Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Putting together a top 10 list for the Detroit Pistons is different than putting together a similar list for other NBA teams. Scoring statistics don’t come into play as much as defense, which is harder to quantify. In some other lists of NBA franchises with a long history, I’ve put some guys from the 50’s on the list. I didn’t do that here though I’ll use this space to give George Yardley a shout out. So, with that out of the way, here we go.
10: Dennis Rodman
Before he became a circus act/basketball player, he was more of a basketball player. And an outstanding one. In seven seasons with the Pistons, he was a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Three times he led the league in offensive rebounds. Twice he led the NBA in total rebounds, averaging over 18 boards per game. Though he averaged only 8.8 ppg, he was a high percentage shooter, hitting 53.7% from the field. He was a key member of those championship Bad Boys teams.
9: Dave Bing
In the late 60’s and early 70’s, the Pistons had some bad teams. Pistons fans did, however, have Dave Bing to watch. In nine seasons with the Pistons, Dave averaged 20.3 ppg and 6 assists. Bing was a volume shooter, leading the NBA in both shot attempts and field goals made in the 1967–68 season. He did the same thing in free throws attempted and made in the 1970–71 season. Dave was a six-time all-star with Detroit and comes in at number nine on this list.
8: Tayshaun Prince
If you look at Tayshaun Prince’s stats alone, he doesn’t make this list. He averaged 12.2 ppg and 4.7 rebounds. He did play in all 82 games in 5 of his 7 seasons in Detroit. Prince’s calling card was defense. He did average 1.1 steals and one block per game. To really get the picture you just had to be there.
7: Vinnie Johnson
On teams that relied mostly on defense The Microwave provided instant offense. Like Tayshaun Prince, stats don’t tell the story. Vinnie averaged 12.7 points ppg to go with 3 assists and 3 rebounds. Vinnie shot 46% from the field and 74% from the line, but it’s his quick scoring bursts that gets him on this list. That was especially handy come playoff time.
6: Chauncey Billups
Mr. Big Shot was a key component in the Pistons 2004 NBA championship. In 8 seasons with the Pistons, Billups averaged 16.5 points and 6.5 assists. Billups wasn’t a great percentage shooter from the field, hitting 42.2% of his shots overall, but was good from three-point range, hitting nearly 40%. He also shot 89.2% from the foul line. Billups is another Piston whose value went beyond raw statistical data.
5: Bill Laimbeer
Laimbeer was one of the baddest of the Bad Boys. He was the anchor to those championship teams. In his 13 seasons in Detroit, Bill averaged 13.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. He also averaged 1.5 blocks, which was remarkable for a guy who couldn’t jump. Laimbeer had a nice mid-range jump shot (using the term jump loosely) shooting almost 50% from the field. He was an effective defensive player. In addition, he was also durable. In 11 full seasons with the Pistons, he never played fewer than 70 games. Bill Laimbeer, one of the most hated Pistons, and one of Detroit’s favorite sons.
4: Grant Hill
Hill spent six seasons with the Pistons, averaging 21.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists. He was both talented and versatile. He also had three seasons in the top 10 in defensive wins shares. Hill was smooth and acrobatic, somewhat of a departure from many of the other guys on this list. Unfortunately for Hill, there wasn’t a lot of talent surrounding him during his days in Detroit.
3. Joe Dumars
One of the most complete guards of his time, Joe had a14- year run with the Pistons, averaging 16.8 points and 4.7 assists. Joe was a good long-range shooter, hitting 38.2% from beyond the arc. He was also reliable at the free throw line, shooting 84.3%. Dumars was a key offensive weapon on those Bad Boys championship teams. Joe was one of the less snarly members of those teams, but also one of the most important.
2: Bob Lanier
Bob and his size 22 feet had a soft shooting touch and plenty of size. He used these to put up some great numbers in his 10 seasons in Detroit, averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds. Lanier shot 51.4% from the field and was an excellent free throw shooter, hitting 77 % of his shots from the line. Lanier elevated all those stats in the playoffs, scoring 25.6 points per game and shooting 54.1% from the field and 84% from the line. Here’s an interesting tidbit, Lanier ranked number one in defensive rating in the 1973–74 season. During the mid 70’s, Bob was one of the most dominant players in the NBA.
1: Isiah Thomas
Isiah Thomas has one of the most engaging smiles in sports. It reminds me of the old song, Smiling Faces. They tell lies. On the court Thomas was a fierce competitor and the leader of those Bad Boys teams. At about 6′ tall, Thomas was extremely quick and was able to get to the hoop as well as distribute the ball. Thomas spent all 13 of his NBA seasons with the Pistons. He averaged a whopping 9.1 assist per game and led the league with 13.9 assist per game during the 1984–85 season. Isiah was in the top 10 in that category 10 times. He was also an effective scorer, averaging 19.2 ppg. Thomas was also in the top 10 in steals five times. Isiah was also able to shut Michael Jordan down. Of course, that was in an all-star game when he was one of Jordan’s teammates and froze him out. No doubt that made the Pistons-Bulls rivalry even hotter. Isiah Thomas, the number one Detroit Piston.
There’s my list. How does it compare to yours? Let me know.
