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Detroit Pistons: 25 Best Players To Play For The Pistons

By Phil Watson

Oct 8, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; A general view of The Palace of Auburn Hills prior to the game between the Detroit Pistons and the Brooklyn Nets. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; A general view of The Palace of Auburn Hills prior to the game between the Detroit Pistons and the Brooklyn Nets. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 7: Larry Foust #16 of the Fort Wayne Pistons shoots the ball against Paul Arizin #11 of the Philadelphia Warriors during Game Five of the NBA Finals on April 7, 1956 at the Philadelphia Civic Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Warriors defeated the Fort Wayne Pistons 99-88 and won the series 4-1. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1956 NBAE (Photo by Charles T. Higgins/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 7: Larry Foust #16 of the Fort Wayne Pistons shoots the ball against Paul Arizin #11 of the Philadelphia Warriors during Game Five of the NBA Finals on April 7, 1956 at the Philadelphia Civic Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Warriors defeated the Fort Wayne Pistons 99-88 and won the series 4-1. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1956 NBAE (Photo by Charles T. Higgins/NBAE via Getty Images) /

C. . Larry Foust. 8. player. 64. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Dispersal draft from Chicago Stags, Oct. 5, 1950.

One franchise’s ultimate defeat proved to be a major gain for another.

The Fort Wayne Pistons landed rookie center Larry Foust in a dispersal draft in October 1950, after the Chicago Stags folded just prior to the start of the 1950-51 season.

DET_08_FOUST
DET_08_FOUST /

Foust turned out to be an inspired addition, earning All-NBA honors in 1951-52 and 1954-55 and going to six consecutive All-Star games from 1951-56.

He led the NBA in field-goal percentage in 1954-55 and was third in 1955-56–helping the Pistons to the NBA Finals each season. He was second in the league in rebounding in 1951-52, third in 1953-54 and fifth in 1952-53, as well.

Foust was Fort Wayne’s leading scorer in a seven-game loss to the Syracuse Nationals in the 1955 NBA Finals, averaging 15.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in the series while shooting 40.4 percent from the floor and 72.9 percent at the foul line.

The following year, the Pistons lost in five games to the Philadelphia Warriors, with Foust averaging 19.4 points and 13.0 reebounds on 37.5 percent shooting overall and 84.3 percent from the free-throw stripe.

In September 1957, the now-Detroit Pistons traded Foust to the Minneapolis Lakers in exchange for Walter Dukes.

In seven seasons in Fort Wayne, Foust averaged 15.0 points and 10.9 rebounds in 32.9 minutes per game while shooting 40.4 percent from the floor and 72.4 percent at the line.

After averaging 15.2 points per game as a senior at La Salle, the Stags took Foust with the sixth overall pick in the 1950 NBA Draft, but folded before the start of the new season.

In February 1960, Foust was traded to the St. Louis Hawks, retiring after the 1961-62 season.

He is 49th in NBA history with an average of 9.8 rebounds per game.

Foust died Oct. 27, 1984, at the age of 56 after suffering a heart attack.

Next: Dobber Delivered As No. 1 Overall Pick

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