2025 NBA Draft: Can Detroit Pistons land gem with second-round pick?
- The Detroit Pistons don't have a first-round draft pick for the first time since 2018.
- Despite only having the 37th overall pick, the Pistons have a history of finding valuable second-round players.
It’s the first time since 2018 the Detroit Pistons don’t have a first-round draft pick. It was conveyed to the Minnesota Timberwolves in April, leaving them with only the 37th overall pick.
History says they can find a rotation player there. Since 2000, several second-round picks by the franchise have put together solid — if not star — NBA careers either with the Pistons or elsewhere. Here are eight of team’s best second-round selections.
2018: Bruce Brown (42nd overall)
Career stats: 8.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 457 games played
The former five-star recruit and Miami standout started 99 games as a rookie and sophomore for the Detroit Pistons before he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2020. Brown has established himself as one of the league’s top defensive guards and was a key role player on the 2023 championship Denver Nuggets team.
2014: Spencer Dinwiddie (38th overall)
Career stats: 13 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3 assists, 621 games played
An ACL tear suffered during his junior and final year at Colorado caused Dinwiddie to slide to the second round. He spent most of his time in Detroit with the Pistons' D-League team at the time, the Grand Rapids Drive. After a trade to the Nets in 2016, he emerged as a starting point guard and has been a reliable rotation player since.
2012: Khris Middleton (39th overall)
Career stats: 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4 assists, 776 games played
The three-time All-Star had humble beginnings with the Pistons, appearing in 27 games before he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks the following offseason. He’s played all but 41 games of his career there and has etched his name into franchise lore, starring alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and bringing home a championship in 2021.
2011: Kyle Singler (33rd overall)
Career stats: 6.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 356 games played
Singler left Duke as one of its most accomplished players, and earned All-Rookie Second Team honors with the Pistons after starting 74 games in his first season. He didn’t miss a game during his first two seasons, but was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder midway through his third.
2009: Jonas Jerebko (39th overall)
Career stats: 6.2 points, 4 rebounds, 635 games played.
The Swede was an immediate fan favorite as a rookie, making all-rookie second team thanks to his defense and relentless hustle. An Achilles tear forced him to miss his second season, but he resumed his place as a two-way forward and ended up spending 5½ years of his nine-year career in Detroit.
2005: Amir Johnson (56th)
Career stats: 7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1 block, 870 games played
Johnson had only recently turned 18 when he was selected by the Pistons, and was the last player to be drafted directly out of high school until Satnam Singh in 2015. He played sparingly early on but began carving out minutes before a trade to the Toronto Raptors, where he started 284 of 451 games through six seasons as a capable rim protector and rebounder. He also had stops with the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers.
2001: Mehmet Okur (38th)
Career stats: 13.5 points, 7 rebounds, 634 games played
The big man was a core rotation player for the Pistons during his first and second seasons, and appeared in all 22 postseason games en route to their 2004 title. He joined the Utah Jazz in free agency that summer and was one of their top players, starting 33 games the following season and every game from 2005-10, building a reputation as one of the league’s top shooters.
2000: Brian Cardinal (44th)
Career stats: 4.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 456 games played
Nicknamed “The Custodian,” Cardinal played 23 games through two season with the Pistons. He carved out a 12-year career as a backup big man and delivered some unexpectedly clutch minutes for the Dallas Mavericks during their 2011 title run.
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