Bench minutes, big moments. A few of these reserves helped hang championship banners in Auburn Hills, while others carried lean seasons almost nobody rewatches.
1Corliss WilliamsonBruising forward who won the 2002 NBA Sixth Man of the Year award with Detroit and later joined the 2004 champions.1000pts
2Mark AguirreFormer All-Star scorer who accepted a bench role and supplied post scoring for the 1989 and 1990 title teams.999pts
3Dennis RodmanStarted out as the Bad Boys' high-energy reserve forward, rebounding and defending off the bench on the late-1980s contenders.863pts
4Malik BeasleySharpshooter whose record-setting bench three-point barrage powered Detroit's 2024-25 playoff return and a Sixth Man runner-up finish.647pts
5Rodney StuckeyCombo guard who gave Detroit scoring punch off the bench across several seasons after the Goin' to Work era.503pts
6John SalleyShot-blocking reserve big man who gave the back-to-back champion Pistons length and defense off the bench.503pts
7Antonio McDyessVeteran big man whose mid-range touch and rebounding anchored Detroit's second unit during its Eastern Conference finals runs.0pts
8Jason MaxiellUndersized, hard-working forward who brought energy and highlight blocks to the late-2000s second unit.0pts
9Ben GordonFormer Sixth Man of the Year from Chicago who served as Detroit's bench sharpshooter from 2009 to 2012.0pts
Photo credits
- Mark Aguirre — Keith Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Dennis Rodman — GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Malik Beasley — All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Rodney Stuckey — Keith Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0
- John Salley — Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0
- Antonio McDyess — Zereshk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jason Maxiell — Keith Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Ben Gordon — Keith Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0
