BTP - 1989 Detroit Pistons

We have this awesome Vintage 1989 Detroit Pistons Finals T-shirt available here.

The 1988-89 and 1989-90 Detroit Pistons teams are regarded by most as the greatest of all time in NBA history.

The "Bad Boys" were largely responsible for the demise of the great Lakers and Celtics teams of the 80's. The Pistons defeated the LA Lakers to claim the organization's first-ever championship in 1989.

Unless you were a Detroit Pistons fan in the late 80s and early 90s, you no doubt hated the "Motor City Bad Boys."

Led by a physically aggressive, defensively minded core of players, the Pistons literally fought their way to two championships in '89 and '90.

With Detroit initially unable to successfully defend "His Airness", Pistons head coach Chuck Daly implemented what became known as the "Jordan Rules."

Daly vowed that Jordan, himself, would never defeat the Pistons again.

The Pistons' strategy, developed by Isiah Thomas in 1988, was to "play him tough, physically challenge him, and vary defenses to keep him off-balance.

The following three players were the nastiest of the "Bad Boys":

RICK MAHORN was regarded as one of the nastiest bad boys of them all. While never considered a spectacular athlete, what he lacked in athletic ability he more than made up for in physical toughness. Mahorn was notorious for his ability to inflict damage both on and off the court.

DENNIS RODMAN was widely known for his powerful defensive and rebounding abilities. Playing the game with a controlled sense of recklessness, he put his body on the line night in and night out. He played above himself and embraced the challenge of guarding opposing team’s biggest superstars.

BILL LAMBEER was a man of war. None in the history of the NBA played with more fire and passion than Bill Lambeer. He literally fought tooth and nail during his time with the Detroit Pistons and was the nastiest of the "Bad Boys." His antagonistic demeanor and physical play were the cause of countless on-court altercations.