1979–80 Detroit Pistons season

The 1979–80 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 32nd season in the NBA and 23rd season in the city of Detroit. The Pistons were coming off a 30–52 (.366) record from their first season in the Eastern Conference, and aiming to halt declines of six and eight wins from their previous two seasons, but by finishing 16–66 (.195) they had the worst record in franchise history at the time, and the worst NBA record since the 1972–73 Philadelphia 76ers won only nine games.

Coach Dick Vitale, who was also in charge of player personnel, was fired 12 games into the season, having pushed for a disastrous trade with the Boston Celtics for Bob McAdoo when Pistons free agent M.L. Carr signed with Boston that would eventually net the Celtics key championship components Carr, Robert Parrish, and Kevin McHale in a series of exchanges. Injuries to McAdoo and center Bob Lanier, who was traded during the season, left the Pistons a depleted roster and the team finished with fourteen consecutive defeats. Second year players John Long (19.4 ppg) and Terry Tyler (12.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg) had solid seasons to lead the overwhelmed Pistons.

Draft picks

Main article: 1979 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	4	Greg Kelser	SF	United States	Michigan State
1	10	Roy Hamilton	PG	United States	UCLA
1	15	Phil Hubbard	PF	United States	Michigan
3	48	Terry Duerod	SG	United States	Detroit

Roster

1979–80 Detroit Pistons roster

Players

Coaches

Pos.	No.	Name	Height	Weight	From
C	54	Benson, Kent	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	Indiana
C	13	Douglas, Leon	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	230 lb (104 kg)	Alabama
G/F	42	Duerod, Terry	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	Detroit Mercy
F	21	Evans, Earl	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	202 lb (92 kg)	UNLV
G	24	Hamilton, Roy	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	UCLA
SF	35	Hubbard, Phil	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Michigan
F	32	Kelser, Greg	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	Michigan State
G	30	Lee, Ron	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	193 lb (88 kg)	Oregon
SG	25	Long, John	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	Detroit Mercy
PF	44	Malovic, Steve	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	San Diego State
C	11	McAdoo, Bob	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	North Carolina
G	14	Money, Eric	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	Arizona
F	9	Robinson, Jackie	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	UNLV
G/F	41	Tyler, Terry	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Detroit Mercy

Head coach

Assistant coach(es)

Herman Kull

Legend

(DP) Unsigned draft pick
(FA) Free agent
(S) Suspended
Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Atlanta Hawks	50	32	.610	–	32–9	18–23	21–9
x-Houston Rockets	41	41	.500	9	29–12	12–29	20–10
x-San Antonio Spurs	41	41	.500	9	27–14	14–27	14–16
Cleveland Cavaliers	37	45	.451	13	28–13	9–32	16–14
Indiana Pacers	37	45	.451	13	26–15	11–30	15–15
Detroit Pistons	16	66	.195	34	13–28	3–38	4–26

#	Eastern Conference v t e
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Boston Celtics	61	21	.744	–
2	y-Atlanta Hawks	50	32	.610	11
3	x-Philadelphia 76ers	59	23	.720	2
4	x-Houston Rockets	41	41	.500	20
5	x-San Antonio Spurs	41	41	.500	20
6	x-Washington Bullets	39	43	.476	22

7	New York Knicks	39	43	.476	22
8	Cleveland Cavaliers	37	45	.451	24
8	Indiana Pacers	37	45	.451	24
10	New Jersey Nets	34	48	.415	27
11	Detroit Pistons	16	66	.195	44

