Fansided

Every NBA team’s greatest draft pick of all time

By Dre Elder

Jun 15, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) celebrate after game five of the 2014 NBA Finals at AT&T Center. The Spurs beat the Heat 104-87 to win the NBA Finals. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 15, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) celebrate after game five of the 2014 NBA Finals at AT&T Center. The Spurs beat the Heat 104-87 to win the NBA Finals. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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AUBURN HILLS, MI – APRIL 10: Former Detroit Pistons Isiah Thomas and Dennis Rodman pose with the NBA trophies during a halftime ceremony at the final NBA game at the Palace of Auburn Hills between the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards on April 10, 2017 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI – APRIL 10: Former Detroit Pistons Isiah Thomas and Dennis Rodman pose with the NBA trophies during a halftime ceremony at the final NBA game at the Palace of Auburn Hills between the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards on April 10, 2017 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

The Detroit Pistons fired Dick Vitale as head coach 12 games into the 1979-80 season. Detroit finished 16-66 that season. The Pistons were coming off their worst two year stretch in franchise history ahead of the 1981 NBA Draft.  They lost a combined 127 games and were completely hapless. Then, they struck gold. The gold came in the form of a 6-foot-1 point guard.

The Pistons used the second overall pick in 1981 to draft Isiah Thomas. The Chicago native promptly became their best player and was named a starter in the 1982 All-Star Game as a rookie. By Thomas’ third season, Detroit led the league in attendance as fans piled into the Pontiac Silverdome to see the “Baby-Faced Assassin.” Thomas was a ferocious competitor despite having the physical appearance of the local paper boy.

One of Thomas’ crowning career moments came in defeat. He hobbled through an ankle injury to score 25 points in the third quarter of Game 6 in the 1988 NBA Finals. Thomas finished the game with 43 points, 8 assists, and 6 steals. Detroit lost the game and ultimately the series against the Los Angeles Lakers. The loss helped spawn the Pistons’ transformation into the “Bad Boys.” They devastated the NBA over the following two years with a physical and arrogant style of play. Thomas led Detroit to back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990.

Isiah Thomas played his entire career for the Detroit Pistons. The 12-time All-Star retired in 1994 with career averages of 19.2 points and 9.3 assists per game. Thomas was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000. He’s arguably the best small guard of all-time.

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