Top 10 Detroit Pistons draft picks of all-time

5. Bob Lanier (1970, first round, first overall)

Career stats: 20.1 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.5 blocks

Lanier made our all-time Detroit Pistons first-team list with a ridiculous career average of 20.1 points and 10.1 rebounds.

During his time with the Pistons he made seven all-star teams (eight in his career), and averaged a franchise best for points per game over a career at 22.7 points per game. He was also the 1974 NBA MVP.

Lanier’s dominance dates back to his college days when he took St. Bonaventure University to the final four in the 1970 NCAA tournament. That season, Lanier averaged 27.6 points and 15.7 rebounds.

While those numbers don’t speak to his accomplishments as a Piston, it does speak to his talent level, which virtually carried every team he was a part of.

Former Pistons’ great Dave Bing said that Lanier’s hook shot was rivaled only by Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and that Lanier could shoot the 18-20 footer as well as any guard, which was unheard of at the time for a post player.

Lanier’s career only had one blemish–he never won a title– which is likely why we don’t hear about him as often as we should.

Next: Grant Hill