NBA.com: Joe Dumars Bio

One of only eight players to play over 1,000 games with his first NBA team and one of the top shooting guards of his era, Joe Dumars was a consistent all-around player throughout his 14-year NBA career. A six-time All-Star, the owner of two NBA Championship rings, a defensive standout and a big-time scorer, he has long been recognized as one of the true leaders in the NBA. He retired following the 1998-99 season as the Pistons' all-time leader in games played with 1,018 and three-point field goals with 990 and No. 2 on the franchise career lists in scoring (16,401), assists (4,612) and steals (902). Dumars entered the NBA in 1985 after averaging better than 20 points in four seasons at McNeese State. Chosen in the first round of the 1985 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1986. Dumars' arrival coincided with the Pistons' rise to preeminence in the Central Division. The club won 46 games in his first season in Detroit and was ousted from the first round of the playoffs. During the next five seasons the Pistons never won fewer than 50 games as they marched to the NBA Finals three times and claimed a pair of NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990. When the club went into decline, falling below .500 in 1992-93 and losing more than 50 games in each of the following two seasons, Dumars provided continuity and leadership. Long considered one of the classiest players in the league, he served as a mentor to future superstar Grant Hill when Hill joined the Pistons as a rookie in 1994-95. And in 1995-96, when the Pistons climbed back into the ranks of the NBA's playoff teams, Dumars contributed both on and off the court with his steady play and leadership qualities. Dumars has won numerous honors and awards. From 1989 to 1993 he was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team four times and to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team once. In 1993 he was named to the All-NBA Second Team and in 1990 and 1991 he was an All-NBA Third Team selection. He played for the Eastern Conference All-Star Team five times in six seasons beginning in 1990. He was the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 1989. In 1994 he was the recipient of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for his tireless work in the community. Also in 1994, Dumars was a member of the Dream Team that captured a gold medal at the World Championship of Basketball. Early in the 1994-95 season Dumars tied an NBA record when he hit 10 three-pointers in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. In 1995-96, Dumars filled a valuable role as a leader and mentor for a young Pistons team on the road to regaining the franchise glory of the late '80s, leading the team back to the playoffs. Just when it looked like his career might be on the wane, Dumars came back with an outstanding season in 1996-97, starting 79 games for the Pistons and ranking second on the team in both scoring and assists. He also ranked fourth in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage with a career-high .432 mark and surpassed 15,000 points for his career. He played and started 72 games for the Pistons in 1997-98, averaging 13.1 ppg and leading the team with 158 three-point field goals. In 1998-99, his final season, he averaged 11.3 ppg and again led the Pistons in three-pointers with 89.

1998-1999 REGULAR SEASON
Led the Pistons in three-pointers made (89, 7th in the NBA) and attempted (221, 12th) and ranked 2nd on the team in three-point percentage (.403, 15th) Recorded a game-high 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in an 81-76 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on 4/30 Registered 19 points (5-7 3FG), a team-high 9 assists and 5 rebounds against the Philadelphia 76ers on 4/22 Posted 25 points (5-9 3FG) and 3 assists in a 102-101 victory over the Indiana Pacers on 4/9 Played in his 1,000th career game, totaling a game-high 18 points (4-7 3FG) and 3 assists, in a 107-75 win over the Chicago Bulls on 4/1 On the injured list from 3/22 to 3/31 due to a strained left calf muscle Scored 8 of his game-high 21 points (4-6 4FG) in a key 3rd-quarter run, and added 3 assists, in an 89-68 win over the New York Knicks on 2/28 Recorded 14 of his game-high 26 points (5-9 3FG) in the 3rd quarter, and added 5 assists, in an 89-73 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on 2/24 Scored his 16,000th career point against the Orlando Magic on 2/11

