Detroit Pistons: 10 best rookie seasons in franchise history

AUBURN HILLS, MI - MAY 18: Grant Hill #33 of the Detroit Pistons is presented the 1995 Rookie of the Year Award on May 18, 1995 at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. 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 1995 NBAE (Photo by Lou Capozzola/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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9. Joe Dumars (1985-86)

The Hall of Fame career of Joe Dumars did not get off to a blazing start. His rookie season was similar to Joe D himself: Very solid but quiet, before turning it up a notch and shining brightest on bigger stages.

Dumars, a first round draft pick out of McNeese State, put up a perfectly respectable regular season stat line, averaging 9.4 points and 4.8 assists per game as a part-time starting shooting guard. That was good enough to earn a spot on the league’s All-Rookie Team, but it wasn’t exactly a promise of future stardom.

Then in the playoffs, Dumars took his game to another level. Although Detroit lost its first round series to the Atlanta Hawks, Dumars — a full-time starter at that point — averaged 15.0 points and 6.3 assists per game. In the Pistons’ one-point elimination Game 4 loss that went to double-overtime, Dumars played 53 minutes and posted 18 points and 11 assists.

He soon established himself as a staple of the Pistons organization. He was a defining member of the “Bad Boys” squads, helping Detroit win back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990, copping Finals MVP in 1989. Dumars was a six-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA selection and five-time All-Defensive pick, and after his playing career helped bring another championship to Detroit in 2004 as team president.

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