The Next Detroit Pistons’ Fan Favorite
By Ryan Carlson
The Detroit Pistons have historically had some of the roughest, grittiest players in the NBA. Who will be the next Piston to have the hearts of Detroiters?
When you grow up loving a team you also learn about the players who came before the current ensemble. As Detroit Pistons fans, there are names we learn that far exceeded their actual basketball talent. These players captured our city’s heart with more than just offensive beauty and finesse. Detroit Pistons’ history is full of players who were poised to get everything out of their talent and with hard work and grit became fan favorites and Pistons’ legends.
A player like Jerome Williams, The Junkyard Dog, was on the team during an abysmal time in Pistons’ history; yet, the Palace crowd adored him. His offensive skills were nothing to brag about, but his sheer grit and toughness earned him great respect with Pistons’ fans. On a team with offensively gifted players like Allan Houston and Grant Hill, one could argue Jerome Williams was the fan favorite.
Another player, made from the same ilk, was Lindsey Hunter. His offensive game was Jordan-like in comparison to Williams, but that’s not why he was a fan favorite. Instead, the 6-foot-2 Hunter was an absolute grinder on defense. He would single-handedly run a half-court press that resulted in many eight-second violations. His feet were quick and he’d position himself perfectly for offensive charges. Also, his equally quick hands would cause big turnovers in crunch time. Then, for added adoration, he’d knock down a big shot or two and the crowd would go crazy.
The beautiful thing about the Pistons is that their history is full of defensive guys who were relentless, blue-collar, hard-working players who never had to have commercials, shoes, or endorsements to be overwhelmingly embraced by the fans. Other gritty defenders and special players include, but are not limited to: Ben Wallace, Dennis Rodman, Corliss Williamson, Bill Laimbeer, and Rick Mahorn.
What’s exceptional about the Pistons’ historically is they’ve also been able to get guys who are equally as unique and tough offensively as well. One player, in particular, was so loved that it turned into must-see-television whenever he checked in, and that was Vinnie “The Microwave” Johnson. He would check into a game and it would be an instant heat-check. He once scored 22-points in the fourth against the Lakers fresh off the bench in an offensive clinic. Also, he was the man in another game every Detroiter remembers, when he hit the big shot against the Portland Trailblazers with 0.7 seconds left to clinch back-to-back championships. Since he left Detroit, it would be safe to say they have never truly replaced him.
Another player who was absolutely the embodiment of Detroit sports toughness was Joe Dumars. Joe D is unique in that he was named one of the 50-best players of the NBA during the 50-year celebration, so it is obvious he was more than just toughness and grit like the ones mentioned before him. But really, Dumars was a combination of short-burst quickness, beautiful shooting stroke, exceptionally quick lateral speed, and humble cockiness. He never backed down from an isolation against Michael Jordan, he never switched off screens when his assignment was to stop Clyde Drexler, and he never flinched at having to put a body to the floor when someone was trying to get into the paint.
Other offensive crowd favorite include, but are not limited to: Isiah Thomas (this goes without saying), Richard Hamilton, Chauncey Billups, Jerry Stackhouse, and sharp-shooting Terry Mills (he would have a place in today’s NBA). Each and every one of those players had the mix of personality and ability Detroit fans love and adore.
It would be foolish to mention Detroit favorites and not mention Dave Bing, Bob Lanier, Dave DeBusschere, and George Yardley. Historically, those names are common and they are known through passed down stories, but in actually witnessing them play or the crowd’s reaction to them as players, I would not be able to do them justice for the were before my time.
With an eye on the current Pistons’ roster, and our exciting young core, it will be with great anticipation to see which one of the new guys capture the heart of Detroit like the Pistons of the past. Certainly, guys like Marcus Morris and Stanley Johnson seem like two prime candidates for Detroit-type fan favorites. One could certainly envision a defensive grinder and big shot taker like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope taking the honors as well. Not to mention, Tobias Harris looked very Detroit-worthy in his short stint with the team last season. Maybe rookie Henry Ellenson has some grit and grim to go with his offensive arsenal.
Next: The Detroit Pistons think they can match up with anyone
The one constant with the Detroit Pistons throughout their history, they have peaks and valleys like all-teams, but they turn out the toughest, roughest, anti-superstars in the entire league. Who is our next fan favorite?