Isiah Thomas is well aware of the notoriety that the Bad Boy Detroit Pistons gained during their time. Even though the Bad Boys were understandably hated by many fans back then, Zeke is certain there were also those who liked them or what they represent.
According to Zeke, it was easy to see the lasting impact of the ’80s Pistons on not only sports fans but even on pop culture. Thomas is convinced that Bad Boys resonated with those who wanted to embrace the bad boy persona in public but were definitely good at what they do.
Moreover, Thomas also believed they were connected to those who were lowly in their respective fields. For Zeke, the fact that the Bod Boys were able to reach these demographics of fans from different spaces speaks volumes about the Pistons’ legacy.
“We represented the underclass and the Lakers and the Celtics represented the upperclass of the basketball society, they were royalty,” Thomas told Slam in 2014. “We had a cast of characters on our team that were the underdogs. You look back now and there’s been two Bad Boys films and a company called Bad Boy. We definitely left our mark.”
The Bad Boy effect
In the NBA, being a member of the ’80s Pistons meant more than just representing their bad boy image. They also demonstrated it with their actions and demeanor, especially on the court.
That’s exactly what former Chicago Bulls forward Stacey King learned firsthand during a preseason game against the Pistons. King would never forget how the Pistons made a good player turn bad the moment he joined their team.
King had known that player for quite some time, and he never imagined that he would ever come to blows with him. At that point, King realized how strong the Bad Boys’ influence was on their players.
“Scott Hastings. He was playing on the Pistons. They signed him as a free agent. He’s not really a tough guy. He’s a good guy, nice guy but when you get put on that Detroit Pistons [team], it’s like putting on an evil suit,” King remembered on Bulls On Tap. “You become one of them [Bad Boys]. And so, he took on that persona. So, I was going for a rebound and I beat him again and he clotheslined me. And he threw me to the floor.”
The Baddest champs in NBA history
Thomas might be right or wrong about his belief that the Bad Boy Pistons’ influence went way beyond basketball. However, what would always remain a fact is that no matter how people viewed or labeled them, Chuck Daly’s men could play. In fact, they were a great team.
Led by Zeke, the ’80s Pistons dominated their rivals with their skills, physicality and grit. The Bad Boys reached the pinnacle of success in the late ’80s. They won the Eastern Conference Finals from 1987 to 1990 and secured their first back-to-back NBA championship runs in franchise history.
In all fairness to Thomas’ claim, the fans’ disdain for the Motor City squad was replaced by admiration during their heyday in the league. Perhaps, it’s also safe to say that at the time, a lot of people wanted to be like the Bad Boys.