One of the bad boy Pistons who helped make the late 80s Pistons a dynasty and one of the greatest defensive teams ever, but Joe Dumars wasn’t always considered a star. He was seen as a solid player and became the first player in NBA history to win finals MVP before making an all-star game; the other being Chauncey Billups in 2004. A players path to the NBA can sometimes take unexpected turns, such is the case with Dumars who originally wanted to play football. All five of his brothers played football and one brother eventually made the USFL. But Dumars eventually started to play basketball and got a scholarship to McNeese State. While at McNeese State Dumars became one of the schools bests, if not the best, player in it’s history. Dumars made an immediate impact his freshman year averaging 18 points. By his senior season he was averaging 26 points a game. Dumars played four full years at McNeese State playing in 116 games and having an average of 23 points and 4 rebounds.

He became a full time starter his second year and would remain a starter for the remainder of his career. He was paired in the back court with Isiah Thomas making one of the best back court duo’s in NBA history.

The Pistons became known as one of the best defensive teams of the late 80s and Dumars was a big reason why. Michael Jordan once called Dumars “the greatest defender I have ever seen”. Because of their defense and slower pace the Pistons began to see success on the court as well. In 1988 they made the NBA finals only to lose to the Lakers. In 1989 they made it again to face the Lakers. The Lakers were heavy favorites having swept their way to the finals and were two time defending champions and won 5 titles behind Magic Johnson. But the Pistons lead by Dumars shut the Lakers down and swept the Lakers and Dumars was named series MVP.

The Pistons made it back to the finals in 1990 to face the Blazers and once again come out on top. By this time many of the stars on the Pistons such as Thomas, and Bill Laimbeer began to age so it was up to Dumars to pick up the scoring slack, which he did. From 1990-1994 he averaged 20 plus points a game including a career best 23 a game in 1993 and was selected to six all-star games from 90-97.

Dumars was named part of Dream Team II which was sent to Canada and won the last World Championships for the United States. About this time age and injuries began to take their toll on Dumars. His numbered dipped and he routinely missed 20 or more games a season. The Pistons began to decline as Thomas retired and Dennis Rodman was traded to San Antonio. By 1994 Dumars was the only former bad boy Piston who was still playing regularly. Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer where on the team but had injury problems. The Pistons also only won 20 games that year leading to them getting Grant Hill in the draft.

Grant Hill would take over from the former bad boys as the face of the franchise. Thomas and Laimbeer retired in 1994, and Dumars would hang on for a few more productive years before retiring in 1999 at age 35. Dumars played in 1,018 games for the Pistons, averaging 17 points a game.

Dumars became the Pistons president of operations prior to the 2000 NBA season and immediately made an impact on the roster by trading Grant Hill to the Magic for Chucky Atkins and Ben Wallace. In 2002 he traded Jerry Stackhouse to the Wizards for Richard Hamilton, and in 2004 traded expiring contracts and picks for Rasheed Wallace. This would give the Pistons the core they needed to upset the Lakers in the 2004 NBA finals and win Detroit it’s third NBA finals.

Dumars was selected as the GM of the year in 2003 and he is still widely considered one of the best GM’s in the NBA.

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