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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 1937 as a semi-professional company basketball team known as the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons before they joined in the National Basketball League in 1941. In 1948, the franchise joined the Basketball Association of America as the Fort Wayne Pistons, 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 franchise reached the NBA Finals twice in consecutive years before falling to the Syracuse Nationals and the Philadelphia Warriors. 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 defense, posted winning records every seasons from 1983–84 to 1991–92, and after narrowly losing in 1988, ended the Los Angeles Lakers' dynasty of the 1980s the following season and repeated as NBA champions 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 , culminating in a combined record of 37–127 (win percent ) in the 1979–80 and 1980–81 seasons, after which the drafting of Thomas completely revitalized the franchise. Since 2008–09, the Pistons have had only three seasons with at least a .500 winning percentage and have made the postseason only three times.

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
Ft. Wayne Pistons	border=2}};"	Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons ([](national-basketball-league-united-states))
—	1941–42	—	—	—	2nd	15	9	.625	5	Won NBL Semifinals (Goodyear Wingfoots) 2–1
Lost NBL Championship (All-Stars) 2–1		Carl Bennett
—	1942–43	—	—	—	1st	17	6	.739	—	Won NBL Semifinals (Studebaker Flyers) 2–1
Lost NBL Championship (Red Skins) 2–1	Bobby McDermott (MVP)
—	1943–44	—	—	—	1st	18	4	.818	—	Won NBL Semifinals (Chase 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 (Allmen 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
Ft. Wayne Pistons	border=2}};"	Fort Wayne Pistons
1948–49	1948–49	—	—	Western	5th	22	38	.367	23			Carl Bennett
Curly Armstrong
****	1949–50	—	—	Central	4th	40	28	.588	11	Won Division semifinals (Royals) 2–0
Lost Division finals (Lakers) 2–0		Murray Mendenhall
****	1950–51	—	—	Western	3rd	32	36	.471	12	Lost Division semifinals (Royals) 2–1
****	1951–52	—	—	Western	4th	29	37	.439	12	Lost Division semifinals (Royals) 2–0		Paul Birch
****	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	—	—	Western	3rd	40	32	.556	6	Lost Round-Robin (Royals) 2–0
Lost Round-Robin (Lakers) 2–0
****	1954–55	—	—	Western	1st	43	29	.597	—	Won Division finals (Lakers) 3–1
Lost NBA Finals (Nationals) 4–3		Charley Eckman
****	1955–56	—	—	Western	1st	37	35	.514	—	Won Division finals (Hawks) 3–2
Lost NBA Finals (Warriors) 4–1
****	1956–57	—	—	Western	3rd	34	38	.472	—	Lost Division semifinals (Lakers) 2–0
Detroit Pistons	border=2}};"	Detroit Pistons
****	1957–58	—	—	Western	2nd	33	39		8	Won Division semifinals (Royals) 2–0
Lost Division finals (Hawks) 4–1		Charley Eckman
Red Rocha
****	1958–59	—	—	Western	3rd	28	44		21	Lost Division semifinals (Lakers) 2–1		Red Rocha
****	1959–60	—	—	Western	2nd	30	45		16	Lost Division semifinals (Lakers) 2–0		Red Rocha
Dick McGuire
****	1960–61	—	—	Western	3rd	34	45		17	Lost Division semifinals (Lakers) 3–2		Dick McGuire
****	1961–62	—	—	Western	3rd	37	43		17	Won Division semifinals (Royals) 3–1
Lost Division finals (Lakers) 4–2
****	1962–63	—	—	Western	3rd	34	46		19	Lost Division semifinals (Hawks) 3–1
****	1963–64	—	—	Western	5th	23	57		25			Charles Wolf
****	1964–65	—	—	Western	4th	31	49		18			Charles Wolf
Dave DeBusschere
****	1965–66	—	—	Western	5th	22	58		23			Dave DeBusschere
****	1966–67	—	—	Western	5th	30	51		14		Dave Bing (ROY)	Dave DeBusschere
Donnis Butcher
****	1967–68	—	—	Eastern	4th	40	42		22	Lost Division semifinals (Celtics) 4–2		Donnis Butcher
****	1968–69	—	—	Eastern	6th	32	50		25			Donnis Butcher
Paul Seymour
****	1969–70	—	—	Eastern	7th	31	51		29			Butch van Breda Kolff
****	1970–71	Western	6th	Midwest	4th	45	37		21
****	1971–72	Western	8th	Midwest	4th	26	56		37			Butch van Breda Kolff
Terry Dischinger
Earl Lloyd
****	1972–73	Western	5th	Midwest	3rd	40	42		20			Earl Lloyd
Ray Scott
****	1973–74	Western	4th	Midwest	3rd	52	30		7	Lost conference semifinals (Bulls) 4–3	Ray Scott (COY)
Bob Lanier (ASG MVP)	Ray Scott
****	1974–75	Western	5th	Midwest	3rd	40	42		7	Lost First round (SuperSonics) 2–1
****	1975–76	Western	5th	Midwest	2nd	36	46		2	Won First round (Bucks) 2–1
Lost conference semifinals (Warriors) 4–2		Ray Scott
Herb Brown
****	1976–77	Western	5th	Midwest	2nd	44	38		6	Lost First round (Warriors) 2–1		Herb Brown
****	1977–78	Western	9th	Midwest	4th	38	44		10		Bob Lanier (JWKC)	Herb Brown
Bob Kauffman
****	1978–79	Eastern	9th	Central	5th	30	52		18			Dick Vitale
****	1979–80	Eastern	11th	Central	6th	16	66		34			Dick Vitale
Richie Adubato
