With the announcement that Ben Wallace will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022, Detroit Pistons fans everywhere finally felt validation that Detroit was home to some all-time great individual players, as well as some all-time great teams. For more than a decade, Detroit basketball has been mediocre at best, and it’s nice to reflect on the success of years past.
Wallace is not the greatest Piston of all time, but he is surely near the top of the list. The Motor City has been home to many great basketball players, but not all of them are enshrined in Springfield. Ten Pistons stand out as the best in franchise history to not (yet) make the Hall.
Detroit Pistons: Vinnie Johnson, Guard, 1981-91
Johnson was never a starter for the Pistons, or for any team during his career. He was a two-time champion in ‘89 and ‘90, and although he was certainly nowhere near the best player on those teams, he was the perfect third option. He was never an All-Star, but is top-ten for the franchise in assists, steals, and points. As one of the greatest role players Detroit has ever had, he will not end up in the Hall, but he was a great player despite that and was the perfect third option behind a loaded backcourt of Thomas and Dumars.
Lindsay Hunter, Guard, 1993-00, 2003-08
Much like Vinnie Johnson, Hunter was never really a starter on the Pistons during either one of his stints, aside from in the very late 90s. Hunter was not a scoring threat, but he was the definition of a pest. He played more during his first run with Detroit and was better offensively. But coming off the bench during the 2004 championship run was when Hunter played the most suffocating and efficient defense of his entire career. He may not be remembered much outside of Detroit, but he is one of the most underrated players in franchise history.