Every single NBA team’s Mount Rushmore of stars

Apr 2, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) look on in the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) look on in the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Detroit Pistons Mount Rushmore, Isiah Thomas
Isiah Thomas – Detroit Pistons Mount Rushmore (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

The Mount Rushmore of the Detroit Pistons

  • Dave Bing
  • Joe Dumars
  • Isiah Thomas
  • Ben Wallace

Isiah Thomas led the Detroit Pistons to back-to-back NBA championships in an era that included Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan. Let that simmer for a second and then try to argue that anyone else should be the first name mentioned here.

Thomas ranks first in franchise history in points, assists, and steals, and was both the engine and the heart and soul of the Bad Boys teams that put the franchise in the record books.

Playing alongside Thomas during those years was Joe Dumars, who actually won the franchise’s first Finals MVP award. Dumars is universally respected and praised as a lockdown defender who was never afraid of the big moment.

While this is limited to playing days, Dumars’ case could even be strengthened by the fact that he also constructed the championship team of 2004 as general manager.

Back on the court, you can’t talk about the Pistons without mentioning Dave Bing. Bing became a six-time All-Star in Detroit, additionally winning Rookie of the Year in 1967, the scoring title in 1968, and earning All-NBA First Team honors in both 1968 and 1971.

Bing also helped end a four-year postseason drought and starred alongside Bob Lanier when the Pistons made their push for prominence in the 1970s.

It was difficult to leave Lanier off of this list, as he may have been a better player than Ben Wallace. Wallace helped create the identity of the Pistons teams of the 2000s, however, which included a championship in 2004 and an NBA Finals appearance in 2005.

Wallace was also a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, which is tied for the most in NBA history with Hall of Fame center Dikembe Mutombo.

Next: Pioneers and a Fresh Face