Top 5 Detroit Pistons of All Time

By Fuad Shalhout

Top 5 Detroit Pistons of All Time

Andrew D. Bernstein-Getty Images

The Detroit Pistons are one of only nine NBA franchises since 1980 to taste championship success, having won three titles in 1989, 1990 and 2004. As you might expect, there’s a ton of rich history and prominent players that have been through the team’s pipelines. I’ll be ranking the top five greatest Pistons ever. The factors to determine the list are production, accolades, number of years played with the team and, of course, championships.

5. Bill Laimbeer

bill laimbeer detroit pistons

5. Bill Laimbeer

bill laimbeer detroit pistons — Think of Bill Laimbeer, and you think of the baddest ‘Bad Boy’ of them all. Hard fouls, clotheslines, trash talk, arrogance--Laimbeer was by far the most hated player during his time. But he brought so much more than just dirty antics. Laimbeer was an excellent rebounder, three-point shooter and interior defender. He played a preeminent part in the Pistons’ back-to-back titles.

4. Chauncey Billups

chauncey billups detroit pistons

4. Chauncey Billups

chauncey billups detroit pistons — No one saw Chauncey Billups blossoming into the player and leader he became in Motown. Billups struggled early in his career, but It wasn’t until the summer of 2002 when he signed as a free agent with the Pistons that his career took off. He became the face of the franchise (along with Ben Wallace) and a fan favorite while propelling Detroit to an NBA title in 2004 (Finals MVP) and made six consecutive conference finals.

3. Ben Wallace

ben wallace detroit pistons

3. Ben Wallace

ben wallace detroit pistons — Big Ben epitomized exactly what it meant to be a Detroit Piston. Hustle, energy, effort and determination all were a given whenever he stepped on the floor. During his first stint with Detroit (2000-06), Wallace was the premier defender in the NBA, winning four Defensive Player of the Year awards, making five All-NBA teams and playijng in four All-Star games. Wallace was also the backbone of the 2004 championship team.

2. Joe Dumars

joe dumars detroit pistons

2. Joe Dumars

joe dumars detroit pistons — One of the best shooting guards of his era, this two-time champion and 1989 finals MVP played his entire 14-year Hall of Fame career with the Pistons. Dumars had the ability of shutting down the other team’s best player, while also giving you 17-20 points. What can arguably be even more impressive is what he did as an executive after his career, building the 2004 championship team from scratch and without any “superstars.”

1. Isiah Thomas

isiah thomas detroit pistons

1. Isiah Thomas

isiah thomas detroit pistons — He’s simply the best. There isn't a more iconic Piston than Isiah Thomas. Thomas played his whole career with Detroit and was named to 12 All-Star teams and five All-NBA teams while winning two titles. Post career, he’s been an executive of the Toronto Raptors, head coach of the Indiana Pacers and executive of the New York Knicks. But as he’s said many times before, he’ll always be a Piston.

Fuad Shalhout is a Detroit Pistons writer at RantSports. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your circles on Google.

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