Rick Mahorn’s history with Detroit spans five decades, an off-and-on, sweet-and-sour relationship with the Motor City that includes two stints as a player (1985–89 and again from ’96 to 98), one more as a coach (with the WNBA’s Shock) and over 20 years in the Pistons’ radio booth—a role Mahorn, now 67 and fresh off back surgery, still enjoys today. He’s won an NBA championship and collected two more rings with the Shock, brawled with a handful of Bulls after flinging Michael Jordan to the floor during his playing days and watched in horror as Ron Artest leaped over his broadcast position at the scorer’s table to mix it up with fans at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Mahorn has been around so long that Detroit’s current head coach (J.B. Bickerstaff) is the son of one Mahorn used to play for (Bernie Bickerstaff, when he was a Wizards assistant). Mahorn likes J.B. and the feeling is mutual. On the road, Mahorn, technically a member of the media, is welcomed into the team’s meal rooms, where he’s often flanked by one of Detroit’s many 20-somethings with ears perked up for a few war stories. After all, who better for members of the New Bad Boys to learn from than one of the originals.
The New Bad Boys. In Detroit, it’s not entirely a new concept. In the early 2000s, the Pistons assembled another physical, blue-collar roster. The Goin’ to Work era was built around a collection of unheralded stars—Ben Wallace, Chauncey Billups, Tayshaun Prince—who believed effort mattered more than talent. The organization created a marketing campaign around them, connecting the identity of the team to the work ethic of people in Detroit. “And it worked,” says Rick Carlisle, who coached the Pistons from 2001 to ’03 and now is on the Indiana bench. “This fan base really responds to a team that reflects their values.”
