The most pivotal member of the 1995-96 Pistons was not the veteran Joe Dumars, the last link to the Pistons' championship glory...it was not Allan Houston, who emerged as an offensive powerhouse with a 19.7 ppg average...it wasn't even Grant Hill, who led the the team in points, rebounds and assists

The key to the Pistons' success didn't even wear a uniform. Doug Collins, first-year coach of the Pistons, led the team back to the playoffs for the first time since 1991-92, as the Pistons finished 46-36, an 18-game improvement over the previous season.

The postseason ended with a first round ouster, compliments of the Orlando Magic, but nevertheless, the Pistons looked like a team on the rise. OK - maybe Hill, Houston, Dumars and the rest of the Pistons had something to do with it.

Hill, in particular, emerged as one of the games brightest stars, even upstaging Michael Jordan as the leading vote-getter for the All-Star Game, the second year in a row that Hill had topped the voting list. Hill led the league with 10 triple-doubles, and posted averages of 20.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg and 6.9 apg, among the league's top 20 in all three categories. After the season, he represented the United States in the Atlanta Olympics as a member of the Dream Team, adding a gold medal to his list of accomplishments.

Although Hill was the Pistons main man, Detroit relied on many other players to provide a team effort. Dumars and Otis Thorpe suplied a steadying veteran influence, Terry Mills offered a punch off the bench as a backup forward, while Houston established himself as one of the league's premier sharpshooters. Following the season, though, Detroit suffered a blow when Houston signed with the Knicks as a free agent.