William "Bill" Davidson

When William Davidson purchased the Detroit Pistons in 1974 from fellow Hall of Famer Fred Zollner, there was little indication that the man who had made his fortune in the glass industry was about to become one of the most influential owners in professional sports. That William Davidson became just that without changing his philosophy, his demeanor, or his style is testimony to the character and judgment of the man those closest to him know as Mr. D. The Detroit Pistons won three NBA titles under Davidson while his Detroit Shock brought home three WNBA championships. Along the way, Davidson privately financed the first modern arena in basketball when he opened the Palace of Auburn Hills in 1988 and served two terms as Chairman of the NBA Board of Governors. An enthusiastic supporter of NBA commissioner David Stern and his vision for the league, Davidson surrounded himself with great players and coaches including Joe Dumars, Isiah Thomas, Chuck Daly, and Larry Brown. Davidson is the only owner in history to win NBA and NHL championships in the same season.