Nobody could stop Michael Jordan from scoring. However, a few guys were able to slow him down. Still, Joe Dumars was the only guy “His Airness” acknowledged as one of his toughest defenders ever.

“He thought well, and he was very smart about his defense,” MJ said. “I think he approaches the game as trying to dissect his opponents and try to find weaknesses or try to force them to do things they didn’t feel comfortable doing. He introduced certain tricks to make me expand on my talents as an offensive player, and that is why I consider him one of the best.”

Mr. Underrated

When it comes to one of the most underrated players in NBA history, Dumars definitely belongs on that list, despite being a key cog for the Detroit Pistons during their two championship runs.

Joe was an elite two-way player often tasked with guarding the opposing teams’ best scorers. However, the 6’3″ guard could also drop 20 points on any given night.

Dumars established himself as a vital part of the “Bad Boys” Pistons squad that was a legitimate championship contender for several years in a row. Alongside Isiah Thomas, he formed one of the best backcourts in the NBA in the second part of the ’80s and early ’90s. However, it wasn’t until the Pistons’ battles with the Chicago Bulls that Dumars finally got the recognition he deserved.