Detroit Pistons: Ranking the Pistons’ 21st Century All-Stars
The Detroit Pistons are a storied franchise, unfortunately, many of those stories take place longer ago than we’d care to admit. Since the 2000 season, Detroit has had 17 all-star game bids across eight players. Some of these stars spent only short and unimportant stints in Detroit, while others forged hall of fame careers in the Palace.
Since this week is without regularly scheduled basketball, and since the Detroit Pistons are not represented at All-Star Weekend, let’s look back on the glory days.
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This list will rank all eight players on their time in Detroit. Any accolades or accomplishments outside of their time in Detroit are totally irrelevant.
Detroit Pistons’ All Stars: No. 8 Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson was not The Answer in Detroit. In less than a season, he put up decent numbers, nothing special considering his career, and caused a lot of problems.
His massive ego allowed him to think he was still a superstar that a team should build around, and Detroit was not the fit he thought he needed, and he was not the fit the Pistons knew they needed. Thanks but no thanks.
If you only play 54 games for the team, last place is where you belong.
Detroit Pistons’ All Stars: No. 7 Jerry Stackhouse
Jerry Stackhouse came close to winning rings with Detroit, Dallas, and Miami. In Detroit, Stackhouse was a pretty big-time scorer who didn’t accomplish much, individually or as part of a team.
He actually wasn’t actively bad like Iverson was, he deserved his 2001 All-Star nod, but outside of a few very good years, he was just a better-than-average journeyman.
He was the anti to the Go to Work Pistons that followed. Not a lot of defense, and inefficient scoring, although the offensive numbers weren’t bad.
Detroit Pistons’ All Stars: No. 6 Blake Griffin
Blake Griffin may be remembered as the best LA Clipper the franchise has ever seen, but this list is about Detroit. His first full season on the Pistons gave him his only All-Star nomination, and one could argue that it was the most well-rounded season of his career.
The transition to Detroit saw the high-flying dunker turn into a more back-you-down, knockdown jump shot scorer. He also became a veteran leader on a playoff team, although age took its toll and Griffin has been steadily declining up until his buyout, which mercifully saved the Detroit Pistons some future cap space.