The 10 Best Detroit Pistons, According to a Chicago Bulls Fan
Everyone is biased towards their favorite teams. Writers, fans, front office personnel, and the like will say so-and-so is the best because they feel they know who is based on their time with/cheering for a team.
The best opinion comes from those from outside the bubble, in this case, from a beloved Chicago Bulls fan.
This article comes from a little bit younger fan (24), but research and familiarity do play a role. More often than not, a player transcends time because of his accomplishments, and that is how their name is remembered.
With that being said, here is a look at the 10 best (despite hated) Detroit Pistons, courtesy of the Windy City.
10. Ben Wallace
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One thing we know is true. Ben Wallace has, and will always have, the best afro in basketball history (respect to the entire 1970's decade).
Beyond the hair, Wallace supplanted himself as one of the best defenders in the NBA for half a decade-plus, as well as with the Pistons in team history. What is also astonishing was his lack of height, measuring up to 6'9'', not exactly towering for a big man.
He is the fourth all-time leading rebounder in Pistons history.
9. Chauncey Billups
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Billups was Captain Clutch during the 2004 championship run. In his time with Detroit, Billups showed the same talent flashes of Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars. His leadership was also unparalleled, especially since the '04 Pistons were considered a team without a superstar.
His leadership is dearly missed, but Denver is not complaining.
8. Dennis Rodman
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Dennis Rodman got to show off his eccentric personality while a member of the "Bad Boy" Pistons. Along with Bill Laimbeer and Isiah Thomas, Rodman played some rough ball.
Throughout his career, Rodman was known for his grit, defense, and uncanny ability to get the ball off the rim, no matter who was on him.
In seven seasons with Detroit, Rodman collected more than 6,200 rebounds.
7. Bill Laimbeer
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The original bad boy, Bill Laimbeer was a menace while Detroit picked up back-to-back championships.
The man had a mouth, but the mouth also had some legit talent attached to it. No one in Pistons history has more rebounds than Laimbeer.
Despite his bad attitude, Bill became a respected WNBA coach, but has since left the coaching scene. Every team hated No. 40, but every team also wished that they had him, or at least someone who could shut him up.
6. George Yardley
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The original Piston is next after the original bad boy.
The Motor City is indebted to Yardley, who was an amazing scorer, and the first famous player to wear a Pistons jersey.
Yardley was the first player in NBA history to score 2,000 points.
5. Grant Hill
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Grant Hill was supposed to be the face of the Detroit Pistons from the mid to late-1990's going forward. For a small period of time he was, and he was also one of the best in the game.
Grant Hill is one of the sad exhibits of what happens when bad injuries strike good people.
Despite his injuries, it is tough to not think of Hill as a top 10 player for this franchise.
4. Bob Lanier
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Bob Lanier is the all-time leader in points per game in the Motor City, averaging more than 22 points per game, while rocking the underrated red jerseys in the 1970's.
Lanier was the first overall pick by the Pistons in 1970, and was later inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991.
Lanier was the model for consistent scoring, averaging 20 points per game in his career. He was also a good person on and off the court, and continues to do a lot of philanthropic work with the NBA.
He was one of the best people to ever play in Detroit, and gets a bump to the top four because of it.
3. Dave Bing
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Just like Lanier, Dave Bing was a consistent scorer on so really bad Pistons teams.
The 1967 Rookie of the Year averaged over 22 points a game in his career, and was an NBA All-First Team selection twice.
Bing was also Jim Boeheim's roommate at Syracuse.
After basketball, Bing became a successful businessman heading the Bing Group, and is now the mayor of Detroit.
2. Joe Dumars
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Simply put, Joe Dumars was a winner. A member of the back-to-back championship teams, Dumars was also the 1989 NBA Finals MVP.
Detroit was the only team that Dumars played for, which speaks volumes to his character. Even though he was on the bad boy teams, Dumars never lost respect of his peers while going to battle with some hard-nosed teammates. Four All-Defensive first team nods is a testament to his hard, but clean play.
Joe D. is currently the President of Basketball Operations for the Pistons. His No. 4 was retired by the organization.
1. Isiah Thomas
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The second pick in the 1981 NBA Draft is undoubtedly the face of the franchise. Isiah Thomas was the leader of the bad boy champ teams, and played with an edge few smaller players could.
Before there was Reggie Miller to hate in the Midwest, there was Isiah Thomas.
The Chicago native holds the team record for points, assists, and steals. Thomas, like Dumars, only donned the the Pistons uniform in his career.
