Adrian Dantley
A six-time All-Star and two-time scoring champion, Dantley brought his prolific low-post scoring to Detroit from 1986 to 1989.
Adrian Delano Dantley (born February 26, 1955), nicknamed A.D., is an American former professional basketball player and coach who played 15 seasons in the NBA. He is a six-time NBA All-Star, two-time All-NBA honoree, and two-time NBA scoring champion. Dantley finished ninth on the all-time NBA scoring list at the time of his retirement and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008. He served as an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets from 2003 to 2011. He played college basketball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
- Role
- Shooting Guard / Small Forward
- Affiliation
- Detroit Pistons (1986–1990)
- Status
- Retired Legend
- Hall of Fame
- Inducted 2008
- Career Scoring
- Elite Career Points Per Game Average
- Jersey Number
- 34
Lore & Background
Dantley was traded to the Detroit Pistons on August 21, 1986, in exchange for Kelly Tripucka and Kent Benson. He played for the Pistons from the 1986–87 season until February 15, 1989, when he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks along with a 1991 first-round draft pick for Mark Aguirre. During his Pistons tenure, Dantley was an effective scorer but did not get as many shots due to teammates Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Vinnie Johnson, and Bill Laimbeer all averaging at least 10 points per game. He was knocked unconscious while diving for a loose ball in Game 7 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals. His departure was attributed to conflicts with Thomas, head coach Chuck Daly, and general manager Jack McCloskey over his demand for a focal point role and more minutes than Dennis Rodman.
In Their Own Story
The air inside the Palace of Auburn Hills was thick with tension as the clock ticked under ten seconds. Dantley caught the pass near the elbow, his feet set perfectly on the hardwood. The defender lunged, but Adrian simply rose up, a smooth motion perfected over thousands of hours. He released the ball at the apex, watching it arc toward the rim before the buzzer silenced the crowd.
Reader's Guide
Dantley played primarily as a small forward, though he operated in the low post similar to a power forward. He finished his NBA career with an average of 24.3 points per game, shooting .540 from the floor and .818 from the free throw line. He led the league in free throws six times and ranks ninth all-time in that category. He previously held the NBA record (shared with Wilt Chamberlain) for most free throws made in a regular-season game with 28, until Bam Adebayo broke the record with 36 on March 10, 2026. Before each free throw, he followed a routine of four two-handed dribbles and two spins of the ball, repeating a mantra from junior high: 'Over the front rim, backspin, follow through.' His low-post scoring was remarkable given that one of his legs is significantly shorter than the other.
Did You Know?
- Dantley was the first NBA Rookie of the Year to be traded following his rookie season.
- He tied Wilt Chamberlain's NBA record for single-game free throws made (28) on January 4, while with the Utah Jazz.
- Dantley led the West in scoring with 23 points in the 1980 NBA All-Star Game, the first Utah Jazz player to appear in an All-Star game since the team moved from New Orleans.
- He graduated from Notre Dame with a degree in economics in August 1978.
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