This should be fun.
Over the next month or so I'll count down the top 15 Detroit Pro Athletes of all time..
15) Chauncey Billups-->#1 Guard/Detroit Pistons (2002-2008)
While only a piston for 7 seasons, Detroit fans got to watch Chauncey grow into a truly great player on and off the court. Chauncey was a top 5 draft pick but bounced around the league until finding a home in Detroit. While known as a scorer for most of his basketball life, he changed into a true point guard while in Detroit (very difficult and humbling). In 2004, Chauncey's leadership and composure helped the Pistons reach the NBA Finals where they found themselves underdogs against the 3-time defending champion L.A. Lakers. The significance of the Piston victory in this series was bigger than a reason for Detroit fans to rejoice. It was cause for Pro Basketball to re-evaluate the need of a 'superstar' to win a championship. The Pistons beat the Lakers through devout teamwork and de-throned the invincible Lakers with Chauncey as the Finals' MVP. The following 2005 season saw Chauncey lead the Pistons to a franchise record 64 wins only to lose in game 7 of the NBA Finals to the Spurs. The Pistons made the Conference Finals all but one season that Chauncey was in Detroit and he made 3 all-star games, two all-NBA and two NBA all-defensive selections as a Piston.
Chauncey's First Game Back @ The Palace
14) Terry Sawchuk-->#1 Goalie/Detroit Red Wings (49-55, 57-64, 69)
Easily considered one of the top 5 goaltenders of all-time, Sawchuck was ranked 9th in Hockey News 'Top 100 Greatest Hockey Players'; the highest ranking for a goalie. The Hockey News is a very prominent CANADIAN publication, so their word is good enough for me, eh? Sawchuk's shutout record was only broken in 2009 by Martin Brodeur. He won four cups and four vezina trophies alongside a couple other guys that might find themselves on this list...NOT TO MENTION, this crazy bastard didn't wear a mask for most of his career. Yeah, think about that for a second. His job is to stop a hard rubber projectile that usually travels between 50-90 MPH and this dude didn't wear anything to protect his dome. Eat your heart out DWAYNE WADE.
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