The Detroit Pistons have had some all-time greats over the years, but also plenty of forgettable players, most of whom wore high numbers.
A player’s uniform number is a superficial but important part of their career, as it’s the number we identify them with, and in some cases, like Michael Jordan’s #23, it becomes an iconic and powerful marketing tool.
The best players have a say which number they wear, while the others get stuck with whatever is left over, which is why you can usually (not always) tell how good a player is simply by the number they wear.
Here are the best Detroit Pistons to wear each uniform number, starting with #97 and working our way down to zero.
The best Detroit Pistons to wear each uniform number
Scrub and veteran one-offs
These players were the only ones to wear their particular number, which is the only way they were going to make it onto a “best player” list:
#97: Eugene Omoruyi
Briefly won over Pistons fans with his hustle, but then undid all of that good will by taking a group photo with his former teammates on the Thunder after they had just handed Detroit a tough loss, not a good look.
#91: Deividas Sirvydis
#88: Markieff Morris
#84: Chris Webber
One of many players the Pistons signed who were past their prime, Webber wore this number because the Detroit Pistons had already retired Joe Dumar’s #4, which was his preferred jersey number.
#81: Jose Calderon
Did play for Detroit for very long, but did have one amazing stretch of shooting.
The best Detroit Pistons to wear each uniform number
We jump from the 80’s all the way to the 50’s, which shows you how players try to avoid those high numbers, which usually signify you are not long for the NBA.
#55: Delon Wright
Five different players wore this number and Wright was the only one who has had an actual NBA career. Shout out to Luka Garza.
#54: Kent Benson
Benson played for Detroit for 6+ seasons and had one where he averaged 15 points and seven rebounds, which is the best of this group of five. Shout out to Jason Maxiell.
#53: James Edwards
Only played just over three seasons for the Pistons but won titles in two of them as the starting center. Big Buddha was an underrated part of those title teams.
#52: Don Reid
#51: Boban Marjanović
Boban!
#50: Otis Thorpe
Ten different Detroit Pistons wore this number, but none were as good as Thorpe, who had a long, productive career, including two seasons for the Pistons when he averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds per game.
The best Detroit Pistons to wear each uniform number
Ok, we are finally hitting some Pistons uniform numbers worn by some of the greatest players in franchise history.
#45: Adrian Dantley
Young fans never got to see this guy play, but he was an absolute bucket. A force on the post and the mid-range, Dantley was one of the best scorers of his generation. Unfortunately for him, he got traded right before the Pistons started winning titles, but he was a two-time scoring champion and a guy who averaged over 24 ppg for his career. Six other players wore this number, including the ill-fated Sekou Doumbouya.
#44: Rick Mahorn
Twelve different Detroit Pistons have worn this number, including Bojan Bogdanovic, who has it now, but Mahorn gets the nod as the enforcer of the Bad Boys era.
#43: Terry Dischinger
Played six seasons with Detroit in the 60’s that were interrupted by military service, but made an All-Star team in one of them in which he averaged over 18 per game. Shout out to fan favorite Anthony Tolliver.
#42: Jerry Stackhouse
Thirteen players wore #42, but Stack was the best of them and still holds the Pistons’ single-game scoring record.
#41: Saddiq Bey
Nine very medicore players wore this number for the Pistons, so take your choice from Bey, Mark West, Elden Campbell and Terry Tyler.
#40: Bill Laimbeer
Strangely the only Detroit player to wear #40, as one of the greatest Pistons’ centers of all time, Laimbeer probably would have made the list anyway.
The best Detroit Pistons to wear each uniform number
We’re now getting into some of the most popular numbers in team history.
#39: Željko Rebrača
This number isn’t one of them, as Željko Rebrača is the only one who ever wore it for the Detroit Pistons.
#38: Saben Lee
Only three Pistons ever wore this number and they were all terrible, so I am giving it to Lee, as I always liked him. No shout out to Kwame Brown.
#37: Jack Smiley
You have to go back to the 40’s to find a player who wore this uniform number. Smiley is the only one. I guess players don’t like prime numbers.
#36: Rasheed Wallace
One of my personal favorite players of all time, he was one of three players to wear this number for Detroit.
#35: Phil Hubbard
Twenty players wore this number for the Pistons, which ties it for the fourth-most. Unfortunately, they were all bad. That includes current Piston Marvin Bagley III and former Piston, Christian Wood, so I am just going to give it to some guy who played in the 1980’s.
#34: Corliss Williamson
Fourteen players wore this number, and you could certainly go with Tobias Harris here, but I like Big Nasty, who was one of the most underrated Pistons of all time.