****	1980–81	Eastern	11th	Central	6th	21	61		39			Scotty Robertson
****	1981–82	Eastern	7th	Central	3rd	39	43		16		Kent Benson (JWKC)
****	1982–83	Eastern	8th	Central	3rd	37	45		14
****	1983–84	Eastern	4th	Central	2nd	49	33		1	Lost First round (Knicks) 3–2	Isiah Thomas (ASG MVP)	Chuck Daly
****	1984–85	Eastern	4th	Central	2nd	46	36		13	Won First round (Nets) 3–0
Lost conference semifinals (Celtics) 4–2
****	1985–86	Eastern	5th	Central	3rd	46	36		11	Lost First round (Hawks) 3–1	Isiah Thomas (ASG MVP)
****	1986–87	Eastern	3rd	Central	2nd	52	30		5	Won First round (Bullets) 3–0
Won conference semifinals (Hawks) 4–1
Lost conference finals (Celtics) 4–3	Isiah Thomas (JWKC)
****	1987–88	Eastern	2nd	Central	1st	54	28		—	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	Eastern	1st	Central	1st	63	19		—	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	Eastern	1st	Central	1st	59	23		—	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	Eastern	3rd	Central	2nd	50	32		11	Won First round (Hawks) 3–2
Won conference semifinals (Celtics) 4–2
Lost conference finals (Bulls) 4–0	Dennis Rodman (DPOY)
****	1991–92	Eastern	5th	Central	3rd	48	34		19	Lost First round (Knicks) 3–2
****	1992–93	Eastern	10th	Central	6th	40	42		17			Ron Rothstein
****	1993–94	Eastern	14th	Central	6th	20	62		37		Joe Dumars (JWKC)	Don Chaney
****	1994–95	Eastern	12th	Central	7th	28	54		24		Grant Hill (ROY)
****	1995–96	Eastern	7th	Central	5th	46	36		26	Lost First round (Magic) 3–0	Joe Dumars (SPOR)	Doug Collins
****	1996–97	Eastern	5th	Central	4th	54	28		15	Lost First round (Hawks) 3–2
****	1997–98	Eastern	11th	Central	6th	37	45		25			Doug Collins
Alvin Gentry
****	1998–99	Eastern	5th	Central	3rd	29	21		4	Lost First round (Hawks) 3–2		Alvin Gentry
****	1999–00	Eastern	7th	Central	5th	42	40		14	Lost First round (Heat) 3–0		Alvin Gentry
George Irvine
****	2000–01	Eastern	10th	Central	5th	32	50		20			George Irvine
****	2001–02	Eastern	2nd	Central	1st	50	32		—	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	Eastern	1st	Central	1st	50	32		—	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	Eastern	3rd	Central	2nd	54	28		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	Eastern	2nd	Central	1st	54	28		—	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	Eastern	1st	Central	1st	64	18		—	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	Eastern	1st	Central	1st	53	29		—	Won First round (Magic) 4–0
Won conference semifinals (Bulls) 4–2
Lost conference finals (Cavaliers) 4–2
****	2007–08	Eastern	2nd	Central	1st	59	23		—	Won First round (76ers) 4–2
Won conference semifinals (Magic) 4–1
Lost conference finals (Celtics) 4–2	Chauncey Billups (JWKC)
****	2008–09	Eastern	8th	Central	3rd	39	43		27	Lost First round (Cavaliers) 4–0		Michael Curry
****	2009–10	Eastern	12th	Central	5th	27	55		34			John Kuester
****	2010–11	Eastern	11th	Central	4th	30	52		32
****	2011–12	Eastern	10th	Central	4th	25	41		25			Lawrence Frank
****	2012–13	Eastern	11th	Central	4th	29	53		20.5
****	2013–14	Eastern	11th	Central	4th	29	53		27			Maurice Cheeks
John Loyer
****	2014–15	Eastern	12th	Central	5th	32	50		21			Stan Van Gundy
****	2015–16	Eastern	8th	Central	3rd	44	38		13	Lost First round (Cavaliers) 4–0
****	2016–17	Eastern	10th	Central	5th	37	45		14
****	2017–18	Eastern	9th	Central	4th	39	43		11
****	2018–19	Eastern	8th	Central	3rd	41	41		19	Lost First round (Bucks) 4–0		Dwane Casey
****	2019–20	Eastern	13th	Central	4th	20	46		32.5
****	2020–21	Eastern	15th	Central	5th	20	52		26
****	2021–22	Eastern	14th	Central	5th	23	59		30
****	2022–23	Eastern	15th	Central	5th	17	65		41
****	2023–24	Eastern	15th	Central	5th	14	68		50			Monty Williams
****	2024–25	Eastern	6th	Central	4th	44	38		20	Lost First round (Knicks) 4–2		J. B. Bickerstaff

All-time records

NBA records

Statistic	Wins	Losses	Win%	All-time regular and post-season record	3,061	3,395	****
Regular season record (1948–present)	2,871	3,209	****
Post-season record (1948–present)	190	186	****

NBL records

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

References

[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/ Detroit Pistons] at ''[[Sports Reference. Basketball Reference]]''
[https://www.landofbasketball.com/teams/records_detroit_pistons.htm Detroit Pistons] at ''Land of Basketball''
[https://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/teams/ NBL records] at ''[[Sports Reference. Basketball Reference]]''
[https://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/teams/FWZ/ Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons] at ''[[Sports Reference. Basketball Reference]]''

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