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Top 5 centers in Detroit Pistons history

By Brandon Marlow

Apr 24, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) takes a shot against Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) during the second quarter in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) takes a shot against Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) during the second quarter in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Bill Laimbeer

If you’re a Pistons fan you most likely love Bill Laimbeer.

If not, you probably hate his guts.

It’s easy to forget just how good Laimbeer was at playing basketball thanks to his habit of getting into fights with opposition players.

Laimbeer came to the Detroit Pistons from the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1981-82 season and became a star almost overnight.

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He went from averaging 6.7 points and 5.5 rebounds in 17.9 minutes a game on the Cavaliers, to averaging 12.8 points and 11.3 rebounds in 31.2 minutes a game.

Laimbeer was able to do literally everything.

He was a great rebounder who led the league in 1985-86 with 13.1 a game, while also being a very handy passer and defender.

Arguably his most impressive ability was to shoot the three ball, something almost unheard of for a center in the 80s and still a rarity today.

His 33 percent clip doesn’t seem all too special by today’s standards, but back then it was impressive and he even had multiple seasons where he shot over 36 percent from behind the arc.

The fact that Laimbeer was also able to throw his weight around as an enforcer was just icing on the cake.