NBA Champions ·
2004 Detroit Pistons
The 2003-04 Pistons went 54-28 and upset the heavily favored Lakers in five for their first title since 1990. They did it without a star, built around Ben Wallace's defense and a midseason trade for Rasheed Wallace. Chauncey Billups won Finals MVP, and Detroit held one Finals opponent to 68 points.
Joe Dumars built a team with no scorer who averaged 20 a game and made it the point. Ben Wallace, an undrafted center, won Defensive Player of the Year. The deadline trade for Rasheed Wallace gave the frontcourt a second long defender and finished the roster.
Larry Brown's group played as a unit. Billups and Richard Hamilton handled the backcourt, Tayshaun Prince guarded wings, and the bench, including Lindsey Hunter, Mehmet Okur, and Corliss Williamson, kept the defense relentless. During the season Detroit became the first team to hold five straight opponents under 70 points.
The Finals were supposed to be a coronation for a Lakers team with O'Neal, Bryant, Karl Malone, and Gary Payton. Detroit took Game 1 in Los Angeles and won the series in five, smothering the Lakers offense and closing 100-87.
Billups took Finals MVP. The 2004 Pistons remain one of only three pre-2021 champions without a single player named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Championship roster
Featured in Ring Holders Club
| Player | Role | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Chauncey Billups | PG | 83 |
| Richard Hamilton | SG | 81 |
| Tayshaun Prince | SF | 76 |
| Rasheed Wallace | PF | 82 |
| Ben Wallace | C | 84 |
| Antonio McDyess | 6th man | 77 |
| Larry Brown | Coach | 88 |
Ratings are year-specific curated estimates for Ring Holders Club, not official NBA stats.
Rest of the roster
| Player | Pos |
|---|---|
| Lindsey Hunter | G |
| Mehmet Okur | F/C |
| Corliss Williamson | F |
| Mike James | G |
| Elden Campbell | C |
| Darvin Ham | F |