Last Updated on April 15, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here are the details for Rick Mahorn:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Derrick Allen Mahorn
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born September 21, 1958
  • Hometown: Hartford, Connecticut, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 meters)
  • Weight: 240 pounds (109 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet (213 cm)
  • Shoe Size: Size 18 (US)
  • Number: 44, 44, 00
  • Position: Power Forward / Center
  • High School: Weaver High School (Hartford, Connecticut)
  • College: Hampton University (Hampton, Virginia)
  • NBA Draft: 1980 NBA Draft, 2nd round (35th overall pick) by the Washington Bullets
  • Teams Played For:
    • Washington Bullets (1980–1985)
    • Detroit Pistons (1985–1989, 1996–1998)
    • Philadelphia 76ers (1989–1992)
    • New Jersey Nets (1992–1993)
    • Denver Nuggets (1995)
  • Championship Rings: 1 (1989 with the Detroit Pistons)
  • Kids: Known to have at least three children, but details are not widely publicized.
  • Siblings: Not widely documented.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Rick Mahorn’s player archetype was the bruising enforcer big, a rugged power forward who set the tone with force, attitude, and paint protection rather than finesse. At 6-foot-10 and 260 pounds, he brought a thick, powerful frame that made him hard to move, and defensively his role was to body up post scorers, protect the lane, and add rebounding muscle inside. Offensively, he worked more as a complementary interior piece than a featured option, supplying screens, put-backs, and simple finishes while Detroit’s stars carried the scoring load. His overall play style was confrontational, physical, and uncompromising, built on toughness, dirty work, and making every trip into the paint feel uncomfortable. (Los Angeles Times)

Fun Facts

  • Rick Mahorn was a key member of the Detroit Pistons’ “Bad Boys” championship team, known for his tough, physical defense and rebounding.
  • His gritty style earned him a reputation as one of the NBA’s top enforcers.
  • After retiring, Mahorn transitioned into broadcasting and coaching, including a stint as a coach in the WNBA for the Detroit Shock.

Sources:

NBA.com — Rick Mahorn | Forward | Washington Bullets | NBA.com
Los Angeles Times — Pistons Look for Mahorn to Be the Club’s Enforcer
Basketball Network — John Salley once affirmed who the “baddest guy” of the Detroit Pistons was: “Rick Mahorn was the essence of ‘Bad Boy'”