List of Detroit Pistons seasons

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This is a list of seasons completed by the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association. The franchise was founded in 1941 as the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons in the National Basketball League and as the Fort Wayne Pistons joined the Basketball Association of America, which was the precursor to the NBA. However, the games won and lost in the NBL are not included in the franchise total.

The Pistons have had three main periods of success. In the early years of the NBA the team reached the NBA Finals twice in consecutive years before falling to the Lakers and then to the St. Louis Hawks. Following an extended era of mediocrity the Pistons, led by the Hall of Fame backcourt of Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars and nicknamed the "Bad Boys" for their intimidating defence, posted winning records every seasons from 1983–84 to 1991–92, and after narrowly losing in 1988, ended the Lakers dynasty of the 1980s the following season and repeated the following year. The Pistons’ third period of success, with former on-court star Dumars serving as general manager and building a top team from other franchises’ discards, occurred between 2001–02 and 2007–08 when the team won fifty games or more during every season, including a third NBA title in 2003–04 and a franchise record total of wins two seasons later.

The Pistons have experienced two major periods of failure. Between 1956–57 and 1982–83, the Pistons had just three winning seasons and overall had a winning percentage of .417, culminating in a combined record of 37–127 (win percent .226) in the 1979–80 and 1980–81 seasons, after which the drafting of Isiah Thomas completely revitalized the franchise. Since 2009–10, the Pistons have only once finished out of the bottom two in their division or had a winning record.

Seasons[]

