Chauncey Billups recently appeared on the ‘7PM in Brooklyn’ show, where he discussed the significant impact Carmelo Anthony could have had if the Detroit Pistons had drafted him with the second pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. Reflecting on the potential of that draft choice, Billups shared his thoughts on how Anthony’s presence could have transformed the Pistons into a dynasty.
“We were already celebrating. Bro, it would have been perfect. Most people always ask, ‘Would he have started? Or would Melo have started? Or Tay?’ What most people forget is that at the time of that draft, we didn’t have Sheed. We got Sheed at the trade deadline, so Melo would have been starting right from the top.”
“We still reminisce about that. We still don’t know what happened. Yeah, bro, it’s crazy. We always say, ‘Man, we would have won at least three championships.’ I say it all the time. I tell them, ‘LeBron would have had to leave Cleveland a lot earlier than he did because they never would have beaten us. They never would have beaten us.'”
Chauncey Billups says the Pistons would have run LeBron out of Cleveland had Detroit drafted Carmelo Anthony.
“We win at least 3 chips.” 👀
(🎥 @7PMinBrooklyn ) pic.twitter.com/alU08AUOsG
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 23, 2024
The Pistons held the second overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, a position that many assumed would be used to select Carmelo Anthony after LeBron James inevitably went first to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Instead, the Pistons chose Darko Milicic, a decision that has been widely criticized in retrospect. Milicic played ten seasons in the NBA, moving from team to team, and never averaged more than nine points per game in a season. He is often regarded as one of the biggest draft busts in NBA history.
Conversely, Carmelo Anthony, selected third overall by the Denver Nuggets, quickly established himself as one of the league’s premier players and a scoring machine. His career averages and accolades highlight what the Pistons missed out on by passing him over.
Billups’ comments underscore the belief that Anthony could have significantly boosted the Pistons’ success. The Pistons already had a strong core with Billups, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, and Ben Wallace.
Adding Anthony to the mix, especially before acquiring Rasheed Wallace, could have solidified their dominance in the Eastern Conference for years. This mistake is often cited as a generational error, considering Anthony’s immediate impact and his standing as one of the best players in his draft class, second only to LeBron James.
The Pistons Won The Title In 2004 Though
While the Detroit Pistons might have started the 2003-04 season with a controversial draft pick, they ultimately had an exceptional season and clinched the NBA title. Finishing third in the Eastern Conference with a 54-28 record, the team made a significant move at the trade deadline by acquiring Rasheed Wallace. This acquisition was pivotal, leading to an impressive run where they won 16 of their last 19 games.
In the playoffs, the Pistons first defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in five games. They then faced a tougher challenge against the New Jersey Nets, battling through seven games to advance. In the Eastern Conference Finals, they overcame the Indiana Pacers in six games, securing their spot in the NBA Finals.
In the Finals, the Pistons faced the star-studded Los Angeles Lakers, who were heavily favored to win. However, Detroit pulled off one of the greatest upsets in NBA history by defeating the Lakers in five games, capturing their third NBA title in franchise history. This victory was largely attributed to their tenacious defense and the cohesive team effort led by Chauncey Billups, who was named Finals MVP.
The following year, the Pistons made it back to the NBA Finals but were narrowly defeated by the San Antonio Spurs in a seven-game series. In the 2005-06 season, despite finishing first in the East, they lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals in six games.
The Pistons continued their dominance in the East over the next two years, making it to the Eastern Conference Finals each time. However, they were bested by the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics in six games each.
Despite these strong performances, the lingering question remains: What if the Pistons had drafted Carmelo Anthony instead of Darko Milicic? Anthony, who quickly became one of the league’s premier scorers, could have provided the Pistons with an additional offensive weapon.
With his scoring prowess, the Pistons might have turned some of their close series losses into victories, potentially securing multiple championships during that era. The combination of Carmelo Anthony’s scoring ability with the Pistons’ already formidable defense could have created a dynasty, cementing Detroit’s place as a dominant force in NBA history.
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