Jack McCloskey, General Manager of the Detroit Pistons from 1979 to 1992, and the architect of the Bad Boys’ two World Championship teams in 1989 and 1990, will be honored in a retirement ceremony at halftime on March 29 versus the Cleveland Cavaliers. A banner with his name will be raised to the rafters that night, the team announced today.
McCloskey, nicknamed “Trader Jack” for his many astute trades during his tenure as the clubs’ GM, assembled the Pistons’ teams, which brought two NBA World Championships here in 1989 and 1990. Jack’s banner will join Owner Bill Davidson, Coach Chuck Daly, and players Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer, Vinnie Johnson and Joe Dumars from that era who previously were honored. From earlier Pistons’ teams, both Dave Bing and Bob Lanier had their numbers retired.
The Pistons’ teams assembled by McCloskey made nine straight playoff appearances, with five straight trips to the Eastern Conference Finals, three NBA Finals, and those two World Championships.
In the draft McCloskey, would select a pair of future Hall of Famers in Isiah Thomas (1981) and Joe Dumars (1985). Then in 1986 he drafted both Dennis Rodman and John Salley. But his nickname “Trader Jack” was acquired because of the shrewd trades he pulled off with other NBA teams. Most notably, Jack traded for Bill Laimbeer and Vinnie Johnson. Later McCloskey acquired Rick Mahorn, James Edwards and Mark Aguirre, all via the trade route. That group of players would comprise the World Championship Teams of 1989 and 1990. McCloskey would hire another future Hall of Famer Chuck Daly in 1983, and he would coach the Bad Boys.
During the halftime ceremony on March 29 versus the Cavaliers, among those to honor the former Pistons’ General Manager will be, former coach Chuck Daly, current Pistons’ President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars, WNBA Detroit Shock Head Coach Bill Laimbeer, Shock Assistant Coach Rick Mahorn, and the “Microwave” Vinnie Johnson.
