Continuing my 5-part series on creating the ultimate Pistons line-up, We will focus on the small forward position. The small forward is probably the most skilled person on the basketball court. They usually have good height and weight and offensive or defensive skills. Throughout the Pistons’ history, They’ve had some outstanding small forwards. Whether it be “The Palace Prince” Tayshaun Prince, “The Big Nasty” Corliss Williamson, or George “Bird” Yardley, The Pistons has always had some good ones.
This week’s piece is going to be tough. The following three positions will be challenging to write about because of the talent (or lack thereof.) So, who will join Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars in this all-time Pistons starting five? Will it be the all-around Grant Hill, The Defensive Menace Dennis Rodman, or do-it-all Dave Debusschere? We will see it later, but first, let’s show love to those who didn’t make it into my top three.
Honorable Mention: Adrian Dantley.
AD was a bucket. Unfortunately, he couldn’t be a part of the championship runs for the Pistons. Drafted 6th overall by the Buffalo Braves in the 1976 NBA Draft, Dantley would go on to average 20.3 points in his lone season with the Braves. He would be the 3rd player in the past five seasons to win the award playing for Buffalo. Dantley would then be traded to the Indiana Pacers for the 2nd leading scorer during the 76-77 season, Billy Knight. Dantley would become the first Rookie Of The Year to be traded following his rookie season.
Dominating In Utah.
Twenty-three games into the 77-78 season, Dantley was again traded. He was dealt to the Lakers for James Edwards, Earl Tatum, and cash considerations this time. Dantley would play 56 games for the Lakers during that season, finishing 2nd behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for points (19.4). Dantley couldn’t stay healthy, which allowed Jamaal Wilkes to showcase his talents. Faced with a challenge, The Lakers decided to go with Wilkes and traded 23-year-old Dantley to the Utah Jazz.
Dantley took that trade with Utah personally. In the seven seasons Dantley played in Utah, AD averaged 29.8 PTS. In four of the seven seasons in Utah, Dantley averaged 30+ points during the season. Dantley would also appear in the all-star game six of the seven years he played in Salt Lake. The ultimate goal was to make the playoffs, and Dantley had only seen the postseason three of the seven years in Utah. With a newfound focus of John Stockton & Karl Malone being the primary focus, Dantley was traded after the 86 season to Detroit.
Couldn’t Accept Being Robin.
With the trade to the Pistons, The goal was to have another dynamic scorer besides Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars. In his first season in Detroit, Dantley saw his number decrease from 29.8 to 21.5. Dantley saw his touches decrease with Dennis Rodman’s emergence and high-energy defensive play. Another factor that saw Dantley not be as successful in Detroit is he wouldn’t accept being the 2nd or 3rd option to a championship team. The lack of acceptance caused friction between Zeke and Dantley, which Dantley discussed in the Pistons 30 for 30 documentaries.
“I didn’t like him, and he didn’t like me. So he went to management and had me traded.” Said Dantley when asked about the relationship between the two in the documentary. Some may say that wasn’t why Dantley was traded, but the consensus around everyone affiliated with the Pistons was they needed a fresh start. Dantley was traded during the 88-89 seasons for Mark Acquirre, ending the three seasons in Detroit. He left with an average of 20.3 PTS, 2.5 REB, and 3.8 AST.
Honorable Mention: Mark Aguirre.
Mark Aguirre was the 1st overall pick in the 1981 NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks. Aguirre was paired with 9th overall pick Rolando Blackman to form a formidable 1-2 punch. In Aguirre’s first season in Dallas, Aguirre scored 2nd on the team despite only playing in 51 games (18.9 PTS). With Aguirre in the fold, Dallas went from a 15-win team in 80-81 to a 28-win team in 81-82. Aguirre would average 24.6 PTS, 5.0 REB & 3.1 AST in the eight seasons in Dallas. Attitude issues with players and coaches overextended his time in Dallas, and he was traded to the Pistons.
The Opposite Of Dantley.
Dantley had severe problems with Isiah Thomas that started to affect the team’s chemistry. Aguirre, on the other hand, was a good friend of Thomas’s. They both came from Chicago, and Aguirre participated in Thomas’s wedding. Another thing that was bothering Aguirre was the label he was given. He was putting up some good numbers, but those numbers weren’t amassing into wins.
