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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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PONTIAC, MI - CIRCA 1984: Kelly Tripucka #7 of the Detroit Pistons shoots over Louis Orr #55 of the New York Knicks during an NBA basketball game circa 1984 at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. Tripucka played for the Pistons from 1981-86. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kelly Tripucks; Louis Orr
PONTIAC, MI – CIRCA 1984: Kelly Tripucka #7 of the Detroit Pistons shoots over Louis Orr #55 of the New York Knicks during an NBA basketball game circa 1984 at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. Tripucka played for the Pistons from 1981-86. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kelly Tripucks; Louis Orr /

64. <strong>How acquired:</strong> 12th overall pick from Notre Dame, 1981 NBA Draft.. SF. . Kelly Tripucka. 19. player

The Detroit Pistons were coming off back-to-back 60-loss seasons, but were buoyed by having two first-round picks in the 1981 draft.

Kelly Tripucka had helped Notre Dame to a Final Four as a freshman, earned All-America honors as a sophomore and finished his career by averaging 18.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game as a senior.

DET_19_TRIPUCKA
DET_19_TRIPUCKA /

The Pistons used their second pick in Round 1 to take Tripucka with the 12th overall selection.

He was an All-Star and a first team All-Rookie selection in 1981-82 as the Pistons improved by 18 wins and laid the foundation for the Bad Boys title teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Tripucka added a second All-Star appearance in 1984.

He also led the NBA in minutes per game in 1982-83 while finishing third in scoring. Tripucka was also fourth in free-throw shooting in 1984-85, a season in which he missed 27 games with an ankle injury.

In August 1986, Tripucka was traded with Kent Benson to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Adrian Dantley and 1987 and 1990 second-round picks.

In five seasons with Detroit, he averaged 21.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.0 steals in 34.4 minutes per game, shooting .484/.330/.832.

After an injury-plagued second season with the Jazz, he was traded to the expansion Charlotte Hornets in June 1988 and was fourth in the NBA in free-throw shooting for Charlotte in 1990-91.

Unsigned after the 1990-91 season, Tripucka played one season in France before retiring in 1992.

Next: Hall Of Famer Quarterbacked Two Finals Teams

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