NBL champions NBA champions Conference champions Division champions Playoff berth
Season Team Conference Finish Division Finish Wins Losses Win% GB Playoffs Awards
Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons (NBL)
— 1941–42 — — — 2nd 15 9 .625 5 Won NBL Semifinals (Wingfoots) 2–1
Lost NBL Championship (All-Stars) 2–1
— 1942–43 — — — 1st 17 6 .739 — Won NBL Semifinals (Flyers) 2–1
Lost NBL Championship (Red Skins) 2–1		 Bobby McDermott (MVP)
— 1943–44 — — — 1st 18 4 .818 — Won NBL Semifinals (Brassmen) 2–0
Won NBL Championship (Red Skins) 3–0		 Bobby McDermott (MVP, COY)
— 1944–45 — — Eastern 1st 25 5 .833 — Won Division Semifinals (Transfers) 2–0
Won NBL Championship (Red Skins) 3–2		 Bobby McDermott (MVP, COY)
— 1945–46 — — Eastern 1st 26 8 .765 — Lost Division Semifinals (Royals) 3–1 Bobby McDermott (MVP)
— 1946–47 — — Eastern 2nd 25 19 .568 6 Won Opening Round (Jeeps) 3–2
Lost Division Semifinals (Royals) 2–1
— 1947–48 — — Eastern 3rd 40 20 .667 4 Lost Opening Round (Royals) 3–1
Fort Wayne Pistons
1948–49 1948–49 — — Western 5th 22 38 .367 23
1949–50 1949–50 — — Central 4th 40 28 .588 11 Won Division Semifinals (Royals) 2–0
Lost Division Finals (Lakers) 2–0
1950–51 1950–51 — — Western 3rd 32 36 .471 12 Lost Division Semifinals (Royals) 2–1
1951–52 1951–52 — — Western 4th 29 37 .439 12 Lost Division Semifinals (Royals) 2–0
1952–53 1952–53 — — Western 3rd 36 33 .522 11.5 Won Division Semifinals (Royals) 2–1
Lost Division Finals (Lakers) 3–2		 Don Meineke (ROY)
1953–54 1953–54 — — Western 3rd 40 32 .556 6 Lost Round-Robin (Royals) 2–0
Lost Round-Robin (Lakers) 2–0
1954–55 1954–55 — — Western 1st 43 29 .597 — Won Division Finals (Lakers) 3–1
Lost NBA Finals (Nationals) 4–3
1955–56 1955–56 — — Western 1st 37 35 .514 — Won Division Finals (Hawks) 3–2
Lost NBA Finals (Warriors) 4–1
1956–57 1956–57 — — Western 3rd 34 38 .472 — Lost Division Semifinals (Lakers) 2–0
Detroit Pistons
1957–58 1957–58 — — Western 2nd 33 39 .458 8 Won Division Semifinals (Royals) 2–0
Lost Division Finals (Hawks) 4–1
1958–59 1958–59 — — Western 3rd 28 44 .389 21 Lost Division Semifinals (Lakers) 2–1
1959–60 1959–60 — — Western 2nd 30 45 .400 16 Lost Division Semifinals (Lakers) 2–0
1960–61 1960–61 — — Western 3rd 34 45 .430 17 Lost Division Semifinals (Lakers) 3–2
1961–62 1961–62 — — Western 3rd 37 43 .463 17 Won Division Semifinals (Royals) 3–1
Lost Division Finals (Lakers) 4–2
1962–63 1962–63 — — Western 3rd 34 46 .425 19 Lost Division Semifinals (Hawks) 3–1
1963–64 1963–64 — — Western 5th 23 57 .288 25
1964–65 1964–65 — — Western 4th 31 49 .388 18
1965–66 1965–66 — — Western 5th 22 58 .275 23
1966–67 1966–67 — — Western 5th 30 51 .370 14 Dave Bing (ROY)
1967–68 1967–68 — — Eastern 4th 40 42 .488 22 Lost Division Semifinals (Celtics) 4–2
1968–69 1968–69 — — Eastern 6th 32 50 .390 25
1969–70 1969–70 — — Eastern 7th 31 51 .378 29
1970–71 1970–71 Western 6th Midwest 4th 45 37 .549 21
1971–72 1971–72 Western 8th Midwest 4th 26 56 .317 37
1972–73 1972–73 Western 5th Midwest 3rd 40 42 .488 20
1973–74 1973–74 Western 4th Midwest 3rd 52 30 .634 7 Lost Conference Semifinals (Bulls) 4–3 Bob Lanier (ASG MVP)
Ray Scott (COY)
1974–75 1974–75 Western 5th Midwest 3rd 40 42 .488 7 Lost First Round (SuperSonics) 2–1
1975–76 1975–76 Western 5th Midwest 2nd 36 46 .439 2 Won First Round (Bucks) 2–1
Lost Conference Semifinals (Warriors) 4–2
1976–77 1976–77 Western 5th Midwest 2nd 44 38 .537 6 Lost First Round (Warriors) 2–1
1977–78 1977–78 Western 9th Midwest 4th 38 44 .463 10
1978–79 1978–79 Eastern 9th Central 5th 30 52 .366 18
1979–80 1979–80 Eastern 11th Central 6th 16 66 .195 34
1980–81 1980–81 Eastern 11th Central 6th 21 61 .256 39
1981–82 1981–82 Eastern 7th Central 3rd 39 43 .476 16
1982–83 1982–83 Eastern 8th Central 3rd 37 45 .451 14
1983–84 1983–84 Eastern 4th Central 2nd 49 33 .598 1 Lost First Round (Knicks) 3–2 Isiah Thomas (ASG MVP)
1984–85 1984–85 Eastern 4th Central 2nd 46 36 .561 13 Won First Round (Nets) 3–0
Lost Conference Semifinals (Celtics) 4–2
1985–86 1985–86 Eastern 5th Central 3rd 46 36 .561 11 Lost First Round (Hawks) 3–1 Isiah Thomas (ASG MVP)
1986–87 1986–87 Eastern 3rd Central 2nd 52 30 .634 5 Won First Round (Bullets) 3–0
Won Conference Semifinals (Hawks) 4–1
Lost Conference Finals (Celtics) 4–3
