Detroit Pistons top pick in the NBA Draft for each season.

The team has selected 12 times one of the top 3 picks and 4 times the first overall draft pick. Last time it took one of the top 3 picks was in 2021.

Franchise preferred NCAA teams or countries of origin for players selected in the first 3 rounds: Detroit Mercy (6 times), Georgetown (5), UCLA (5).

Detroit Pistons top NBA draft pick for each season

YEARROUNDPOS.PLAYERCOLLEGE1
202315Ausar ThompsonOvertime Elite
202215Jaden IveyPurdue
202111Cade CunninghamOklahoma State
202017Killian HayesGermany
2019115Sekou DoumbouyaFrance
2018242Bruce BrownMiami
2017112Luke KennardDuke
2016118Henry EllensonMarquette
201518Stanley JohnsonArizona
2014238Spencer DinwiddieColorado
201318Kentavious Caldwell-PopeGeorgia
201219Andre DrummondUconn
201118Brandon KnightKentucky
201017Greg MonroeGeorgetown
2009115Austin DayeGonzaga
2008129D.J. WhiteIndiana
2007115Rodney StuckeyEastern Washington
2006260Will BlalockIowa State
2005126Jason MaxiellCincinnati
2004254Rickey PauldingMissouri
200312Darko MilicicSerbia
2002123Tayshaun PrinceKentucky
200119Rodney WhiteCharlotte
2000114Mateen CleavesMichigan State
1999254Melvin LevettCincinnati
1998111Bonzi WellsBall State
1997119Scot PollardKansas
1996126Jerome WilliamsGeorgetown
1995118Theo RatliffWyoming
199413Grant HillDuke
1993110Lindsey HunterJackson State
1991240Doug OvertonLa Salle
1990126Lance BlanksTexas
1989127Kenny BattleIllinois
1988230Fennis DemboWyoming
1987224Freddie BanksUNLV
1986111John SalleyGeorgia Tech
1985118Joe DumarsMcNeese State
1984120Tony CampbellOhio State
198318Antoine CarrWichita State
198219Cliff LevingstonWichita State
198112Isiah ThomasIndiana
1980117Larry DrewMissouri
197914Greg KelserMichigan State
1978223Terry TylerDetroit Mercy
1977236Ben PoquetteCentral Michigan
197614Leon DouglasAlabama
1975227Walter LuckettOhio
1974115Al EberhardMissouri
1973344Bo LamarLouisiana
197219Bob NashHawaii
1971111Curtis RoweUCLA
197011Bob LanierSt. Bonaventure
196914Terry DriscollBoston College
196816Otto MooreUT Rio Grande Valley
196711Jimmy WalkerProvidence
196612Dave BingSyracuse
1965T2Bill BuntinMichigan
196414Joe CaldwellArizona State
196315Ed MilesSeattle
1962T1Dave DebusschereDetroit Mercy
196114Ray ScottPortland
196014Jack MorelandLouisiana Tech
195914Bailey HowellMississippi State
1958211Barney CableBradley
195712Charles TyraLouisville
195617Ron SobieDePaul
195518Johnny HoranDayton
195414Dick RosenthalNotre Dame
195315Jack MolinasColumbia
195213Dick GroatDuke
195114Zeke SinicolaNiagara
195018George YardleyStanford
194913Bob HarrisOklahoma State
194818Ward WilliamsIndiana
(1) Non NCAA international players are listed by the country in which they were playing when drafted or signed if undrafted.