List of Detroit Pistons seasons

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates 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 Template:Winning percentage, culminating in a combined record of 37–127 (win percent Template:Winning percentage) 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
align="center" colspan="13" style=" REDIRECT Template:Basketball color cell;"|Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons (NBL)
—	1941–42	—	Template:Ntsh—	—	2nd	15	9	.625	5	Won NBL Semifinals (Wingfoots) 2–1 Lost NBL Championship (All-Stars) 2–1		Carl Bennett
—	1942–43	—	Template:Ntsh—	—	1st	17	6	.739	—	Won NBL Semifinals (Flyers) 2–1 Lost NBL Championship (Red Skins) 2–1	Bobby McDermott (MVP)
—	1943–44	—	Template:Ntsh—	—	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	—	Template:Ntsh—	Eastern	1st	25	5	.833	—	Won Division semifinals (Transfers) 2–0 Won NBL Championship (Red Skins) 3–2	Bobby McDermott (MVP, COY)
—	1945–46	—	Template:Ntsh—	Eastern	1st	26	8	.765	—	Lost Division semifinals (Royals) 3–1	Bobby McDermott (MVP)	Carl Bennett
—	1946–47	—	Template:Ntsh—	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	—	Template:Ntsh—	Eastern	3rd	40	20	.667	4	Lost Opening Round (Royals) 3–1		Carl Bennett
align="center" colspan="13" style=" REDIRECT Template:Basketball color cell;"|Fort Wayne Pistons
1948–49	1948–49	—	Template:Ntsh—	Western	5th	22	38	.367	23			Carl Bennett Curly Armstrong
1949–50	1949–50	—	Template:Ntsh—	Central	4th	40	28	.588	11	Won Division semifinals (Royals) 2–0 Lost Division finals (Lakers) 2–0		Murray Mendenhall
1950–51	1950–51	—	Template:Ntsh—	Western	3rd	32	36	.471	12	Lost Division semifinals (Royals) 2–1
1951–52	1951–52	—	Template:Ntsh—	Western	4th	29	37	.439	12	Lost Division semifinals (Royals) 2–0		Paul Birch
1952–53	1952–53	—	Template:Ntsh—	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	—	Template:Ntsh—	Western	3rd	40	32	.556	6	Lost Round-Robin (Royals) 2–0 Lost Round-Robin (Lakers) 2–0
1954–55	1954–55	—	Template:Ntsh—	Western	1st	43	29	.597	—	Won Division finals (Lakers) 3–1 Lost NBA Finals (Nationals) 4–3		Charley Eckman
1955–56	1955–56	—	Template:Ntsh—	Western	1st	37	35	.514	—	Won Division finals (Hawks) 3–2 Lost NBA Finals (Warriors) 4–1
1956–57	1956–57	—	Template:Ntsh—	Western	3rd	34	38	.472	—	Lost Division semifinals (Lakers) 2–0
align="center" colspan="13" style=" REDIRECT Template:Basketball color cell;"|Detroit Pistons
1957–58	1957–58	—	Template:Ntsh—	Western	2nd	33	39	Template:Winning percentage	8	Won Division semifinals (Royals) 2–0 Lost Division finals (Hawks) 4–1		Charley Eckman Red Rocha
1958–59	1958–59	—	Template:Ntsh—	Western	3rd	28	44	Template:Winning percentage	21	Lost Division semifinals (Lakers) 2–1		Red Rocha
1959–60	1959–60	—	Template:Ntsh—	Western	2nd	30	45	Template:Winning percentage	16	Lost Division semifinals (Lakers) 2–0		Red Rocha Dick McGuire
1960–61	1960–61	—	Template:Ntsh—	Western	3rd	34	45	Template:Winning percentage	17	Lost Division semifinals (Lakers) 3–2		Dick McGuire
1961–62	1961–62	—	Template:Ntsh—	Western	3rd	37	43	Template:Winning percentage	17	Won Division semifinals (Royals) 3–1 Lost Division finals (Lakers) 4–2
1962–63	1962–63	—	Template:Ntsh—	Western	3rd	34	46	Template:Winning percentage	19	Lost Division semifinals (Hawks) 3–1
1963–64	1963–64	—	Template:Ntsh—	Western	5th	23	57	Template:Winning percentage	25			Charles Wolf
1964–65	1964–65	—	Template:Ntsh—	Western	4th	31	49	Template:Winning percentage	18			Charles Wolf Dave DeBusschere
1965–66	1965–66	—	Template:Ntsh—	Western	5th	22	58	Template:Winning percentage	23			Dave DeBusschere
1966–67	1966–67	—	Template:Ntsh—	Western	5th	30	51	Template:Winning percentage	14		Dave Bing (ROY)	Dave DeBusschere Donnis Butcher
1967–68	1967–68	—	Template:Ntsh—	Eastern	4th	40	42	Template:Winning percentage	22	Lost Division semifinals (Celtics) 4–2		Donnis Butcher
1968–69	1968–69	—	Template:Ntsh—	Eastern	6th	32	50	Template:Winning percentage	25			Donnis Butcher Paul Seymour
1969–70	1969–70	—	Template:Ntsh—	Eastern	7th	31	51	Template:Winning percentage	29			Butch van Breda Kolff
1970–71	1970–71	Western	6th	Midwest	4th	45	37	Template:Winning percentage	21
1971–72	1971–72	Western	8th	Midwest	4th	26	56	Template:Winning percentage	37			Butch van Breda Kolff Terry Dischinger Earl Lloyd
1972–73	1972–73	Western	5th	Midwest	3rd	40	42	Template:Winning percentage	20			Earl Lloyd Ray Scott
1973–74	1973–74	Western	4th	Midwest	3rd	52	30	Template:Winning percentage	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	Template:Winning percentage	7	Lost First round (SuperSonics) 2–1
1975–76	1975–76	Western	5th	Midwest	2nd	36	46	Template:Winning percentage	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	Template:Winning percentage	6	Lost First round (Warriors) 2–1		Herb Brown
