Isiah Thomas ran the ship for one of the most iconic NBA teams of the 80s. The Detroit Pistons made their mark on the league with an attitude no one could duplicate. The physicality and talent of the "Bad Boy" Pistons were significant enough to earn the team two NBA Championships. Sadly, when discussing the greatest teams in league history, the Pistons are often forgotten. The franchise earned its back-to-back titles at a time when the league was having a changing of the guard. Thomas recently spoke about the Pistons' place in NBA history.
During an interview on All The Smoke, Thomas told show hosts Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson his feelings on the issue. Thomas stated, "What I would say, who’s been the most impactful team on the NBA, it’s the Detroit Pistons. When you look at our style of play, pick-and-roll basketball, stretch 5 in Laimbeer, small guards, you know, shooting from the perimeter. We didn’t have a post-up player. The way we influenced the game, little guys like myself, we weren’t supposed to win championships.”
Isiah Thomas Claims Pistons Are Most Influential Team
The term dynasty is for the elite. For most, the elite are franchises that have won three or more titles. The Pistons technically do not fit that description. However, it would be hard to tell the story of the NBA without mentioning the 89-90 Pistons. Those teams could arguably be the biggest adversaries to Michael Jordan's legacy. The 'Bad Boys' are the reason Jordan potentially doesn't have more than six rings. There's a reason Jordan has noticeably had disdain for Thomas after all these years.
The Pistons were a problem for the entire league during that era. Unfortunately, their success is sandwiched between two iconic eras. However, if you're old enough to remember or even read up on NBA history. You'll know how important Isiah Thomas and the Detroit Pistons truly are. Thomas should be proud of his time with the Pistons and what they accomplished. A franchise that was built by toughness and pure talent. For more on the latest stories from the NBA, stay locked in here at HNHH.
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