1997-1998 REGULAR SEASON
Scored 20 points against the Charlotte Hornets on 4/12 Scored a season-high 33 points in a 102-83 victory over the Washington Wizards on 4/9 Totaled 23 points (5-8 3FG), 4 assists and 3 rebounds against the L.A. Lakers on 4/5 Posted a team-high 20 points and 5 assists in a 94-79 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on 3/23 Registered a team-high 20 points (4-6 3FG) and 3 assists against the Phoenix Suns on 3/5 Recorded a game-high 28 points (3-6 3FG) and 3 assists against the Minnesota Timberwolves on 3/1 Totaled a team-high 21 points and 4 assists against the San Antonio Spurs on 2/17 Posted 16 points and a game-high 10 assists in a 104-92 victory over the Houston Rockets on 2/5 Scored 20 points in an 87-67 victory over the Denver Nuggets on 1/21 Registered 16 points, 9 assists and 5 rebounds in a 95-94 overtime win over the Charlotte Hornets on 1/15 Scored 23 points against the Indiana Pacers on 1/14 Recorded 23 points, hitting 5-of-8 three-pointers, and 8 assists in a 91-88 victory over the Toronto Raptors on 1/2 Totaled 24 points (7-11 FG, 2-3 3FG, 8-8 FT), 7 assists and 4 rebounds in a 100-95 win over the Toronto Raptors on 12/30 Posted 22 points, 3 rebounds and 3 in a 103-99 victory over the New Jersey Nets on 12/11 On the injured list from 11/10 to 11/22 due to a Grade 1 left shoulder separation and muscle contusion On the injured list from 11/2 to 11/9 due to a pulled left hamstring

1996-1997 REGULAR SEASON
Dumars enjoyed a solid comeback season, showing he was still capable of more than spot duty by making 79 starts and playing 2,923 minutes (37.0 mpg), his most since 1992-93. He missed three games due to injury, one because of back spasms and two due to sore hamstrings. He averaged 14.7 points and 4.0 assists in 37.0 minutes per game, ranking second on the Pistons behind Grant Hill in each category. He scored in double figures in 64 of 79 games played, getting 20 points or more 19 times including a season-high 29 in a 93-85 win over Milwaukee on Dec. 10. On April 11 against Charlotte, Dumars became the fourth Piston to score 15,000 career points as he tallied 21 in a 93-85 loss. He finished the season at 15,030. Dumars was selected by the Eastern Conference coaches for his sixth NBA All-Star Game appearance and scored three points in 10 minutes as a reserve. Dumars started all five of Detroit's playoff games against Atlanta, averaging 13.8 points per game.

1995-1996 REGULAR SEASON
Dumars played in 67 games and made 40 starts, including his last 33 games played, and averaged 11.8 points per game, the lowest since his second NBA season. Dumars also averaged 4.0 assists and 2.1 rebounds in 32.7 minutes per game and shot a strong .406 from three-point range on 121-for-298. Although he missed 15 games due to an assortment of minor injuries, including a sore left hamstring that sidelined him for seven games, he ranked second on the team in assists and three-pointers and fourth in scoring. He scored a season-high 41 points against Portland on Nov. 8, the 13th time in his career he scored 40 or more. Dumars' biggest contributions, however, came late in the season. He scored in double figures in 22 of his last 25 games, averaging 13.9 points in 38.1 minutes over that time as he helped the Pistons to the playoffs. In postseason play, Dumars averaged 13.7 points per game, third on the team. He also averaged 4.3 rebounds and tied for the team lead with 3.7 assists in a team-high 41.0 minutes per game.

1994-1995 REGULAR SEASON
Dumars made the most of a difficult season as the Pistons racked up more than 50 losses for the second year in a row. A series of nagging injuries ranging from tendinitis in his knees to a mild concussion added to his woes and limited him to a career-low 67 games. Through it all, Dumars put up good numbers and provided steady leadership for a young Pistons team. He averaged 18.1 points to rank second on the club, and he finished the season with 13,079 career points, which lifted him into fourth place on the franchise's all-time scoring chart. An injury to starting point guard Lindsey Hunter, coupled with the emergence of young shooting guard Allan Houston, often forced Dumars into the role of playmaker. As always, he adapted well, leading the club in assists with 5.5 per game. Dumars enjoyed some spectacular moments in 1994-95. In the third game of the season he set an NBA record by draining 10 three-point baskets on the way to a 40-point evening against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Late in the season he set another record when he rained in 7 three-pointers in a half against the Orlando Magic. On February 7 he terrorized the Washington Bullets for a season-high 43 points, and on March 19 he handed out a career-high 15 assists and tied a career high by recording 5 steals against the Golden State Warriors. He also played in his fifth NBA All-Star Game, scoring 11 points while hitting 5 of 8 field-goal attempts and passing for 6 assists.