1977–78	1977–78	Western	9th	Midwest	4th	38	44	Template:Winning percentage	10		Bob Lanier (JWKC)	Herb Brown Bob Kauffman
1978–79	1978–79	Eastern	9th	Central	5th	30	52	Template:Winning percentage	18			Dick Vitale
1979–80	1979–80	Eastern	11th	Central	6th	16	66	Template:Winning percentage	34			Dick Vitale Richie Adubato
1980–81	1980–81	Eastern	11th	Central	6th	21	61	Template:Winning percentage	39			Scotty Robertson
1981–82	1981–82	Eastern	7th	Central	3rd	39	43	Template:Winning percentage	16		Kent Benson (JWKC)
1982–83	1982–83	Eastern	8th	Central	3rd	37	45	Template:Winning percentage	14
1983–84	1983–84	Eastern	4th	Central	2nd	49	33	Template:Winning percentage	1	Lost First round (Knicks) 3–2	Isiah Thomas (ASG MVP)	Chuck Daly
1984–85	1984–85	Eastern	4th	Central	2nd	46	36	Template:Winning percentage	13	Won First round (Nets) 3–0 Lost conference semifinals (Celtics) 4–2
1985–86	1985–86	Eastern	5th	Central	3rd	46	36	Template:Winning percentage	11	Lost First round (Hawks) 3–1	Isiah Thomas (ASG MVP)
1986–87	1986–87	Eastern	3rd	Central	2nd	52	30	Template:Winning percentage	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	Template:Winning percentage	—	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	Template:Winning percentage	—	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	Template:Winning percentage	—	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	Template:Winning percentage	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	Template:Winning percentage	19	Lost First round (Knicks) 3–2
1992–93	1992–93	Eastern	10th	Central	6th	40	42	Template:Winning percentage	17			Ron Rothstein
1993–94	1993–94	Eastern	14th	Central	6th	20	62	Template:Winning percentage	37		Joe Dumars (JWKC)	Don Chaney
1994–95	1994–95	Eastern	12th	Central	7th	28	54	Template:Winning percentage	24		Grant Hill (ROY)
1995–96	1995–96	Eastern	7th	Central	5th	46	36	Template:Winning percentage	26	Lost First round (Magic) 3–0	Joe Dumars (SPOR)	Doug Collins
1996–97	1996–97	Eastern	5th	Central	4th	54	28	Template:Winning percentage	15	Lost First round (Hawks) 3–2
1997–98	1997–98	Eastern	11th	Central	6th	37	45	Template:Winning percentage	25			Doug Collins Alvin Gentry
1998–99	1998–99	Eastern	5th	Central	3rd	29	21	Template:Winning percentage	4	Lost First round (Hawks) 3–2		Alvin Gentry
1999–00	1999–00	Eastern	7th	Central	5th	42	40	Template:Winning percentage	14	Lost First round (Heat) 3–0		Alvin Gentry George Irvine
2000–01	2000–01	Eastern	10th	Central	5th	32	50	Template:Winning percentage	20			George Irvine
2001–02	2001–02	Eastern	2nd	Central	1st	50	32	Template:Winning percentage	—	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	Template:Winning percentage	—	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	Template:Winning percentage	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	Template:Winning percentage	—	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	Template:Winning percentage	—	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	Template:Winning percentage	—	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	Template:Winning percentage	—	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	Template:Winning percentage	27	Lost First round (Cavaliers) 4–0		Michael Curry
2009–10	2009–10	Eastern	12th	Central	5th	27	55	Template:Winning percentage	34			John Kuester
2010–11	2010–11	Eastern	11th	Central	4th	30	52	Template:Winning percentage	32
2011–12	2011–12	Eastern	10th	Central	4th	25	41	Template:Winning percentage	25			Lawrence Frank
2012–13	2012–13	Eastern	11th	Central	4th	29	53	Template:Winning percentage	20.5
2013–14	2013–14	Eastern	11th	Central	4th	29	53	Template:Winning percentage	27			Maurice Cheeks John Loyer
2014–15	2014–15	Eastern	12th	Central	5th	32	50	Template:Winning percentage	21			Stan Van Gundy
2015–16	2015–16	Eastern	8th	Central	3rd	44	38	Template:Winning percentage	13	Lost First round (Cavaliers) 4–0
2016–17	2016–17	Eastern	10th	Central	5th	37	45	Template:Winning percentage	14
2017–18	2017–18	Eastern	9th	Central	4th	39	43	Template:Winning percentage	11
2018–19	2018–19	Eastern	8th	Central	3rd	41	41	Template:Winning percentage	19	Lost First round (Bucks) 4–0		Dwane Casey
2019–20	2019–20	Eastern	13th	Central	4th	20	46	Template:Winning percentage	32.5
2020–21	2020–21	Eastern	15th	Central	5th	20	52	Template:Winning percentage	26
2021–22	2021–22	Eastern	14th	Central	5th	23	59	Template:Winning percentage	30
2022–23	2022–23	Eastern	15th	Central	5th	17	65	Template:Winning percentage	41
2023–24	2023–24	Eastern	15th	Central	5th	14	68	Template:Winning percentage	50			Monty Williams
2024–25	2024–25	Eastern	6th	Central	4th	44	38	Template:Winning percentage	20	Lost First round (Knicks) 4–2		J. B. Bickerstaff

All-time records

NBA records

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

NBL records

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