Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer were teammates on the Detroit Pistons for 12 seasons. Naturally, over such a long time, a few funny stories came up. In November 1990, 'Zeke' shared one of these tales.
The legendary point guard recalled something his cherished teammate had told him about his childhood. According to Bill, he used to catch huge, delicious lobsters off a pier in California. That seemed normal enough; however, what Isiah found strange was what 'Lambs' told him next.
"He actually asked me if I ever did that. I had to tell Bill we didn't have lobsters in our neighborhood. I couldn't believe anybody could be so spoiled and naive at the same time," recalled Thomas, per Sports Illustrated.
The privileged roots of 'Lambs'
Born in Boston, 'Lambs' initially grew up in a well-off suburb of Chicago. While other kids practiced basketball on scrappy courts, young Bill shot hoops in the comfort of his family's home driveway. Later, the Laimbeers moved to sunny California, settling in Palos Verdes Estates, where he took up lobster catching.
Throughout Bill's childhood and professional basketball years, his father was a successful businessman. William Laimbeer Sr. held a high position at a Dow Jones company (Owens-Illinois) and eventually rose to become company president. His son once famously said, "I'm the only player in the NBA who makes less money than his father."
For context, the retired 6'11" big man reportedly earned just under $8 million in NBA salary during his career, which also included a brief stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Related: "The fans don't understand it, they don't wanna understand it" - Scottie Pippen shares what was the lowest point in his career
Thomas's tough upbringing
Later on, Laimbeer became close friends with Hall of Fame guard Thomas, who joined the team before the 1981-82 season.
'Zeke' was the youngest of nine children growing up in Chicago's tough West Side. At some point during that time, his father lost his steady job, became a janitor, fell into depression, and eventually left the family. Consequently, Mother Mary Thomas struggled to provide for her large family alone. The fridge was often empty, forcing the children to search for food.
The youngest once recalled roaming the streets hungry, looking for loose change or fast-food wrappers with cheese scraps. The former 12-time All-Star shined shoes to earn money for food, hoping to make it home without being robbed.
Ultimately, going to the league was a necessity for Thomas and more of a luxury for Laimbeer. Despite their vastly different backgrounds, exemplified by the lobster story, they formed an incredible bond. This truly demonstrates that genuine friendship knows no such boundaries. After the two buddies clinched back-to-back championship rings with the 'Bad Boy Pistons,' both are now justly seen as legends in Motor City.
Related: “I don't need to take that s**t!” — when Isiah Thomas broke his hand after punching Bill Laimbeer
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