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1979-80 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	KCK	LAL	MIL	NJN	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAS	SDC	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	2–4	1–1	4–2	1–1	6–0	2–0	2–4	4–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	4–2	4–2	4–2	1–1	2–0	5–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–3
Boston	4–2	—	2–0	4–2	2–0	6–0	2–0	6–0	4–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	5–1	5–1	3–3	1–1	2–0	4–2	2–0	0–2	2–0	4–2
Chicago	1–1	0–2	—	2–0	2–4	1–1	4–2	1–1	0–2	3–3	1–5	1–5	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–5	3–3	0–2	4–2	2–4	2–4	0–2
Cleveland	2–4	2–4	0–2	—	1–1	6–0	2–0	2–4	2–4	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–3	3–3	1–5	1–1	0–2	4–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–3
Denver	1–1	0–2	4–2	1–1	—	1–1	3–3	1–1	1–1	0–6	1–5	3–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–5	2–4	1–1	3–3	1–5	3–3	1–1
Detroit	0–6	0–6	1–1	0–6	1–1	—	1–1	1–5	1–5	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–4	1–5	0–2	0–2	2–4	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–4
Golden State	0–2	0–2	2–4	0–2	3–3	1–1	—	1–1	1–1	3–3	1–5	0–6	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–4	2–4	0–2	3–3	0–6	3–3	0–2
Houston	4–2	0–6	1–1	4–2	1–1	5–1	1–1	—	4–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–3	3–3	2–4	1–1	1–1	3–3	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–4
Indiana	2–4	2–4	2–0	4–2	1–1	5–1	1–1	2–4	—	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–4	4–2	1–5	0–2	2–0	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–2
Kansas City	2–0	1–1	3–3	0–2	6–0	2–0	3–3	2–0	1–1	—	2–4	3–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–5	1–5	1–1	5–1	3–3	6–0	2–0
Los Angeles	1–1	2–0	5–1	1–1	5–1	2–0	5–1	2–0	2–0	4–2	—	3–3	2–0	2–0	1–1	3–3	2–4	2–0	5–1	4–2	6–0	1–1
Milwaukee	1–1	0–2	5–1	2–0	3–3	1–1	6–0	1–1	2–0	3–3	3–3	—	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–2	5–1	0–2	4–2	2–4	4–2	1–1
New Jersey	2–4	1–5	1–1	3–3	1–1	4–2	0–2	3–3	4–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	—	2–4	1–5	1–1	0–2	3–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–3
New York	2–4	1–5	2–0	3–3	1–1	4–2	2–0	3–3	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–2	—	0–6	2–0	2–0	4–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–3
Philadelphia	2–4	3–3	1–1	5–1	2–0	5–1	2–0	4–2	5–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	5–1	6–0	—	1–1	2–0	4–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–1
Phoenix	1–1	1–1	5–1	1–1	5–1	2–0	4–2	1–1	2–0	5–1	3–3	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	—	6–0	1–1	2–4	4–2	6–0	2–0
Portland	0–2	0–2	3–3	2–0	4–2	2–0	4–2	1–1	0–2	5–1	4–2	1–5	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–6	—	1–1	4–2	1–5	3–3	1–1
San Antonio	1–5	2–4	2–0	2–4	1–1	4–2	2–0	3–3	4–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–3	2–4	2–4	1–1	1–1	—	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–2
San Diego	1–1	0–2	2–4	1–1	3–3	2–0	3–3	0–2	1–1	1–5	1–5	2–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–2	2–4	0–2	—	3–3	5–1	1–1
Seattle	2–0	2–0	4–2	2–0	5–1	2–0	6–0	1–1	2–0	3–3	2–4	4–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–4	5–1	1–1	3–3	—	5–1	1–1
Utah	0–2	0–2	4–2	1–1	3–3	1–1	3–3	0–2	1–1	0–6	0–6	2–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–6	3–3	1–1	1–5	1–5	—	0–2
Washington	3–3	2–4	2–0	3–3	1–1	4–2	2–0	4–2	2–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–3	3–3	1–5	0–2	1–1	2–4	1–1	1–1	2–0	—

Game log

Regular season

1979–80 game log
Total: 16–66 (Home: 13–28; Road: 3–38)

