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The Detroit Pistons are one of the oldest clubs in the NBA, founded in 1941. Although exceptional talents have come and gone, a few stand out due to their record-setting performances.
The Detroit Pistons have not been as successful as the Boston Celtics or LA Lakers but remain a storied NBA franchise. Their aggressive brand of basketball that was prevalent in the 1980s earned them the moniker, "The Bad Boys."
For their valiance in the last three and a half decades, they were rewarded with three NBA championships and five conference titles. Even with the playoff success they have enjoyed, the Detroit Pistons are not exactly the model NBA franchise in terms of consistency.
However, the Bad Boys era will go down as one of the most dominant periods by a franchise in league history. Players like Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer, and Joe Dumars plied their trade with the Detroit Pistons in this era.
The Detroit Pistons will perhaps return to their glory days following the signing of the No. 1 prospect in the 2021 NBA Draft class, Cade Cunningham. As we await things to unfold in the new season, let's take a look at the top five players in the Detroit Pistons' history.
#5 Ben Wallace
Ben Wallace was an elite rim protector for the Detroit Pistons after joining them in 2000. Although not much was expected of him, the big man revamped his game and became a force in the paint.
Wallace did not make significant contributions on the offensive end. But nothing was getting past the big man on defense.
He was a key piece in their 2004 championship run, as he averaged 14.3 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, and 1.9 steals. Wallace also won NBA Defender of the Year in 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2006. Among other individual accolades, he led the league in defensive win shares for four consecutive seasons from 2002.
#4 Chauncey Billups
Chauncey Billups did not spend as much time with the Detroit Pistons as other players on this list. However, he made a huge impact, especially in the playoffs.
The Detroit Pistons took a chance on Billups in 2002 and were rewarded with the best playoff run in franchise history. The first three years of his career were injury-filled, which is why many thought he was not going to live up to the expectations that came with being a No. 3 pick.
However, Billups' resurgence came when he signed with the Detroit Pistons. He had the best scoring record with the Pistons, averaging 16 points each season in the six years he spent with the franchise.
Billups led the Detroit Pistons to at least the Eastern Conference Finals in each of the six years he spent at the franchise. In 2004, they won the NBA Finals, and he was awarded the NBA Finals MVP title. They tried to achieve a back-to-back but fell to Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs in the 2005 NBA Finals.
#3 Bill Laimbeer
Bill Laimbeer was a cornerstone of the Detroit Pistons' hard-nosed defense during the Bad Boys era. He was an elite shot-blocker, as well as a top rebounder.
Laimbeer is the No. 1 rebounder in franchise history following his dominant display on the glass for six consecutive seasons. He led the team in rebounds from 1983-1989 and was the league's top rebounder in 1986.
In the 12 years he spent with the Detroit Pistons, he averaged 13.5 points and 10.1 rebounds. He also made four All-Star appearances and helped the team win two championships in 1989 and 1990. His No. 40 jersey has been retired by the Pistons.
#2 Joe Dumars
Joe Dumars played for the Detroit Pistons throughout his professional career. On both ends of the court, Dumars was exceptional, making plays on offense and forcing stops on defense.
Dumars holds a special place in the Detroit Pistons lore, mainly because of his achievements as a player and an executive. After winning two NBA championships in 1989 and 1990, he returned to the franchise as an executive and helped the team win their 2004 championship. He is the only Piston that played a part in all three championship victories.
The Hall of Famer leads the Detroit Pistons in number of games played (1,018), as well as three-pointers made (990). He also made five NBA All-Defensive teams, six NBA All-Star appearances, and was the NBA Finals MVP in 1989.
#1 Isiah Thomas
Isiah Thomas is by far the best player to have ever put on a Detroit Pistons uniform. He was the leader of the backcourt duo that led the Pistons to back-to-back championship runs during their Bad Boys era.
Watching Thomas play was a sight to behold. He was mainly responsible for denying Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls a deep run in the NBA playoffs before 1991. It is worth noting that he is widely recognized as the second-best point guard in NBA history, behind the legendary Magic Johnson (although many would argue Stephen Curry is on the verge of going past the Pistons legend).
Thomas played his entire career with the Detroit Pistons, making 12 All-Star appearances in 13 seasons. He leads the franchise in minutes played, points, assists and steals, all by a healthy margin.
Guess the Lakers players!
