It’s been a while since the Detroit Pistons were truly competitive. Moreover, it seems like the organization has been kind of lost for the past decade or so, as they haven’t been able to make the most of their players and they wind up thriving somewhere else.
That’s the case with the 2019-20 roster. Surprisingly, all the players from their starting lineup now have a role in a championship contender (Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers, or Los Angeles Lakers). Yet, when they played together, they finished with a 20-46 record.
So, if you’re a Detroit Pistons fan, we highly encourage you to stop reading right now, as we’re going to talk about how their entire starting lineup from the 2019-20 season is now on the verge of playing for an NBA championship.
PG: Reggie Jackson – Los Angeles Clippers

The Detroit Pistons paid Reggie Jackson a lot of money and saw him as their point guard for the future after a somewhat impressive stint backing up Russell Westbrook at the Oklahoma City Thunder. He never took off the star they hoped.
Nonetheless, Jackson is now one of the first guys off the bench for Tyronn Lue and the Los Angeles Clippers, backing up Patrick Beverley. Also, even if Rajon Rondo is now on board, he’ll still get plenty of minutes now that Lou Williams is gone.
SG: Luke Kennard – Los Angeles Clippers

During his time with the Detroit Pistons, Luke Kennard showed a promising ability to score points. He could do a little bit of everything, yet he looked far from a star or a player that could make a strong impact. Now, that’s no longer the case.
The Los Angeles Clippers signed Kennard to a very lucrative contract extension and it’s clear that they value his shooting skills way too much. He’s often asked to step up and slide into the starting lineup and he’s their source of offense off the bench.
SF: Bruce Brown – Brooklyn Nets

Even though most people are talking about LaMarcus Aldridge and Blake Griffin, Bruce Brown’s addition may have been even more impactful. He looked like a borderline role player and good defender at Detroit but he’s now breaking out for Steve Nash.
Brown’s backcourt defense and ability to hold his own vs. bigger players has been huge for the Brooklyn Nets this season. He’s one of the few plus-defenders they have and he’s even stepped up with some big offensive performances without Kevin Durant and/or Kyrie Irving.
PF: Blake Griffin – Brooklyn Nets

You don’t have to be a psychic to tell that Blake Griffin was feeling miserable during his time with the Detroit Pistons. He hadn’t dunked since 2019 and was having – by far – the worst statistical season of his career before being bought out.
Now, Griffin is clearly enjoying himself next to James Harden and Kyrie Irving. He’s finishing above the rim, smiling, and even putting his body on the line off the bench for them. He’s no longer an All-Star but he can still be a huge factor.
C: Andre Drummond – Los Angeles Lakers

And last but not least, we find Andre Drummond. For years, he was touted as the Detroit Pistons star and franchise cornerstone, and that’s why it was so surprising and unexpected to see him trading him away to the Cleveland Cavaliers last season.
Now, Drummond has signed a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers for the remainder of the season and it’s obvious that he’ll slide into their starting lineup right away. His rebounding skills and interior presence will be a massive boost for the reigning champions.