Home / NBA Basketball / Detroit Pistons
Buy Detroit Pistons Tickets

National Basketball Association

Detroit Pistons
Eastern Conference/Central Division

Buy Detroit Pistons Tickets
(Opens a New Window)

History of the Pistons

Originally from Ft. Wayne, Indiana, the Pistons (named after owner Fred Zollner’s Piston Company) moved to Detroit and began the 1957/58 season from there.  They would make it into the playoffs and the Western Conference Finals where they were knocked out by the St. Louis Hawks.  They would continue to make it into the playoffs never getting past the Conference Finals.  The 1967/68 season would have the team move into the Eastern Conference but they would continue to struggle in the playoffs.

The 1987/88 season proved to be the year as the Pistons floored a team that included Adrian Dantley, Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Mark Aguirre, Vinnie Johnson, Bill Laimbeer and Dennis Rodman and averaged 2nd in the league in ticket sales.  The team completely dominated the playoffs going 15-2 and sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers led by Magic Johnson and a 41 year old Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

The Pistons would return to the finals the following season and would again take the crown beating the Portland Trailblazers 4 games to 1. The following season saw the team in a showdown with the Chicago Bulls who quickly swept them in 4 games. 

It would be 14 years later that the Pistons would again make it into the NBA Finals.  Matched up against the “Dream Team” LA Lakers (the team featured Kobe Bryant, Shaq, Karl Malone and Gary Payton) who, it seemed, were destined to just be handed the trophy without playing a single minute.  The Pistons had other thoughts stunning the Lakers 4 games to 1 to take the NBA Championship.

The Pistons have made 31 playoff appearances in 52 seasons, winning their division 9 times (1988, 89, 1990, 2002, 03, 05, 06, 07 and 2008). They have advanced into the Conference Finals 13 times (1958, 1962, 1987, 88, 89, 1990, 91, 2003, 04, 05, 06, 07 and 2008) and have gone to the NBA Finals 5 times (1988, 89, 1990, 2004 and 2005) and won the NBA Championship 3 times (1989, 1990 and 2004).

The team has had 18 Hall of Famers on their rosters to include Walt Bellamy, Dave Bing, Coach Larry Brown, Adrian Dantley, Coach Chuck Daily, Owner Bill Davidson, Coach and player Dave DeBusschere, Joe Dumars, Harry Gallatin, Bob Houbregs, Bailey Howell,  Bob Lanier, Earl Floyd, Bob McAdoo, Dick McGuire, Isiah Thomas, George Yardley and the 1st Owner, Fred Zollner.

Team awards include 2 NBA Coach of the Year Awards (1974 Ray Scott and 2002 Rick Carlisle), 2 NBA Rookie of the Year Awards (1967 Dave Bing and 1995 Grant Hill), 1 Sixth Man of the Year Award (2002 Corliss Williamson) and 6 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards (1990 and 1991 Dennis Rodman and 2002-2005 Ben Wallace).



Detroit Pistons Current Season




Stadium Seating Chart
The Palace of Auburn Hills
Palace of Auburn Hills


NBA Basketball