That all changed when Aguirre got to Detroit. With the veteran leadership in play (Mahorn, Laimbeer, Dumars) and his childhood friend, Aguirre fit in perfectly with this Pistons squad. Aguirre saw the potential in Dennis Rodman, and instead of trying to hold him back like he did Detlef Schrempf, he embraced Rodman. With Aguirre’s idea and the starting lineup’s backing, Rodman became the starting small forward for the Pistons.
Dantley or Aguirre?
The numbers would say that the Dantley tenure was better than the Aguirre tenure. Team-wise, Aguirre was able to help the Pistons win back-to-back championships. Aguirre said in the 30-for-30 documentary, “comparison between the two was no comparison.” Aguirre was adamant about being the better player between the two. I would’ve loved to see AD win a championship to cement his legacy as an all-time great. Instead, he looked like a guy who just wanted his numbers.
Aguirre, with his championship, lifted that perception off of him but player to player; as much as I love Aguirre’s confidence, I think Dantley was the better play by a mile.
Dantley Personal Accolades
- 1976-77 ROTY
- 1976-77 All-Rookie Team
- 6x All-Star
- 2x Scoring Champ
- 2x All-NBA Team
- Hall Of Fame
- 24.3 PPG
Aguirre Personal Accolades
- 3x All-Star
- 2x NBA Champ
- 20.0 PPG
Both players were excellent and made an impact for the Pistons, but Aguirre’s was the most effective team-wise.
Now that we have the Honorable mentions out of the way, Let’s go ahead and make the case for the three players I think are in consideration for the small forward position in my all-time Pistons team.
Making A Case For Dennis Rodman.
Dennis Rodman was the most unpredictable player in NBA history. Whether it was going to party in Las Vegas the night before a game or Marrying himself, Rodman was fascinating in all the wrong ways. What if I told you Rodman was a saint in the NBA at one point? What If I told you Rodman was one of the quietest players in the NBA? Would you believe me? Probably not. But that is the case. Rodman is known as one of the all-time greats at power forward, but he started his career as a small forward for the Pistons.
The Light At The End Of The Tunnel.
After finishing High School, Rodman went on to work as an overnight janitor at Dallas Forth Worth International Airport. He had a massive growth spurt, going from 5’11 to 6’7. With that growth spurt, Rodman was allowed to play at Cooke County College in Gainesville, Texas, after a family friend told the coach about Rodman. Rodman averaged 17.6 Points and 13.3 Rebounds in his single semester at the school before flunking out due to poor grades.
Rodman transferred to Southeastern Oklahoma State University, an NAIA school. There, Rodman was a three-time NAIA All-American and led the NAIA in rebounding twice (1985, 1986). In three seasons (1983–1986), he averaged 25.7 points and 15.7 rebounds and registered a .637 field goal percentage. In 1986, he led his team to the NAIA semifinals, where he scored 46 points in a single game while grabbing a tournament-tying record 32 rebounds, as they finished the season with the highest ranking in school history, at No. 3 in the nation. This helped get him invited to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, a pre-draft camp for NBA hopefuls, where he won Most Valuable Player honors and caught the attention of the Detroit Pistons.
Mild Mannered Dennis.
Rodman was selected with the 3rd pick in the second round of the 1986 NBA Draft. In his first season with the Pistons, Rodman averaged 6.5 Points and 4.7 Rebounds in 15 minutes. His tough-minded defense in the limited minutes he played allowed Rodman to get more minutes on the floor. Rodman continued to see an increase in his role, finally taking over the starting small-forward part during the 89-90 season when he started the last 43 games. With his efforts, Rodman won the first of his two Defensive Player Of The Year awards.
During the 90-91 season, Rodman officially became the full-time starter at the small forward. He averaged 8.2 points and 12.5 rebounds, winning back-to-back DPOY’S. Rodman’s rebounding numbers continued to improve.
- 18.7 REB (91-92)
- 18.3 REB (92-93)
The Pistons were an old team, and after their loss to the New York Knicks in the first round, Chuck Daly retired. The resignation had a significant effect on Rodman. Add the divorce to the mother of his first child, Rodman; life was spiraling out of control. He contemplated ending his life in the parking lot of The Palace. With a loaded rifle in his truck, He didn’t go through with it as he fell asleep. This was the beginning of the end of his time in Detroit as he was before the 93-94 season to San Antonio.
Accolades.
Rodman had success everywhere he went. You can see why some regard him as one of the most excellent forwards in history.
