Comparing players and teams from different eras always brings different views, opinions, and, more often than not, disagreement in the end. And that is simply part of the whole discussion. After all, the league has changed so much, from its earliest days, through the reign of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, to the dominance of Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls teams, and all the way to the more modern superteam era. But when talking about all of that, somebody always ends up overlooked, fairly or unfairly.
John Salley , the iconic big man from the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, played on several dynastic teams that are often brought up in conversations about who the greatest squad of all time really is. And for him, the one team that constantly goes under the radar for most fans and analysts is the 1989 Detroit Pistons squad, led by none other than legendary Isiah Thomas .
Isiah is, according to Salley's humble opinion, one of the most underrated guards ever and deserves a lot more respect, especially when compared to today's superstars like Stephen Curry .
"I love Steph Curry; he is one of my favorite players, but Isiah Thomas was a problem for people. And you used to be able to run people off hard picks. So, the acting that's going on now, they are not getting that calls," Salley pointed out .
In his recent guest appearance on the "Stepping into the Fire" podcast, Salley was presented with a thought experiment involving all the greatest championship squads facing one another. However, there was a catch. One half would theoretically be played under 1990s rules, while the other would use modern NBA officiating, where hand-checking is forbidden, and offensive players have much more freedom.
Interestingly enough, Salley picked the Golden State Warriors in that particular setup. And honestly, that is not surprising at all. The Warriors were a loaded squad full of future Hall of Famers, led by the greatest shooter of all time. Just having someone like Curry on the floor creates chaos for opposing defenses to the point where guys like Klay Thompson , Draymond Green and even Kevin Durant , who won two championships in the Bay Area, suddenly get way more space and freedom to operate.
But truthfully, a similar thing applies to almost every legendary team in NBA history.
Salley believes, however, that all of that changes once referees swallow the whistle a bit and allow borderline physical basketball. That is exactly where those "Bad Boys" Pistons would thrive, just like they did during their short but iconic stretch on top of the league.
"The '89 Pistons… You are not beating us. Nobody," the retired big man reiterated.
Salley was one of the vital cogs during those two championship runs in Detroit. He, along with guys like Bill Laimbeer and Dennis Rodman, never shied away from doing the dirty work for their superstar. They were called the "Bad Boys" for a reason, and that squad became a thorn in the side of nearly every great team entering the new decade, from Magic's Lakers and Bird's Boston Celtics to eventually Jordan's Bulls.
Detroit's rivalry with Chicago especially defined MJ's early struggles in the league, to the point where Jordan had to elevate his game even further and fully embrace all the physical punishment before finally overcoming them.
And that is exactly why Salley believes those Pistons are capable of beating absolutely anybody in an environment that allows basketball to be played right on the edge of fouls. Many would call it dirty basketball, but for the "Bad Boys," it was simply a legitimate tactic that brought them the throne not once, but twice.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
