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r/DetroitPistons•
odor31

Top 25 Detroit Pistons of All-Time (need your help)

Discussion

I'm working on a project and I need help deciding the top 20 Pistons of all time. Assuming that the retired numbers mean some of the best to ever play in a Pistons uniform, I'm going to assume that the following 10 have made the list:

  • Chauncey Billups
  • Ben Wallace
  • Joe Dumars
  • Dennis Rodman
  • Isiah Thomas
  • Vinnie Johnson
  • Bob Lanier
  • Dave Bing
  • Rip Hamilton
  • Bill Laimbeer

As for the final 10, let me know who should be off of this list and who was left off of the list (11 currently listed).

  • Grant Hill
  • Rasheed Wallace
  • Rick Mahorn
  • Adrian Dantley
  • Kelly Tripucka
  • Jerry Stackhouse
  • Dave DeBusschere
  • Mark Aguirre
  • Tayshaun Prince
  • George Yardley
  • John Long

Posted Oct 25, 2017, 7:08 PM UTC · edited

1021
befuddered•

Gene Shue - 5 time Piston all-star.

7
odor31OP•

Instead of?

2
befuddered•

John Long for sure. Probably Aguirre as well.

4
GraemeTaylor•

Probably Aguirre as well.

Aguirre was important for the Bad Boys, in my opinion. Especially culture-wise.

1
befuddered•

One of, if not the, least important members, IMO. Played 5 years, averaged around 24 min, 14 points, and 4 rebounds. Mediocre defender and playmaker, mostly a chucker. All-star with Dallas, past his prime when he got here. Top 20 Piston all-time? I don't think so.

5
felix39•

I agree with this. Aguirre wasn't really culturally important to that team, in my opinion, and he wasn't as good of a scorer once he got here, compared to his time in Dallas.

1
Thousandtree•

I would have Andre on there over someone like John Long. As frustrating as he has been, he has been the face of the franchise for a number of years now, while also the all time rebound per game leader (which is pretty big considering he beats out guys like Rodman, Lanier, and Ben Wallace). He's creeping up the top 10 lists in total rebounds and blocks. John Long was pretty good, but he was always second third or fourth banana on bad to ok teams. I would rank Lindsey over him, just based on how long he was a Piston and how he was a key contributor to a championship (not saying he belongs on the list, just that he would be ahead of Long).

5
odor31OP•

I agree there.

3
Halbridious•

Your 10 are fine.

Hill has to be on there. (11)

Debusschere and Yardley, and Bailey Howell (4 time all-star in DET, HOF). Those guys defined the early NBA and an early franchise. Larry Foust is from the Fort Worth days but was the OG star for the franchise, deserves a nod. (at 15)

Dantly and Aguirre are weak picks - both way better on other franchises, You can leave either off. If you're playing pick up and you're grabbing guys they go before others but their Pistons careers are a little less impactful (both there for big runs obviously, just neither the star of those shows).

I'd have Prince and Sheed on there - Prince is sneakily like top 10 in win shares on the team. Mahorn as well. Stackhouse has less of a legacy here but probably deserves the recognition. (Up to maybe 19, I'm wavy on stack)

Long, Tripuka are solid picks, good historical impact but they're the last 2 on the board here for me. (Maybe 20, 21)

Combing through BBall Reference for stuff always makes this hard to call, what do you value - time played, box stats, win shares etc...

4
odor31OP•

I count 11. Who do you leave off? Is it between Long and Tripucka? I'd go Trip since he achieved more as a Piston I believe.

1
Halbridious•

To shave it down to 20, maybe Long. If you go top 25 you've still got 4 spots to go though, and maybe you can get funky (for example, Lindsay Hunter is like, top 10 in minutes played for the pistons, if that counts for something).

1
BigBlitz•

Kyle Singler

4
StuckeywasnotDwadev2•

Rodney Stuckey

2
jbOOgi3•

Don't forget Darko milicic

3
odor31OP•

Didn't I list him on the retired numbers list?

4
Randey_Bobandy•

Hill Dantley Stack Sheed Prince Mahorn

not saying they all deserve to have their jerseys retired but they could ball

2
johnazoidberg-•

I'd say leave off Earl Lloyd (historically great, but you could write the story of the Detroit Pistons without him), Lindsey, Rick, Bailey Howell, and Dre

1
odor31OP•

Thanks. I was contemplating between 20 and 25, and I think I was reaching with 25. Dwindled it down to 21. It's hard for me to leave Rick off the list, but we'll see.

1
salmon10•

Bailey Howell

1
GraemeTaylor•

As much as the numbers support it, it just feels wrong putting Tripucka and Stackhouse on this list.

1