New York Liberty coach Bill Laimbeer thinks an opposing star ‘should get hurt for’ playing blowout minutes against his team

Former NBA big man Bill Laimbeer is less known for coaching the New York Liberty these days as he is for his history of acting like a bit of a jerk, or any other word you’d like to use on your own, and away from the typeface of a family website like this. Both ends of that spectrum hit the news recently, when Laimbeer criticized the Minnesota Lynx for playing star guard Maya Moore deep into the fourth quarter of a blowout Lynx win over Laimbeer’s Liberty.

Moore, an MVP candidate that ended up winning the WNBA’s Player of the Week award for her work, played over 36 minutes in the 40-minute contest, one that saw the Lynx down the Liberty by an 88-57 score.

This was apparently enough for Laimbeer to say some pretty stupid things. It doesn’t take much. From Phil Ervin at FOX Sports North:

"I was a little disappointed when they left Maya Moore in the game to try and get player of the week again when the game was out of control," said Laimbeer, who spent 14 seasons in the NBA and earned a pair of championship rings. "She should get hurt for that."

Moore played 36 minutes, 18 seconds -- about 5 ½ minutes more than any of her teammates. The Lynx were a rotation player short without guard Monica Wright and were careful with forwards Rebekkah Brunson and Janel McCarville, both of whom missed time with injuries during the past two weeks.

Moore notched a season-high 28 points on 11-of-17 shooting, including 6-for-10 from 3-point range -- also the best-ever for the third-year pro.

The Lynx currently have the best record in the league, while Laimbeer’s team is languishing near the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 10-15 record. The Lynx are also coached by the much respected Cheryl Reeve, who was an assistant under Laimbeer when he coached the Detroit Shock to three WNBA titles. Ervin notes that Reeve characterizes her relationship with Laimbeer as “indifferent.”

My personal take on Bill Laimbeer is a little less innocuous, and a little less tactful than Reeve’s professional response. DM me for deets.