To celebrate the Detroit Pistons selecting fifth in the upcoming NBA Draft, I have decided to count down the five greatest Pistons of all time.
The Pistons have a long history with plenty of great players dating back to their days playing in Fort Wayne.
The Pistons have won three championships with the help of 25 different members of the Hall of Fame, and more that really should be in the hall of fame. We’re rooting for you Chauncey!
Greatness has many definitions among NBA fans, some think Michael Jordan is the greatest of all-time, some think it may be Kobe Bryant or LeBron James. I’ve even seen people say it’s Shaquille O’Neal.
My definition of greatness for the purposes of this article are as follows: how long a player played for the team, achievements with the team, legacy with the team, and of course, statistical accomplishments with the team.
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Before I get into the top five, there are a few names that need to be mentioned to avoid blasphemy.
Dave Bing
Stats: 20.3 points, 6.0 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game covering nine full seasons with Detroit.
One of the first stars to play for the Detroit Pistons, Bing was an elite scorer who never failed to score over 18 points per game with the Pistons.
George Yardley
Stats:19.1 points, 1.7 assists, and 8.9 rebounds per game in six seasons with the Pistons.
Yardley was the first star to play for the Pistons, beginning his career in Fort Wayne before moving to Detroit. He was the first NBA player to score 2,000 points in a season.
Grant Hill
Stats:21.6 points, 6.3 assists, and 7.9 rebounds per game over the span of six seasons with the Detroit Pistons.
Hill was the beginning of the post Bad Boys era for the Pistons, making 5 All-Star appearances in his first six seasons. Hill was a perennial All-Star and MVP candidate before injuries led to him playing more of a supporting role later in his career.
Hill won rookie of the year and made numerous All-NBA teams with Detroit.
Bill Laimbeer
Stats:13.5 points, 2.0 assists, and 9.7 rebounds per game spanning 12 and a half seasons in Detroit.
Laimbeer made four All-Star games and played the Mr. Reliable role for the Pistons as he rarely missed a game despite playing in an incredibly physical era and being a key member of the Bad Boys.
As many know, the Bad Boy Pistons won two championships and Laimbeer was a major role in both of them.