October: 4–5 (home: 3–1; road: 1–4)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
1	October 12	Indiana	W 114–105	Pontiac Silverdome	1–0
2	October 13	@ San Antonio	W 112–110	HemisFair Arena	2–0
3	October 16	@ Cleveland	L 117–137	Richfield Coliseum	2–1
4	October 18	New York	W 129–115	Pontiac Silverdome	3–1
5	October 19	@ Philadelphia	L 104–112	The Spectrum	3–2
6	October 20	@ Washington	L 106–117	Capital Centre	3–3
7	October 24	Washington	W 104–103	Pontiac Silverdome	4–3
8	October 26	San Antonio	L 113–129	Pontiac Silverdome	4–4
9	October 27	@ Milwaukee	L 118–132	MECCA Arena	4–5

November: 3–11 (home: 3–5; road: 0–6)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
10	November 1	Cleveland	L 125–127	Pontiac Silverdome	4–6
11	November 3	Houston	L 111–114	Pontiac Silverdome	4–7
12	November 7	Atlanta	L 107–115	Pontiac Silverdome	4–8
13	November 9	Philadelphia	W 106–98	Pontiac Silverdome	5–8
14	November 10	@ Houston	L 104–112	The Summit	5–9
15	November 14	@ Boston	L 111–115	Boston Garden	5–10
16	November 17	New Jersey	L 93–98	Pontiac Silverdome	5–11
17	November 20	@ Atlanta	L 105–109	The Omni	5–12
18	November 21	Utah	W 98–93	Pontiac Silverdome	6–12
19	November 23	Milwaukee	W 119–100	Pontiac Silverdome	7–12
20	November 24	@ Indiana	L 97–115	Market Square Arena	7–13
21	November 27	@ New York	L 114–116 (OT)	Madison Square Garden	7–14
22	November 28	@ New Jersey	L 89–98	Rutgers Athletic Center	7–15
23	November 29	Kansas City	L 95–105	Pontiac Silverdome	7–16

December: 3–13 (home: 2–4; road: 1–9)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
24	December 1	San Antonio	W 134–124	Pontiac Silverdome	8–16
25	December 4	Boston	L 114–118 (OT)	Pontiac Silverdome	8–17
26	December 5	@ Kansas City	L 93–109	Municipal Auditorium	8–18
27	December 7	@ Houston	L 109–124	The Summit	8–19
28	December 8	@ Indiana	L 102–103	Market Square Arena	8–20
29	December 12	@ Golden State	W 114–96	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena	9–20
30	December 14	@ Los Angeles	L 122–138	The Forum	9–21
31	December 15	@ Phoenix	L 105–126	Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum	9–22
32	December 16	@ San Diego	L 126–133	San Diego Sports Arena	9–23
33	December 18	Philadelphia	L 102–114	Pontiac Silverdome	9–24
34	December 20	Atlanta	L 103–122	Pontiac Silverdome	9–25
35	December 22	@ San Antonio	L 112–141	HemisFair Arena	9–26
36	December 25	@ Cleveland	L 101–111	Richfield Coliseum	9–27
37	December 26	Indiana	L 97–98	Pontiac Silverdome	9–28
38	December 28	Denver	W 114–98	Pontiac Silverdome	10–28
39	December 29	@ Atlanta	L 104–115	The Omni	10–29

January: 4–11 (home: 3–4; road: 1–7)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
40	January 2	@ Denver	L 116–135	McNichols Sports Arena	10–30
41	January 4	@ Seattle	L 105–123	Kingdome	10–31
42	January 6	@ Portland	L 102–119	Memorial Coliseum	10–32
43	January 8	@ Utah	L 110–124	Salt Palace	10–33
44	January 11	Los Angeles	L 100–123	Pontiac Silverdome	10–34
45	January 12	@ Indiana	L 109–122	Market Square Arena	10–35
46	January 13	Chicago	W 107–102	Pontiac Silverdome	11–35
47	January 17	Washington	W 110–107	Pontiac Silverdome	12–35
48	January 19	Houston	W 122–110	Pontiac Silverdome	13–35
49	January 22	@ Chicago	L 131–145	Chicago Stadium	13–36
50	January 23	Boston	L 104–131	Pontiac Silverdome	13–37
51	January 25	@ New Jersey	W 119–116	Rutgers Athletic Center	14–37
52	January 27	New York	L 93–98	Pontiac Silverdome	14–38
53	January 29	Golden State	L 100–111	Pontiac Silverdome	14–39
54	January 30	@ Philadelphia	L 108–121	The Spectrum	14–40