- 2x All-Star
- 5x NBA Champion
- 8x All-Defensive Team
- NBA 75th Anniversary Team
- 2x All-NBA
- 2x DPOY
- 7X Rebounding Champ
- Hall Of Fame
This was a man who was working as a janitor at an airport. There was a chance that we never would’ve got to see the tenacity and hustle in this man’s game. Take all the other stuff away, and there’s no way you can tell me you couldn’t find a spot for Dennis on your team.
At the end of Dennis’s time, Detroit was just another piece that had left from the glory years.
- Isiah Thomas retired after the 93-94 season.
- Bill Laimbeer retired during the 93-94 season.
- Mark Aguirre leaves after the 92-93 season.
- John Salley leaves after the 91-92 season.
- James Edwards leaves after the 90-91 season.
With Chuck Daly resigning, A new era of Detroit basketball was now in place. Unfortunately, that new era was terrible. On the flip side, The Pistons’ bad stretch of basketball landed them Grant Hill with the 3rd pick of the 1994 NBA Draft.
Making A Case For Grant Hill.
Dennis Rodman had a hard time putting himself in the position he put himself in. Grant Hill was the complete opposite. Grant Hill was a man amongst boys playing in High School in Virginia. He would go on to win Virginia Mr. Basketball in 1990. He also would become a McDonald’s All-American and third-team Parade All-American in 1990.
Collegiate Greatness.
Hill had schools such as Georgetown, North Carolina, and Michigan interested in him. He ultimately decided to go to the University of Duke. He played four years with the Blue Devils and won national titles in 1991 and 1992. Duke became the first Division I program to win consecutive titles since UCLA in 1966–73. Hill won the Henry Iba Corinthian Award as the nation’s top defensive player in 1993, and in 1994, he was the ACC Player of the Year.
Some regard Grant Hill as not only the most outstanding player in Duke’s history but the most outstanding player in ACC history. He finished his four-year career with an average of 14.9 PTS, 6.0 REB, 3.6 AST, 1.7 STLS and 1.0 BLKS. He would go on to the NBA draft, where he was drafted 3rd overall by the Detroit Pistons.
“The First LeBron James.”
In Grant Hill’s first season in the NBA, He took the league by storm. He averaged 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.77 steals per game and became the first Pistons rookie since Isiah Thomas in 1981–82 to score 1,000 points. Hill ended up sharing NBA Rookie of the Year Award honors with Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks, becoming the first Piston since Dave Bing in 1966–67 to win the award. He also became the first rookie in any professional sports league to lead all-star fan voting. He defeated Shaquille O’Neal that year to get the nod.
Hill showcased his all-around abilities during the 1995–96 season by leading the NBA in triple-doubles (10). He also won a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta as a member of the U.S. men’s basketball team, where he had the team’s fifth-highest scoring average (9.7) and led the team in steals (18). Hill would also lead all players in all-star voting that year, beating out Michael Jordan for the accolade. Hill averaged 20.2 PTS, 9.8 REB & 6.9 AST in his second season.
In the 1996–97 season, Hill averaged 21.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He became the first player since Larry Bird in 1989–90 to average 20 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists in a season, an accomplishment that had not been duplicated until Russell Westbrook averaged a triple-double in the 2016–17 NBA season. Once again, Hill led the league in triple-doubles, where his 13 triple-doubles represented 35 percent of the league’s triple-double total that season. He finished third in MVP voting, behind Karl Malone and Michael Jordan.
Dominance In Detroit Continues.
Hill would continue his success through the 97-98 season, leading the league in assists amongst nonguards, which was his third consecutive season doing so. In the lockout-shortened 1999 season, he led his team in points, rebounds, and assists for the third time, joining Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor as the only players in NBA history at the time to lead their teams in scoring, rebounding, and assists more than once. Hill and Chamberlain were the only players in league history to lead their teams in points, rebounds, and assists per game three times.
In his last season with the Pistons, Hill averaged 25.8 points while shooting 49% from the field. Unfortunately, The Pistons couldn’t get to the next level and were eliminated by the Miami Heat after Hill re-injured his ankle during the series. That ankle would cause Hill’s career to do a complete 360. Hill had amassed 9,393 points, 3,417 rebounds, and 2,720 assists during his first six seasons. Oscar Robertson, Bird, and LeBron James are the only players in league history to eclipse these numbers after their first six seasons.
Now you see why Chauncey Billups said that Grant Hill was the first LeBron James during an episode of open court titled “You Remind Me.”
Accolades.
