The 21 Greatest NBA stars that played for a single team

NBA stars that played for one team #21: Joe Dumars

When Joe Dumars was selected 18th overall in 1985, it was hard to predict the type of career that he would have. Dumars would spend his entire career in Detroit and was a crucial member of the iconic Bad Boy Pistons. The Bad Boy Pistons were dominant during the 1980s and early 90s and managed to wrestle control of the Eastern Conference away from Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics.

They were known for their hard-nosed defense and physical style of play but also had plenty of scoring. Dumars was a key part of their game plan on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he complimented star Isiah Thomas well, providing him with a reliable scorer and passer, while on defense, he was a lockdown guard, as evident by his making five all-defensive teams during his prime.

With Dumars, the Pistons had a stranglehold on the East, making five consecutive Eastern Conference Finals and three straight NBA Finals. They lost the first one to Magic Johnson and the Lakers, but thanks to Dumars’ strong play, the Pistons returned the favor by winning the following year, with him being named Finals MVP.

They would repeat as champions in 1990–91 before the Chicago Bulls knocked them off. Even after the Bad Boy Pistons’ run effectively ended, he continued to play well into the mid-90s, making his last of six all-star teams just two years before he retired. Overall, Dumars spent 14 seasons with the Pistons, playing a total of 1018 games.

His time with the Pistons wasn’t done, however; he later became GM of the team and constructed a group of outcasts into the second Bad Boy Pistons team. They would make six Eastern Conference Finals and back-to-back NBA Finals, winning the championship in 2004.