February: 1–10 (home: 1–7; road: 0–3)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
55	February 7	Seattle	L 102–119	Pontiac Silverdome	14–41
56	February 9	@ New York	L 107–114	Madison Square Garden	14–42
57	February 10	@ Boston	L 111–128	Boston Garden	14–43
58	February 13	Cleveland	L 102–107	Pontiac Silverdome	14–44
59	February 15	Philadelphia	L 104–114	Pontiac Silverdome	14–45
60	February 16	@ Cleveland	L 104–123	Richfield Coliseum	14–46
61	February 17	Atlanta	L 99–108	Pontiac Silverdome	14–47
62	February 21	Phoenix	L 116–125	Pontiac Silverdome	14–48
63	February 23	Portland	L 107–130	Pontiac Silverdome	14–49
64	February 27	San Diego	L 113–129	Pontiac Silverdome	14–50
65	February 29	New Jersey	W 137–128 (OT)	Pontiac Silverdome	15–50

March: 1–16 (home: 1–7; road: 0–9)

Game	Date	Team	Score	Location Attendance	Record
66	March 2	@ Boston	L 115–118	Boston Garden	15–51
67	March 4	@ Washington	L 107–135	Capital Centre	15–52
68	March 5	New York	W 120–113	Pontiac Silverdome	16–52
69	March 7	Washington	L 105–106	Pontiac Silverdome	16–53
70	March 8	@ New York	L 104–110	Madison Square Garden	16–54
71	March 9	@ New Jersey	L 100–140	Rutgers Athletic Center	16–55
72	March 12	New Jersey	L 119–137	Pontiac Silverdome	16–56
73	March 14	San Antonio	L 102–113	Pontiac Silverdome	16–57
74	March 16	Houston	L 99–102	Pontiac Silverdome	16–58
75	March 17	@ Philadelphia	L 109–123	The Spectrum	16–59
76	March 18	Cleveland	L 107–108 (OT)	Pontiac Silverdome	16–60
77	March 20	Boston	L 106–124	Pontiac Silverdome	16–61
78	March 21	@ Atlanta	L 95–108	The Omni	16–62
79	March 23	@ Washington	L 114–119	Capital Centre	16–63
80	March 26	Indiana	L 114–124	Pontiac Silverdome	16–64
81	March 28	@ Houston	L 112–128	The Summit	16–65
82	March 30	@ San Antonio	L 124–144	HemisFair Arena	16–66

1979–80 schedule

References

1979-80 Detroit Pistons
Wright, Kyle; The NBA from Top to Bottom: A History of the NBA from the No. 1 Team to the No. 1,153; pp. 119-120. ISBN 9780595697960
"Dick Vitale and the worst team in Detroit Pistons history". January 20, 2021.

v t e Detroit Pistons
Founded in 1937 Formerly the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons (1937–1948) and the Fort Wayne Pistons (1948–1957) Based in Detroit, Michigan
Franchise	All-time roster Draft history Head coaches Seasons Current season
Arenas	North Side High School Gym Allen County War Memorial Coliseum Detroit Olympia Memorial Building Cobo Arena Pontiac Silverdome The Palace of Auburn Hills Little Caesars Arena
Personnel	Owner(s) Tom Gores President Ed Stefanski General manager Vacant Head coach Monty Williams
G League affiliate	Motor City Cruise
Retired numbers	1 2 3 4 10 11 15 16 21 32 40
NBA championships	1989 1990 2004
Rivalries	Boston Celtics Chicago Bulls Los Angeles Lakers
Culture and lore	Broadcasters Hooper Jordan Rules 1990 Detroit riot John Mason Malice at the Palace

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