11 People who turned their backs on the Detroit Pistons

#3: Kobe Bryant 

Kobe and the Detroit Pistons were part of one of the greatest “what ifs” in NBA history, as the team reportedly tried to trade for Bryant in 2007. 

You have to wonder how things would be different had that trade gone through, as the Pistons might have been able to extend their run of dominance in the Eastern Conference and who knows, maybe win another title or two behind one of the greatest players of all time. 

But Kobe reportedly used his no-trade clause to nix the idea of going to Detroit, and eventually finished with the team that drafted him as a lifelong member of the LA Lakers. 

The deal was reportedly done, as Jerry Buss had agreed to a package of Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Amir Johnson and a future first-round pick, but Detroit was not on the list of teams that Bryant was open to going to. 

The worst part is that Grant Hill was reportedly set to return to Detroit if they had landed Kobe, but that never happened either. 

In some alternate universe, Kobe Bryant won an MVP while playing for the Pistons, but it wasn’t this one.