and I’m not happy with our offense, completely,” she said. “I’m glad we won the game. We’re well away from how good I think we can be.”
Minnesota never had the lead tonight.
Las Vegas plays Saturday at 12 noon at Michelob Ultra Arena. The Aces play the Phoenix Mercury once again.
