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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 haven't made the playoffs and have had only two seasons with at least a .500 winning percentage. The franchise's last playoff wins came in the 2007-08 season (they made the playoffs the next year but were swept in the 1st round).

Seasons

NBL champions NBA champions Conference champions Division champions Playoff berth
Season Team Conference Finish Division Finish Wins Losses Win% GB Playoffs Awards Head Coach
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		 Carl Bennett
— 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) Bobby McDermott
— 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) Carl Bennett
— 1946–47 — — Eastern 2nd 25 19 .568 6 Won Opening Round (Jeeps) 3–2
Lost Division semifinals (Royals) 2–1		 Bobby McDermott
Carl Bennett
Curly Armstrong
— 1947–48 — — Eastern 3rd 40 20 .667 4 Lost Opening Round (Royals) 3–1 Carl Bennett
Fort Wayne Pistons
1948–49 1948–49 — — Western 5th 22 38 .367 23 Carl Bennett
Curly Armstrong
1949–50 1949–50 — — Central 4th 40 28 .588 11 Won Division semifinals (Royals) 2–0
Lost Division finals (Lakers) 2–0		 Murray Mendenhall
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 Paul Birch
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		 Charley Eckman
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		 Charley Eckman
Red Rocha
1958–59 1958–59 — — Western 3rd 28 44 .389 21 Lost Division semifinals (Lakers) 2–1 Red Rocha
1959–60 1959–60 — — Western 2nd 30 45 .400 16 Lost Division semifinals (Lakers) 2–0 Red Rocha
Dick McGuire
1960–61 1960–61 — — Western 3rd 34 45 .430 17 Lost Division semifinals (Lakers) 3–2 Dick McGuire
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 Charles Wolf
1964–65 1964–65 — — Western 4th 31 49 .388 18 Charles Wolf
Dave DeBusschere
1965–66 1965–66 — — Western 5th 22 58 .275 23 Dave DeBusschere
1966–67 1966–67 — — Western 5th 30 51 .370 14 Dave Bing (ROY) Dave DeBusschere
Donnis Butcher
1967–68 1967–68 — — Eastern 4th 40 42 .488 22 Lost Division semifinals (Celtics) 4–2 Donnis Butcher
1968–69 1968–69 — — Eastern 6th 32 50 .390 25 Donnis Butcher
Paul Seymour
1969–70 1969–70 — — Eastern 7th 31 51 .378 29 Butch van Breda Kolff
1970–71 1970–71 Western 6th Midwest 4th 45 37 .549 21
1971–72 1971–72 Western 8th Midwest 4th 26 56 .317 37 Butch van Breda Kolff
Terry Dischinger
Earl Lloyd
1972–73 1972–73 Western 5th Midwest 3rd 40 42 .488 20 Earl Lloyd
Ray Scott
1973–74 1973–74 Western 4th Midwest 3rd 52 30 .634 7 Lost conference semifinals (Bulls) 4–3 Ray Scott (COY)
Bob Lanier (ASG MVP)		 Ray Scott
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		 Ray Scott
Herb Brown
1976–77 1976–77 Western 5th Midwest 2nd 44 38 .537 6 Lost First round (Warriors) 2–1 Herb Brown
1977–78 1977–78 Western 9th Midwest 4th 38 44 .463 10 Bob Lanier (JWKC) Herb Brown
Bob Kauffman
1978–79 1978–79 Eastern 9th Central 5th 30 52 .366 18 Dick Vitale
1979–80 1979–80 Eastern 11th Central 6th 16 66 .195 34 Dick Vitale
Richie Adubato
1980–81 1980–81 Eastern 11th Central 6th 21 61 .256 39 Scotty Robertson
1981–82 1981–82 Eastern 7th Central 3rd 39 43 .476 16 Kent Benson (JWKC)
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) Chuck Daly
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		 Isiah Thomas (JWKC)
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 Ron Rothstein
1993–94 1993–94 Eastern 14th Central 6th 20 62 .244 37 Joe Dumars (JWKC) Don Chaney
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 Joe Dumars (SPOR) Doug Collins
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 Doug Collins
Alvin Gentry
1998–99 1998–99 Eastern 5th Central 3rd 29 21 .580 4 Lost First round (Hawks) 3–2 Alvin Gentry
1999–00 1999–00 Eastern 7th Central 5th 42 40 .512 14 Lost First round (Heat) 3–0 Alvin Gentry
George Irvine
2000–01 2000–01 Eastern 10th Central 5th 32 50 .390 20 George Irvine
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 (SIX)
Rick Carlisle (COY)		 Rick Carlisle
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) Larry Brown
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) Flip Saunders
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		 Chauncey Billups (JWKC)
2008–09 2008–09 Eastern 8th Central 3rd 39 43 .476 27 Lost First round (Cavaliers) 4–0 Michael Curry
2009–10 2009–10 Eastern 12th Central 5th 27 55 .329 34 John Kuester
2010–11 2010–11 Eastern 11th Central 4th 30 52 .366 32
2011–12 2011–12 Eastern 10th Central 4th 25 41 .379 25 Lawrence Frank
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 Maurice Cheeks
John Loyer
2014–15 2014–15 Eastern 12th Central 5th 32 50 .390 21 Stan Van Gundy
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 Dwane Casey
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
2021–22 2021–22 Eastern 14th Central 5th 23 59 .280 30
2022–23 2022–23 Eastern 15th Central 5th 17 65 .207 41
2023–24 2023–24 Eastern 15th Central 5th 14 68 .171 50 Monty Williams

All-time records

NBA records

Statistic Wins Losses Win%
Regular season record (1948–present) 2,827 3,171 .471
Post-season record (1948–present) 188 182 .508
All-time regular and post-season record 3,015 3,353 .473

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

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
Detroit Pistons seasons
1940s
1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49
1950s
1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59
1960s
1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69
1970s
1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79
1980s
1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89
1990s
1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99
2000s
1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09
2010s
2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19
2020s
2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
Bold indicates NBA Finals victory
Detroit Pistons
  • Founded in 1937
  • Formerly the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons (1937–1948) and the Fort Wayne Pistons (1948–1957)
  • Based in Detroit, Michigan
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Tom Gores
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Ed Stefanski
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Monty Williams
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