1993-1994 REGULAR SEASON
When the Detroit Pistons selected two rookie guards-Allan Houston and Lindsey Hunter-in the 1993 NBA Draft, it was clear that the club was starting a rebuilding process. Undoubtedly the duo would eventually serve as replacements for Dumars and Isiah Thomas, one of the most accomplished backcourts in league history, but for 1993-94 Dumars wasn't quite ready to relinquish his spot. He led the Pistons in scoring for a fourth consecutive season with 20.4 points per game. Despite Dumars's efforts, including a 44-point night against the New Jersey Nets on March 9, the Detroit club was a mere shadow of its former self. The Pistons finished at 20-62 and missed the playoffs for a second consecutive year. After the season, Dumars participated on Dream Team II, the U.S. squad that won a gold medal at the 1994 World Championship of Basketball.

1992-1993 REGULAR SEASON
Dumars led the Pistons in scoring for a third straight season with a career-best 23.5 points per game. He ranked seventh on the league's scoring list, notching the Pistons' highest single-season average since Kelly Tripucka's 26.5 points per game in 1982-83. An occasional threat from long range during his first seven seasons, Dumars exploded from the three-point line in 1992-93, hitting 112 of 299 attempts to set club records for three-pointers made and attempted in a single season. He surpassed the 10,000-point mark for his career in a March 14 game against the Chicago Bulls. An All-Star for the fourth straight year, Dumars also earned a fourth selection to the NBA All-Defensive First Team and his first-ever berth on the All-NBA Second Team, joining Dominique Wilkins, Larry Johnson, Patrick Ewing, and John Stockton. The Pistons finished the year at 40-42 and failed to make the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.

1991-1992 REGULAR SEASON
Dumars led Detroit in scoring (19.9 ppg) for the second straight year and joined Dennis Rodman as the only two Pistons players to log more than 3,000 minutes for the season. Dumars was the only Piston to start all 82 games, and he shot better than 80 percent (.867) from the free-throw line for the fifth consecutive season. He knocked down a career-high 45 points at the Golden State Warriors on March 12. Dumars again received some of the NBA's highest honors. He was an All-Star for the third straight year and made his third appearance on the NBA All-Defensive First Team. Detroit finished the regular season at 48-34 before losing to the New York Knicks in the first round of the 1992 NBA Playoffs, the team's earliest exit from the postseason since 1986.

1990-1991 REGULAR SEASON
Dumars played in the NBA All-Star Game for the second straight year, this time as a starter in place of injured teammate Isiah Thomas. He was a workhorse, becoming the first Pistons player since 1986-87 to log more than 3,000 minutes in a season. (He had 3,046.) Scoring at a clip of 20.4 points per game, Dumars led the Pistons in that category for the first time in his career. Dumars shot a team-leading .890 from the foul line, bolstered by a string of 62 straight made free throws during the season, a Pistons record. In the voting for postseason awards, Dumars slipped a notch to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team after having twice been named to the first team, but he earned a spot on the All-NBA Third Team for the second straight season. The Pistons were stymied in their attempt to "three-peat" as NBA champions. Detroit moved past the Atlanta Hawks and the Boston Celtics in the first two rounds of the playoffs before losing to the eventual NBA-champion Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals. Dumars averaged 20.6 points in 15 postseason games and committed only 17 turnovers in 588 playoff minutes.

1989-1990 REGULAR SEASON
Dumars's ascent to NBA stardom reached another milestone in 1989-90 when he was selected to play in the NBA All-Star Game for the first time. By season's end he had also been named to the All-NBA Third Team and the NBA All-Defensive First Team-and he had another NBA Championship ring. Dumars averaged 18.4 points through the first 68 games of the season, but then a broken hand sustained against the Spurs at San Antonio on March 24 slowed him for the rest of the year. He returned for the Pistons' final seven games but averaged only 11.6 points during that stretch, dropping his season mark to 17.8. Unfortunately for the Chicago Bulls and the Portland Trail Blazers, Dumars was the picture of health in the postseason, averaging 18.2 points in 20 games as Detroit won its second consecutive NBA title.