Grant Hill could’ve been one of the GOATS. Injuries suck! What a career this man had, though.
- 5x All-Star
- 1994-95 Co-Rookie Of The Year
- 1994-95 All-Rookie Team
- 7x All-Star
- 5x All-NBA
- 3x Sportsmanship
- Hall Of Fame
His career stats are 16.7 PTS, 6.0 REB, and 4.1 AST, leaving much more to dig into when considering the 19.9 PTS, 7.2 REB, 5.8 AST, and 1.5 STLS he averaged in Detroit. Should Grant Hill be regarded as the small forward of the 90s over Scottie Pippen? Let me know what you think.
I should have done Small Forwards first and got the hard part out. It’s incredible to see what these guys accomplished as Pistons. The 23-24 Pistons could use any of these guys to get them out of this funk. What I think the Pistons need today is a guy who will bring physicality to the team OUTSIDE of Isaiah Stewart. Dave Debusschere would be the perfect guy for this team.
Making A Case For DeBusschere.
Dave Debusschere was born and raised in Detroit. Coming from this city, you must be tough and strong-minded because people will do whatever they can to take advantage of you. He attended Austin Catholic Preparatory School, where he inspired the “White Shirted Legion.” He would have a successful high school career and played basketball and baseball at the University Of Detroit.
DeBusschere would average 24.8 PTS and 19.3 REBS in his three seasons at U of D. DeBusschere would go on to be a territorial pick of the Detroit Pistons, but the Chicago White Sox also signed him as an amateur free agent. He is one of 13 athletes to play in both the NBA and the MLB.
Jack Of All Trades.
In DeBusschere’s first season with the Pistons, He averaged 12.7 PTS and 8.7 REBS. Those numbers were good enough to get him a selection on the NBA all-rookie team. His second season was riddled with injuries, and he could only play in 15 games, averaging 8.6 PTS and 7.0 REBS. DeBusschere rebounded the following season, where he played in 79 games, averaging 16.7 PTS and 11.1 REBS.
During that 64-65 season, DeBusschere became the title of player-coach. This was impressive for a 24-year-old to take on dual roles and become the youngest-ever coach in league History. He would serve as the Pistons coach for the next three seasons, but his 79-143 record caused him to return to being just a basketball player. If there was a positive for DeBusschere being the coach, It allowed him to play in two consecutive all-star games when he was his coach. He would play one more year of all-star-level basketball before he was traded to the Knicks and became an all-time great in the Big Apple.
Accolades.
DeBusschere’s greatness came in New York but wasn’t a slouch in Detroit.
- 3x All-Star
- 68-69 ALL-NBA Team
- 62-63 All-Rookie Team
- NBA 50th and 75th Anniversary Team
Thank the Pistons for giving him the toughness of losing for him to go to the Knicks to become the player he was there.
The Final Verdict.
I think it’s evident that DeBusschere will be cut from this list. He’s a legend, but the numbers and accolades don’t match. Now, you’ll probably ask why put him on the list anyway. Well, because it’s my list, and he deserved some recognition. I didn’t put Aguirre or Dantley on the all-time consideration list because they weren’t a Piston long enough (Make sure to finish this piece).
So it now comes down to Grant Hill and Dennis Rodman. Grant Hill was the offensive ace, Perfect for the type of small forward I think would be perfect in today’s NBA. Dennis Rodman was a defensive and rebounding wizard who would thrive even more in today’s NBA. I wanted to put together a team based on positions, and in some ways, I am doing that with this selection.
Grant Hill will be my starting Small Forward, Dennis Rodman will be my starting Power Forward. I understand that Rodman was primarily a small forward for the Pistons, but in his last two seasons, he played power forward and averaged 18.5 rebounds in the 144 games from 1992 to 1993. I couldn’t leave these guys out of the starting lineup, so they both get starting spots.
Wait… There’s More.
With Rodman & Hill in the starting line-up, There’s a spot of backup small-forward that now comes into question. Who makes the team between Mark Aguirre, Adrian Dantley, and Dave DeBusschere? If we were going off the individual career, it would be DeBusschere. If we go off the Pistons’ legacy, it would be Mark Aguirre. Since it is the ALL-TIME PISTONS team, I think it would have to be the Pistons’ legacy. With that being said, I will have Mark Aguirre make this team.
Start: Grant Hill (Small Forward)
Start: Dennis Rodman (Power Forward)
Bench: Mark Aguirre
Cut: Dave DeBusschere
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