NBA Draft: Each team’s greatest draft pick of all-time

Greatest draft pick in Detroit Pistons history: Isiah Thomas

As far as two-way players go, Isiah Thomas ranks among the best at his position in NBA history. He was equally capable of scoring 20 points on a given night and simultaneously locking his matchup up.

The quickness this man possessed at both ends of the floor with his hands and feet may very well have been the best of his time. Offensively, he would break down any and all challengers with a flurry of dribble combinations and an elite first step that helped him blow past just about anybody.

On the defensive end, Thomas was a tenacious pest, sticking to the opposition no matter how hard they tried to shake him. His anticipation was so great that he averaged over two steals a game in five consecutive seasons to start off his NBA career and wound up with a career average of 1.9 a game.

Even more so, Isiah was a terrific floor general who would use his ability to get into the lane to make plays for others. The 12-time All-Star averaged 9.3 assists per game over the course of his career including four consecutive years in double-digits, leading the league in the 1984-85 season.

His play at both ends was the engine that made the Detroit Pistons go all the way to three straight NBA Finals and back-to-back titles in 1989-90. Dubbed the Bad Boys, those Pistons teams were best known for their physical and mental beatdown of opponents. That type of play was spearheaded by their leader and floor general.

Due to that aggressive and even dirty playstyle, Thomas’ reputation among NBA circles isn’t the best, but the numbers don’t lie. They say that independent of how some may feel about him, Isiah Thomas is one of the greatest point guards in league history with a near complete game at both ends of the floor.