John Salley
First to win NBA titles with three franchises and in three different decades.
John Thomas Salley (born May 16, 1964) is an American former professional basketball player. He was the first player in NBA history to win championships with three franchises (since joined by Robert Horry, Danny Green, and LeBron James), as well as the first player in the NBA to win a championship in three different decades (since joined by Tim Duncan).
- Role
- Center/Power Forward
- Affiliation
- Detroit Pistons (1986–1992)
- Championships
- 2 (1989, 1990)
- Notable Trait
- Defensive Shot Blocker and Rebounder
- Status
- Retired / Hall of Fame Consideration
Lore & Background
Salley played both power forward and center for the Detroit Pistons, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, Panathinaikos, and Los Angeles Lakers. He was a long-time host of the former Fox Sports Net show The Best Damn Sports Show Period. He is a vegan activist, chef, and wellness entrepreneur.
In Their Own Story
The air inside The Palace is thick with tension as the 1989 Finals reach their climax. John Salley stands under the basket, eyes locked on the opposing center's every move. As the ball comes down for a layup attempt, Salley explodes upward, his long arms extending to swat the shot into oblivion. The crowd erupts in deafening cheers as he lands, pointing toward the tunnel, signaling that no one is scoring on the Bad Boys tonight.
Reader's Guide
Salley was drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the 11th overall pick in the 1986 NBA draft out of Georgia Tech. He won NBA championships with the Pistons in 1989 and 1990, with the Chicago Bulls in 1996, and with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000. He also played for Panathinaikos in Greece in 1996. In 2006, he was named Commissioner of the American Basketball Association.
Did You Know?
- Salley is among the Pistons' all-time leaders in blocked shots.
- He holds Georgia Tech's personal fouls record and has had his jersey number 22 retired.
- Salley appeared in the 1995 film Bad Boys as Fletcher, a role he reprised in Bad Boys II (2003) and Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024).
More in Legendary Players & Coaches
Elsewhere in the Detroit Pistons universe
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