Detroit Pistons (1995-1997)

Theo Ratliff

Before being traded to the 76ers, the 6-foot-10 Ratliff had established himself as one of the college game's most prolific shot blockers. While at Wyoming, the center/forward became the NCAA's second all-time leading shot blocker behind Georgetown's Alonzo Mourning.

In limited playing time during his first two NBA seasons, Ratliff led the Pistons in blocks, with 116 in the 1995-96 season and 111 in 1996-97.

In Detroit, Ratliff developed into a well-known, shot-blocking commodity who could rebound. But after being dealt to Philadelphia, he showed he could score, too. Ratliff finished the 1997-98 season second in the NBA in total blocks (258), and even more impressively, improved his scoring average from 5.8 points the previous season to 9.9 points.

Ratliff continued to show improvement on both the defensive and offensive ends in his next two seasons with the Sixers. In last season's playoffs, he averaged 13.0 points, 7.9 rebounds and had 30 blocks as the Sixers advanced into the second round, where they fell to Indiana in six games.

This statement was written by a fan after Theo was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers on 12/18/97.  "Theo Ratliff, in my opinion, was one of the most exciting players to ever don a Detroit Pistons jersey. Leaving Wyoming as the second-best shot blocker in NCAA history (now ranking fourth all-time), the Pistons drafted Theo with the 18th overall selection in the first round of the 1995 NBA Draft.  He led the team in blocks every year he played. If he had started, I believe he could've been a 15 point, 10 rebound, and 4 block guy. With Collins gone now, he would've most likely become a constant starter. All this and he was a fan favorite.  But despite his great career and potential, the Pistons traded Theo to the Philadelphia 76ers along with Aaron McKie for Jerry Stackhouse and Eric Montross on December 18, 1997.  Even Grant Hill has publicly denounced the trade, proclaiming he wished Theo was still here.  Theo should've been a cornerstone of Detroit's attempt at building a new dynasty, but the franchise saw things differently."

Theo Ratliff played more than 2 Seasons for the Detroit Pistons

DETROIT PISTONS   A V E R A G E S  REBOUNDS YEAR TEAM G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% OFF DFF TOT APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG 95-96 Det 75 2 17.4 .557 .000 .708 1.5 2.5 4.0 0.2 0.21 1.55 0.7 1.9 4.5 96-97 Det 76 38 17.0 .531 -- .698 1.4 1.9 3.4 0.2 0.38 1.46 0.7 2.4 5.8 97-98 Det 24 12 24.4 .514 .000 .683 1.90 3.10 5.00 0.6 0.50 2.29 1.42 3.50 6.5    DETROIT PISTONS   T O T A L S  REBOUNDS YEAR TEAM G GS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OFF DEF TOT AST STL BLK TO PF PTS 95-96 Det 75 2 1305 128-230 0-1 85-120 110 187 297 13 16 116 56 144 341 96-97 Det 76 38 1292 179-337 0-0 81-116 109 147 256 13 29 111 56 181 439 97-98 Det 24 12 586 57-111 0-0 43-63 46 75 121 15 12 55 34 83 157

1997-98 SEASON

Seeing nearly twice as much playing time as in either of his first two seasons, Ratliff emerged as a premier NBA shotblocker in his third season, ranking fourth in the NBA with 3.15 blocks per game. He also averaged career-highs of 9.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. 

He began the season with Detroit and played in 24 games, making 12 starts and averaging 6.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.29 blocks in 24.4 minutes per game. 

On December 18 he was obtained by the Philadelphia 76ers, along with Aaron McKie and a first-round pick, for Jerry Stackhouse, Eric Montross and a second-round choice. 

Ratliff provided a much-needed defensive presence in the middle for the Sixers, playing in 58 games, 55 of them as a starter. With Philadelphia he averaged 11.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and a whopping 3.50 blocks in 32.1 minutes per game. His field goal percentage of .513 was tops on the Sixers. Twice in a span of 15 days Ratliff rejected a career-high eight shots-at the Lakers on January 4 and against Sacramento on January 19, both while with Philadelphia. 

He blocked at least one shot in a league-high 55 consecutive games with the Sixers and blocked at least three shots in 51 games. Ratliff scored in double figures 45 times, tallying a season-high 27 points for Philadelphia at Boston on March 22. He hauled down a season-high 14 rebounds for the Sixers against Atlanta on March 13.

1996-97 NOTES

Ratliff led the Pistons in blocked shots for the second year in a row, his 1.46 average ranking 19th in the NBA even though he played just 17.0 minutes per game. He played in 76 games, starting exactly half of them at center. He was a DNP-CD in six games. 

Ratliff averaged 5.8 ppg and 3.4 rpg. He scored a career-high 25 points, grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds and blocked five shots in a 92-85 win over Milwaukee on April 16. He posted a career-high eight blocked shots in a 104-95 win over Philadelphia on Jan. 25. 

Ratliff saw only brief action in three of Detroit's five playoff games, totaling eight points, four rebounds and four blocks in 18 minutes.

1995-96 NOTES

Ratliff led the Pistons in blocked shots as a rookie with 116, his 1.55 per game average ranking 19th in the NBA. He blocked at least two shots in 36 games, posting a season-high five blocks on three occasions. 

Ratliff also averaged 4.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game, appearing in 75 contests, all but two of them off the bench. Ratliff sat out six games due to a coach's decision and one because of illness. 

He ranked second on the Pistons in field goal percentage at .557, shooting 128-for-230, and posted career-highs of 21 points and 15 rebounds in 38 minutes in a win over Seattle on Nov. 15. He was scoreless in four minutes in one playoff appearance against Orlando.