#33: Grant Hill
‘Nuff said.
#32: Richard Hamilton
Ditto.
#31:
Better argument would be who was the worst player to wear this number. My vote goes to Darko Milicic, but Charlie Villanueva certainly has an argument. All 13 players who wore this number were bad.
#30: Rasheed Wallace
His first number with the Detroit Pistons, though you could also argue for Clifford Robinson here.
The best Detroit Pistons to wear each uniform number
We are entering much deeper territory for great players.
#29: Leo Mogus
Only two players ever wore this number and they both did it in the 1949 season for Fort Wayne.
#28: Isaiah Stewart
Shout out to Arron Afflalo, but I’m going with Beef Stew.
#27: Zaza Pachulia
Rough, rough number here that also includes Buddy Boeheim. Let’s move on.
#26:
Only five players ever wore this number and they were all terrible.
#25: John Long
Seventeen players have worn this number including guys like Derrick Rose, Reggie Bullock, Kyle Singler (ugh) and Amir Johnson. Long was easily the best, as he had a productive 8-year career with the Detroit Pistons and put up some big numbers. Marcus Sasser hopes to eventually take over this spot.
#24: Jimmy Walker
Twenty-three players have worn this number for the Detroit Pistons, but Walker made two All-Star teams in the 1960’s and 70’s while doing it.
#23: Blake Griffin
He didn’t do it for long, but Griffin had one outstanding season for the Pistons. This spot will eventually be held by Jaden Ivey.
#22: Dave DeBusschere
Some good ones wore this number, including Tayshaun Prince, John Salley and Ricky Pierce.
#21: Dave Bing
One of Detroit’s all-time greats regardless of number.
#20: Allan Houston
Twenty-five players wore this, tied for the most in team history, and it’s mostly a list of mid players like Kevin Knox, Josh Jackson, Jodie Meeks and Carlos Delfinio.
The best Detroit Pistons to wear each uniform number
These are starting to get a little easier.
#19: Reggie Harding
#18: Bailey Howell
Four-time All-Star for Detroit during the 50’s nad 60’s.
#17: Bob Houbregs
Somehow 14 players have worn this doo doo number and they were all bad to mediocre, though Houbregs did make an All-Star team for the Lakers.
#16: Bob Lanier
It hangs in the Pistons’ rafters.
#15: Vinnie “Microwave” Johnson
One of the great bench scorers and clutch performers of all time.
#14: Andy Phillip
Shout out to Ish Smith. This one has been worn recently by players like Stanley Umude, RJ Hampton, Cassius Stanley and Louis King who were not long for Detroit.
#13: Mehmet Okur
James Wiseman hopes to own this spot one day but right now that honor goes to the Turkish Hammer.
#12: George Yardley
Twenty-five players have worn this number but Yardley was a five-time All-Star who straddled the Fort Wayne to Detroit transition.
#11: Isiah Thomas
The greatest Piston of all time and probably the greatest NBA player to ever wear #11, though that is certainly debatable.
#10: Dennis Rodman
I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed watching someone play basketball more than The Worm.
The best Detroit Pistons to wear each uniform number
The best of the single digits.
#9: Jerami Grant
I predict that rookie Ausar Thompson will take this spot soon.
#8: Fred Schaus
This number seems cursed, as it was worn by Henry Ellenson, Ben Gordon and Bison Dele.
#7: Kelly Tripucka
I’m convinced this number IS cursed, as after Tripucka (who was amazing), it has been worn by Ben Gordon, Brandon Knight, Brandon Jennings, Stanley Johnson, Thon Maker and Killian Hayes. Stay away from #7.
#6: Ben Wallace
Greatest Pistons’ center of all time with no offense to Bob Lanier. This was the second number he wore for the team. Shout out to Terry Mills.
#5: Happy Hairston
Twenty-five players have worn this number, most of them draft busts and cast-offs, but Happy Hairston (who had a great name and amazing sideburns) had two seasons of 18+ppg for the Detroit Pistons.
#4: Joe Dumars
When you factor in his time in the front office, he’s arguably the greatest Piston of all time.
#3: Ben Wallace
Let’s just put Big Ben on here twice. This is the number he wore in his first stint with Detroit.
#2: Cade Cunningham
Strangely, only three guys have worn this number for the Detroit Pistons and Cade is already the best of them.
#1: Chauncey Billups
Duh.
#0: Andre Drummond
He thinks he should be a Hall of Famer, but I’m guessing that by the time Jalen Duren’s career is finished, he will be here.
*Five players wore 00, but no one notable.