The Detroit Pistons have showcased hall of fame talent at all positions, none more than at point guard, and Cade Cunningham hopes to join them.
With players like Dave Bing, and Finals MVP winner Chauncey Billups, the list of great Pistons’ point guards is not easy to crack. There have been several guards who made their mark in the NBA while representing the city of Detroit.
This list will be based entirely on the player’s contribution during their Pistons’ career. So players who may have had success elsewhere won’t make the cut. This is to highlight their achievements, accomplishments, and contributions to the Pistons organization.
Without further ado, here are the top-5 point guards in Pistons’ team history.
Cade Cunningham cracks the top-5 point guards in Pistons’ history
No. 5 – Cade Cunningham
Some may feel it’s way too early for this, but Cade Cunningham has made the cut and deservingly so. As a rookie, he set several records for the franchise in terms of combined points, assists and rebounds, while demonstrating the demeanor of a seasoned veteran.
He’s a very cerebral player who can torch a defense. NBA superstars have given high praise to Cade early on in his young career. After a 130-123 win over the Detroit Pistons Nets’ star Kevin Durant had this to say.
"When you got a 6-7 PG, S--T, it's a good start....somebody that can wreck a whole defensive game plan....They got length and toughness down the line....I can see this team being a force to be reckoned with in the future."
— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) March 30, 2022
-Kevin Durant on Cade Cunningham, #Pistons pic.twitter.com/ePMRpbbgn5
He said this following Cade’s career high 34-point game in which he scored 29 in the second half. Watching him play it’s hard to imagine he’s a first year player with only 63 games under his belt.
Cade Cunningham’s record-breaking rookie season
It’s not the praise that warranted a place on this illustrious list, it’s his versatile skill set. He’s one of only 10 rookies to average over 17/5/5 in NBA history. Other players on the list include Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, and Luka Doncic to name a few.
In his rookie season Cade set scoring records for the franchise. He scored 20 or more points in seven consecutive games, tying him with Kelly Tripucka who set the mark in the 1982 season. He’s scored 20+ points in twenty-five of his sixty-three games played proving to be a valuable scoring threat at the point guard position.
He also managed to record the most triple doubles as a rookie with two, doubling Grant Hill’s previous record from over twenty-five years ago. He’s currently seventh all time on the franchise’s triple doubles list, and could be second within his first 100 games.
Cade’s showcasing versatility, patience, and the fundamentals of Tim Duncan in his rookie season. He has more 25/5/5 games than all other rookies combined in the best since draft since 2004. He could be the first Pistons player to win rookie of the year since Grant Hill.
Cade Cunningham has the potential to be one of the greatest players in Pistons’ history and has already done enough in a small sample size to be the 5th-best point guard the team has ever had.
Top-5 point guards in Pistons’ history
No. 4 – Gene Shue
Gene Shue was with the Pistons from 1957-1962 playing in 440 career games with the organization. You may not be familiar with this legendary Pistons’ great, but his six seasons with the Pistons were some of the best on record for the franchise. Even though he played in a much different era his impact on this team will not be forgotten.
Shue averaged 18.3 points 5.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists during his stint with the Pistons, averaging over twenty points in consecutive seasons. His 18.3 points is still third all-time for point guards, proving his numbers can stand the test of time.
He was selected to the All-Star game five times, starting with the inaugural season in Detroit back in 1958. This five-year span was influential to an organization that was looking to gain notoriety in its new city. He and George Yardley (led the league in scoring in 1958) were a dynamic duo during those days, building the franchise we celebrate today.
The two-time All-NBA player was an innovator, and pioneer revolutionizing the game. He’s credited for creating one of the most known moves in basketball, the “spin move” yes he’s the first one to perform the legendary maneuver. Who would’ve thought that the most common basketball move was created by a Pistons legend?
Shue passed away recently at the age of 90 but left his mark on the game of basketball.
Top-5 point guards in Pistons’ history
No. 3: Chauncey Billups
Chauncey Billups bounced around after being drafted by the Boston Celtics with the third pick in the 1997 draft. When he finally made it to Detroit he instantly found his home. In his eight seasons he averaged 16.4 points and quickly turned the team into a winning powerhouse with his leadership and clutch play.
Billups is now immortalized in Pistons’ history, a legendary figure and NBA Champion. He’s a 5x all-star, 2x All-NBA player known as Mr. Big Shot to fans in Detroit. His point guard play was the perfect blend of scoring and distributing, turning his offense up when needed.
Billups is recognized by many as the best shooter in team history. He made 890 threes, second only to Joe Dumars for the franchise. His 39.7 percent from three is sixth all-time showing exactly how deadly he was from downtown. He led the offensive attack that saw the franchise play in five straight Eastern Conference Finals.
In 2004 he led the Pistons to the Finals, taking on the hugely-favored Lakers and shocked the world by beating LA in five games, demolishing one of he greatest duos in NBA history and stopping Karl Malone from getting his highly coveted championship as well.
Mr.Big Shot’s resume speaks for itself, he doesn’t need an introduction in Motown. He’s one of the most recognizable figures in Detroit sports. He orchestrated the offense for the “Goin To Work” squad and he is the third greatest point guard in franchise history.
Top-5 point guards in Pistons’ history
No. 2: Dave Bing
Long before Dave Bing was the mayor of the city of Detroit, he was a hall of fame point guard. Bing’s jersey hangs from the rafters at Little Ceasers Arena, representing the years of excellence he provided the Pistons. He’s a ambassador for the city and has been for quite some time.
As a rookie, Bing averaged 20.1 points 4.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists, exploding onto the scene as one of the most exciting players in the league in his first year. He was a scoring guard who had the league at his mercy.
Bing’s individual accomplishments as a player include All-Star MVP, and Rookie Of The Year. He’s a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary team and a real Pistons’ legend. Similar to Grant Hill, he never accomplished major team success, but it wasn’t because of him.
In his nine seasons in Detroit he was a All-Star six times, never scoring less than 18.8 ppg. In his second year he led the league scoring for the Pistons scoring 27.1 and dishing out 6.4 assists, making his first All-Star appearance that same season.
The three time All-NBA point guard started his Hall of Fame career in Pistons blue. He was the pinnacle of Pistons point guard play. After being retired for over forty years his 22.6 ppg is still second all-time only behind Bob Lanier. He wasn’t a one-trick pony though, after his rookie season he averaged seven or more assists four times in Detroit.
His career numbers in a Pistons uniform were 22.6 points 6.4 assists 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals. He’s second in points, second in assists, and yes he’s the second greatest Pistons’ point guard in franchise history.
Top-5 point guards in Pistons’ history
No. 1: Isiah Thomas
Isiah Thomas is the epitome of Detroit basketball.
He showed heart, the will to be great, the competitive fire you want from a Pistons player and more. He is responsible for bringing the franchise to its most prominent peak, and winning back to back championships.
Isiah Thomas’s debut was electric scoring 31 points and dropping 11 assists and he never stopped. He’s one of the greatest point guards in league history, not just the Detroit Pistons. He was the catalyst to the whole “Bad Boys” era, and the driving force behind three straight Finals appearances.
Thomas was an All-Star in 12-of-13 seasons for the Pistons, a mark that may never be beaten. He averaged 19.2 points, 9.3 assists, 3.6 rebounds and two steals per game for HIS CAREER.
In arguably his best individual season, Thomas averaged 21 points and nearly 14 assists, which led the NBA.
Isiah Thomas is not only the Pistons’ greatest point guard but arguably their greatest player, who led the Bad Boys and set the tone for the future of the franchise.