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What's going on with Bill Laimbeer's hair? It involves an injury report

Cassandra Negley
·WNBA and women's college basketball reporter
·4 min read

What’s going on with Bill Laimbeer?

The Las Vegas Aces coach and former Detroit Pistons Bad Boy is sparking concern on social media after debuting what can only be described as “a look.”

The story behind it is even better than that photo.

Aces deliver odd injury report

The Las Vegas Aces opened their 2020 WNBA season on Sunday against the Chicago Sky at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The league is in a bubble at the site, and the game is a rematch of the “Hamby Heave” playoff matchup of 2019. These two teams are not friends, and it was the Sky that survived this round, 88-86, with a last-minute 3-pointer by Allie Quigley with an assist by Courtney Vandersloot.

But before they could even get underway, the focus was on Laimbeer when John Maxwell, the Aces’ director of media relations, released the injury report.

Two made sense. All-star Liz Cambage was medically excused from the season due to being high risk for COVID-19 complications. Kelsey Plum tore her Achilles in June.

The last though ...

“Bill Laimbeer’s Barber (Out — Whereabouts Unknown).”

Unlike the NBA bubble in nearby Orlando, there aren’t as many perks and luxuries in Bradenton. The NBA has a barbershop that was set up, whereas there is nothing of the sort in the WNBA bubble. (And no salon, either.)

Aces reveal Laimbeer’s new accessory

Bill Laimbeer reacts after a foul call by putting his hand to his forehead in an exasperated laugh.

That led to another reveal by the Aces’ media staff. “Headband Bill” was introduced to the world and A’ja Wilson’s face tells the story.

Laimbeer continued the look while coaching the Aces on Sunday and got a national audience in ABC. ESPN sideline analyst Holly Rowe, who is the only media member in the bubble, explained the barber issue. But as Rebecca Lobo commented from the Bristol, Connecticut, studio, does that really explain the headband?

Social media was aflutter with talk of style icons and “Dodgeball” star Patches O’Houlihan. The entertainment comparisons were endless.

How bad is Laimbeer’s hair?

The better question is how bad will it get? The Aces arrived in the bubble on July 6, so it’s been about 20 days minimum since Laimbeer has gotten a haircut.

The WNBA season is 22 games long and won’t end until Sept. 12. Are we about to see Laimbeer rocking punk-rock hair with a sponsored headbands? Will Wilson simply give up, break social distancing measures and snip his hair when he’s eating lunch?

There is another, but maybe not better, alternative. Dearica Hamby has her daughter, Amaya, in the bubble with her, and she’s apparently a budding hairstylist.

But then again, maybe not. That’s a hair straightener in her hand and offers another host of worrisome looks.

Watch Aces account for content from the bubble

The Aces have their sights set on a championship and have a crew to do it, even though Cambage and Plum are not with the team. While they’re top-notch players, their social media crew is also worthy of celebration.

A lot centers around Wilson, understandably, and she took on Laimbeer to announce the season schedule.

And the outtakes.

It’s going to be an interesting, funny bubble season.

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