With the 2024 Paris Olympics underway, athletes from all over the globe from numerous sports are representing their countries with aims of winning a gold medal. In basketball specifically, players from various leagues and teams have been able to put fans on notice, whether they are in the NBA or not. That made me think, what former Detroit Pistons won gold while representing their countries in the Olympics?
*Only noted players with minimum of 35 games played in Detroit since the 1976 merger*
Jerami Grant - 2020 Tokyo Olympics (USA)
Held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic cancelling the games on their original date, USA was able to bring home the first place gold medal in the 5x5 basketball tournament. Among the star-studded names on the roster was forward Jerami Grant. Although having a rather short stint of two seasons in Detroit, it was with the Pistons where he found his career take a massive leap, averaging 20.9 PPG in those two seasons, cementing himself as the seventh-higest points per game scorer all time in the franchise.
In the 2020 games, Grant took more of a backseat role, playing in only four of the six games, averaging only one point in that span. Nonetheless, making the roster is an enormous success in itself, and Grant was able to bring home a gold medal to USA.
Tayshaun Prince - 2008 Beijing Olympics (USA)
Fan-favorite Tayshaun Prince is one of the most notable names when thinking of former Pistons to put on an Olympic jersey. Competing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics men's basketball tournament, Prince helped the "redeem team" go unbeaten and bring home their first gold medal since 2000 after an underwhelming 2004 run. His defensive prowess solidified himself on the team, all the while Prince averaged 4.3 PPG in all eight games for team USA, bringing home the gold.
Prince was a part of the 2004 NBA Championship Pistons team, and a big part of it. Most notably, Prince had a game-saving block on Pacers' Reggie Miller in the Eastern Conference Finals. His defensive effort on star Kobe Bryant in that same playoff run helped Detroit bring home their first banner in 14 years.