Detroit Pistons: Top 10 Pistons’ rookies in franchise history
Detroit Pistons top ten rookies: No. 4., Isiah Thomas
Isiah Thomas is the greatest Piston of all time in my opinion, but his rookie season only ranks fourth in the top ten.
Thomas averaged 17 points and 7.8 assists as a rookie, which is even more impressive when you consider the Pistons were terrible. Those numbers not only got him on the All-Rookie team, but Thomas also made the NBA All-Star team as a rookie, an achievement he would match in the first 11 seasons of his career.
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Thomas was the pick that started turning things around for the Pistons and he eventually led them to their longest period of sustained excellence and two franchise titles.
“Zeke” came into the league as a lightning fast point guard who could score in bunches and played smothering on-the-ball defense.
It’s crazy to think of a rookie point guard making the All-Star team but Thomas came into the league ready to dominate after being taken second overall in the 1980 draft.
It’s tough to believe, but there are still three Pistons’ rookies who had better first seasons than Isiah, including one teammate.