1988-1989 REGULAR SEASON
Accolades poured in for Dumars in his fourth NBA season. After three years as a sidekick to Isiah Thomas, Vinnie Johnson, and Bill Laimbeer in Detroit, Dumars used the 1988-89 campaign to assert himself as a full-fledged member of the league's elite. First, he improved his output during the regular season to 17.2 points per game, third best on the Pistons and the highest mark of his career up to that time. But even as he established himself offensively, Dumars gained a reputation as one of the best defensive guards in the NBA. Indeed, at season's end both he and teammate Dennis Rodman were named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. Dumars shot a career-best .505 from the floor during the regular season and led the Pistons in free-throw percentage at .850. He scored a then career-high 42 points on April 12 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, including 24 points in the third quarter, which tied a club record. The durable guard suffered a serious injury for the first time in his career when he broke his left hand in a January 12 game against the New York Knicks. He had surgery two days later and missed 12 straight games-but returned in three weeks. His regular-season accomplishments were only a warm-up for the postseason, in which Dumars turned in a performance few Pistons fans will forget. Detroit romped its way through the Eastern Conference Playoffs, setting up a rematch with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1989 NBA Finals. Dumars averaged 27.3 points, leading the Pistons to a four-game sweep of the Lakers and their first-ever NBA Championship. He was an easy choice for NBA Finals MVP.

1987-1988 REGULAR SEASON
After having contributed 9.4 and 11.8 points per game during his first two seasons, Dumars increased his scoring average to 14.2 points per game in 1987-88. He began to assert himself offensively on a team that received scoring from all fronts, including Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer, Vinnie Johnson, Adrian Dantley, and James Edwards. Dumars scored in double figures in 67 of 82 games, finishing third behind Dantley and Thomas for the team scoring lead. The Pistons warmed up for a two-year NBA title run by extending the Los Angeles Lakers to seven games in the 1988 NBA Finals. The Lakers won Game 7 and the series, but Detroit would exact revenge a year later. Dumars averaged 12.3 points during the playoffs despite shooting only .457 from the field.

1986-1987 REGULAR SEASON
Dumars became Isiah Thomas's running mate in training camp and started 75 of his 79 regular-season appearances. He hiked his scoring average to 11.8 points per game while shooting .493 from the field, the second-best mark of his career. He scored 20 or more points in eight games, with a season high of 24 against the Sacramento Kings in January. With Dumars as a starter during his first two seasons, the Pistons logged a 75-43 record. Detroit finished the season 52-30 under Coach Chuck Daly, then eliminated the Washington Bullets in three games and the Atlanta Hawks in five games in the first two rounds of the NBA Playoffs. Next up were the Boston Celtics, who edged Detroit in seven games despite 35 points from Dumars in Game 7. In 15 postseason games, Dumars averaged 12.7 points and 4.8 assists.

1985-1986 REGULAR SEASON
In the 1984-85 McNeese State media guide, Joe Dumars listed his favorite athlete as Isiah Thomas. Little did he know that he would soon become Thomas's teammate. The Detroit Pistons used their first-round pick in the 1985 NBA Draft to select Dumars, their interest piqued by the guard's average of 22.5 points per game over four collegiate seasons. Despite his relative obscurity, Dumars had ranked sixth in the nation with an average of 26.4 points per game as a junior in 1984. As an NBA rookie, Dumars contributed 9.4 points per game on .481 shooting from the field, playing a larger role as the season wore on and earning a berth on the NBA All-Rookie Team at year's end. He was joined on that team by Seattle's Xavier McDaniel, New York's Patrick Ewing, Utah's Karl Malone, and Chicago's Charles Oakley. The Pistons struggled through an early-season slump that produced 15 losses in 19 games. Dumars was inserted into the starting lineup, and Detroit promptly won 20 of its next 24 contests. Dumars started 45 times during the season and led all rookies with 4.8 assists per game.