1987–88 1987–88 Eastern 2nd Central 1st 54 28 .659 — Won First Round (Bullets) 3–2
Won Conference Semifinals (Bulls) 4–1
Won Conference Finals (Celtics) 4–2
Lost NBA Finals (Lakers) 4–3
1988–89 1988–89 Eastern 1st Central 1st 63 19 .768 — Won First Round (Celtics) 3–0
Won Conference Semifinals (Bucks) 4–0
Won Conference Finals (Bulls) 4–2
Won NBA Finals (Lakers) 4–0		 Joe Dumars (FMVP)
1989–90 1989–90 Eastern 1st Central 1st 59 23 .720 — Won First Round (Pacers) 3–0
Won Conference Semifinals (Knicks) 4–1
Won Conference Finals (Bulls) 4–3
Won NBA Finals (Trail Blazers) 4–1		 Isiah Thomas (FMVP)
Dennis Rodman (DPOY)
1990–91 1990–91 Eastern 3rd Central 2nd 50 32 .610 11 Won First Round (Hawks) 3–2
Won Conference Semifinals (Celtics) 4–2
Lost Conference Finals (Bulls) 4–0		 Dennis Rodman (DPOY)
1991–92 1991–92 Eastern 5th Central 3rd 48 34 .585 19 Lost First Round (Knicks) 3–2
1992–93 1992–93 Eastern 10th Central 6th 40 42 .488 17
1993–94 1993–94 Eastern 14th Central 6th 20 62 .244 37
1994–95 1994–95 Eastern 12th Central 7th 28 54 .341 24 Grant Hill (ROY)
1995–96 1995–96 Eastern 7th Central 5th 46 36 .561 26 Lost First Round (Magic) 3–0
1996–97 1996–97 Eastern 5th Central 4th 54 28 .659 15 Lost First Round (Hawks) 3–2
1997–98 1997–98 Eastern 11th Central 6th 37 45 .451 25
1998–99 1998–99 Eastern 5th Central 3rd 29 21 .580 4 Lost First Round (Hawks) 3–2
1999–00 1999–00 Eastern 7th Central 5th 42 40 .512 14 Lost First Round (Heat) 3–0
2000–01 2000–01 Eastern 10th Central 5th 32 50 .390 20
2001–02 2001–02 Eastern 2nd Central 1st 50 32 .610 — Won First Round (Raptors) 3–2
Lost Conference Semifinals (Celtics) 4–1		 Ben Wallace (DPOY)
Corliss Williamson (SMOY)
Rick Carlisle (COY)
2002–03 2002–03 Eastern 1st Central 1st 50 32 .610 — Won First Round (Magic) 4–3
Won Conference Semifinals (76ers) 4–2
Lost Conference Finals (Nets) 4–0		 Ben Wallace (DPOY)
Joe Dumars (EOY)
2003–04 2003–04 Eastern 3rd Central 2nd 54 28 .659 7 Won First Round (Bucks) 4–1
Won Conference Semifinals (Nets) 4–3
Won Conference Finals (Pacers) 4–2
Won NBA Finals (Lakers) 4–1		 Chauncey Billups (FMVP)
2004–05 2004–05 Eastern 2nd Central 1st 54 28 .659 — Won First Round (76ers) 4–1
Won Conference Semifinals (Pacers) 4–2
Won Conference Finals (Heat) 4–3
Lost NBA Finals (Spurs) 4–3		 Ben Wallace (DPOY)
2005–06 2005–06 Eastern 1st Central 1st 64 18 .780 — Won First Round (Bucks) 4–1
Won Conference Semifinals (Cavaliers) 4–3
Lost Conference Finals (Heat) 4–2		 Ben Wallace (DPOY)
2006–07 2006–07 Eastern 1st Central 1st 53 29 .646 — Won First Round (Magic) 4–0
Won Conference Semifinals (Bulls) 4–2
Lost Conference Finals (Cavaliers) 4–2
2007–08 2007–08 Eastern 2nd Central 1st 59 23 .720 — Won First Round (76ers) 4–2
Won Conference Semifinals (Magic) 4–1
Lost Conference Finals (Celtics) 4–2
2008–09 2008–09 Eastern 8th Central 3rd 39 43 .476 27 Lost First Round (Cavaliers) 4–0
2009–10 2009–10 Eastern 12th Central 5th 27 55 .329 34
2010–11 2010–11 Eastern 11th Central 4th 30 52 .366 32
2011–12 2011–12 Eastern 10th Central 4th 25 41 .379 25
2012–13 2012–13 Eastern 11th Central 4th 29 53 .354 20.5
2013–14 2013–14 Eastern 11th Central 4th 29 53 .354 27
2014–15 2014–15 Eastern 12th Central 5th 32 50 .390 21
2015–16 2015–16 Eastern 8th Central 3rd 44 38 .537 13 Lost First Round (Cavaliers) 4–0
2016–17 2016–17 Eastern 10th Central 5th 37 45 .451 14
2017–18 2017–18 Eastern 9th Central 4th 39 43 .476 11
2018–19 2018–19 Eastern 8th Central 3rd 41 41 .500 19 Lost First Round (Bucks) 4–0
2019–20 2019–20 Eastern 13th Central 4th 20 46 .303 32.5
2020–21 2020–21 Eastern 15th Central 5th 20 52 .278 26

All-time records[]

NBA records[]

Statistic Wins Losses Win%
Regular season record (1948–present) 2,773 2,979 .482
Post-season record (1948–present) 200 169 .542
All-time regular and post-season record 2,973 3,148 .486

[1][2]

NBL records[]

Statistic Wins Losses Win%
Regular season record (1941–1948) 166 71 .700
Post-season record (1941–1948) 22 18 .550
All-time regular and post-season record 188 89 .679

[3][4]

References[]

  1. ^ Detroit Pistons at Basketball Reference
  2. ^ Detroit Pistons at Land of Basketball
  3. ^ NBL records at Basketball Reference
  4. ^ Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons at Basketball Reference
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