Top 4 debuts for the Detroit Pistons: Can Ausar Thompson join them?

Which Detroit Pistons have had the greatest debut performances?

2. Grant Hill (Rookie – 1994) – 25 points, 5 assists, 10 rebounds

Grant Hill came to a floundering Detroit team and immediately was one of the best Pistons on the court; His debut proved exactly that. Just 22 years old, the third overall pick led the Pistons in points and assists with 25 and five respectively, while also tying for the team-high in rebounds at 10. It was apparent that Hill was going to be an immediate all-star surrounded by extremely lackluster talent, which sadly would encompass much of Hill’s time here in Detroit. Still, his debut was nothing short of incredible.

1. Isiah Thomas (Rookie – 1981) – 31 points, 11 assists, 3 rebounds

Isiah Thomas, the second overall pick in the 1981 draft out of Indiana, came to rescue the Detroit Pistons after the disappointing 1980 season. After being slighted by not going number 1 overall in the draft, that being Mark Aguirre to the Dallas Mavericks, Isiah seemed determined to make the mistake known immediately. During his debut against the Milwaukee Bucks, Thomas would finish with a double-double, recording 31 points and 11 assists. This debut was not only impressive within Detroit record books, but nationally as well. Thomas’ performance is still one of the only 20 and 10 debuts in NBA history, joining the likes of Oscar Robertson and Damian Lillard, among others. His outstanding play would continue throughout his career and fuel the Bad Boys’ championship runs over the next decade.

Tonight, Ausar Thompson, Marcus Sasser and Joe Harris will try to crack this group in their debuts against the Miami Heat. Can Thompson’s defense and stat-stuffing put him into the Pistons’ history books?