Every NBA team’s Mount Rushmore
By Ian Levy
Detroit Pistons
Isiah Thomas was the leader of the Bad Boys Pistons of the 1980s who brought two championships home to Detroit. His passing, shooting and dribble penetration where the counterpoint to the team’s bruising frontcourt physicality. Thomas played his entire 13-season career in Detroit and is still the team’s all-time leader in points, assists and steals.
Joe Dumars was the perfect complement to Isiah in the Pistons backcourt, incredibly durable with stout perimeter defense and a very reliable 3-point shot. Dumars was the Most Valuable Player in the 1989 NBA Finals, helping Detroit sweep the Lakers for their first title.
Bob Lanier was the heart and soul of the Pistons for 10 seasons before the Bad Boys came together. Lanier made seven All-Star Games as a Piston and averaged an intimidating 22.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.0 blocks per game. He wasn’t part of either championship era in Detroit but was still an incredible important figure in the team’s history.
Ben Wallace never averaged double-digit points per game for the Pistons (or anywhere else in his career) but was one of the best defensive players in the league. Wallace was the backbone of the team that upset the Lakers in 2004 Finals, and had a run of six seasons where they at least reached the Conference Finals. Wallace won four Defensive Player of the Year Awards during his time in Detroit.