In a recent online interview, retired NBA All-Star Chauncey Billups claimed that if the Pistons drafted Carmelo Anthony as second overall back in 2003, they would have had three championships.
Chauncey Billups (@1MrBigShot) said the @DetroitPistons would have for sure won three championships if they drafted Carmelo Anthony (@carmeloanthony) in 2003.
Do you agree? pic.twitter.com/o4xLo1aMgE
— Stokastic (@Stokastic_Com) April 11, 2020
A few years prior, Detroit came off the 2002-03 season solid. However, the team was still able to make a selection for the No. 2 overall pick via a previous arrangement from the Memphis Grizzlies. They infamously drafted Darko Milicic. He later became known as one of the biggest busts in NBA history. Just one pick below, the Denver Nuggets selected the young Carmelo Anthony.
Of course, despite the oversight, the Pistons still enjoyed a good amount of success. Just a season after drafting Milicic, they marched past the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2004 NBA championship. Within this span, they also acquired All-Star forward Rasheed Wallace mid-season.
However, the 2004 NBA title would be both Billups’ and Wallace’s first and only championship. The former went on to stay until 2008, while the latter left the Pistons a year after. In the interview, Billups further explained that they would have earned three titles “for sure” if Melo was drafted, but in addition, still acquired Wallace.
True enough, Carmelo Anthony since earned 10 All-Star selections. Despite not yet winning a championship, the Syracuse alum became one of the most prolific scorers in his draft class. In addition to breaking several records, Anthony also became the 2013 scoring champion. Considering Melo’s accolades, Billups certainly didn’t make a far-fetched claim. Unfortunately, it will only remain one of the biggest what-ifs in league history.
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