Detroit Pistons Franchise History
From Hoopedia
The Detroit Pistons began their basketball life as the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, members of the National Basketball League (NBL). Fred Zollner, owner of the team from its formation in 1941 until 1974, played a key role in merging the NBL with the BAA (Basketball Association of America), which created the NBA in 1948. The Pistons moved to Detroit in 1957. The Pistons have won two NBL titles and three NBA crowns.
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1941-48
The Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons enjoyed great success during their initial years in the National Basketball League.
In 1941 automobile-piston magnate Fred Zollner launched a club in the National Basketball League and christened it the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons. (The Pistons were not the only team in this Midwestern league named after auto parts; they joined the Akron Firestone Non-Skids, the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots, and the Toledo Jim White Chevrolets. Despite launching the team just as the attack on Pearl Harbor began America's involvement in World War II, the Zollner Pistons had a solid inaugural season, finishing in second place with a 15-9 record. In the playoffs the Pistons overcame an opening game loss to beat the Wingfoots in a 3-game series. However, in the NBL Finals the Zollner Pistons lost a 3-game series after taking Game 1 against the always powerful Oshkosh All-Stars. The next season the Zollner Pistons were even stronger, as they finished the regular season in first place with a record of 17-6. In the semifinals they defeated the Chicago Studebaker Flyers in a 3-game series. However, once again in the finals the Pistons lost in 3 games, dropping the finale to the Sheboygan Red Skins by a single point.
In the 1943-44 season the Zollner Pistons continued to fire on all cylinders, winning their second straight regular season title with an 18-4 record. They rolled in the playoffs, sweeping both the Cleveland Chase Brassmen and the Sheboygan Red Skins to capture the NBL Championship. They continued their winning ways the next year, capturing the Eastern Division with an awesome record of 25-5. In the playoffs the Zollner Pistons reached the finals by again sweeping Cleveland (now the Cleveland Allmen Transfers). Facing the Sheboygan Red Skins in the finals for the second straight year, the Pistons looked to be going down as they dropped the first two games. However, the Zollner Pistons rallied, however, to win the next three games and capture their second consecutive NBL Championship.
1945/46: Seeking their 3rd straight Championship the Zollner Pistons again finished in first place posting a solid record of 26-8. However, in the playoffs the Zollner Pistons Championship reign would come to a sudden end as they are beaten by the Rochester Royals in four games, dropping three straight after taking the opener.
The Zollner Pistons won the World Professional Basketball Tournament three years running, 1944-1946. That invitational tournament brought together the best basketball teams in America, regardless of their league affiliation or the skin color of their players. A different Zollner Pistons player was selected tournament MVP in each of those tournaments: Curly Armstrong (1944), Bobby McDermott (1945), and Buddy Jeannette (1946).
1946/47: The NBL begins to lose talent to the newly formed Basketball Association of America, as the Zollner Pistons fail to win the division for the first time in four years as they settle for second place with a record of 25-19. In the playoffs the Zollner Pistons would need 5 games to get past the Toledo Jeeps. However seeking to reach it back to the NBL Finals the Pistons are knocked off by the Rochester Royals again losing a three-game series.
1947/48: The NBL continues to lose talent to the BAA prompting talk of a merger. Among the people leading the calls for a merger is Pistons Owner Fred Zollner. The Zollner Pistons would go on to finish in 3rd place with a record of 40-20. In the playoffs the Zollner Pistons would once again be taken out by the Rochester Royals who were their first round series in four games. Following the season the Pistons would be one of four teams, along with the Minneapolis Lakers, Rochester Royals and Indianapolis Jets to join the BAA as the first step of a merger between the two leagues was initiated.
The Fort Wayne Pistons can boast of five members enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame:
- Bob Houbregs, Center, 1955-1957
- Robert McDermott, Guard, 1943-1946
- Andy Phillip, Guard, 1952-1956
- George Yardley, Forward, 1953-1957
- Fred Zollner, Owner, 1941-1957
1948-57
1948/49: Joining the BAA the Pistons are starting over again as they drop the Zollner from their nickname. However, Fred Zollner remained a virtual part of the development of the league as he helps provide transportation arrangements for the entire league. In their first year in the BAA the Pistons would struggle finishing in 5th place in the Western Division with a record of 22-38, missing the playoffs. Following the season 5 more NBL teams would join the league, which would be rechristened the NBA as the merger was completed.
1949/50: Playing in their second season in the NBA the Pistons would finish 3rd in the Central Division with a record of 40-28. In the playoffs the Pistons would beat the Rochester Royals in 2 straight. However, playing for a trip to the semifinals the Pistons would be beaten by the Minneapolis Lakers in 2 straight. Following the season 6 former NBL teams would leave to reform the league. However it would never get off the ground.
1950/51: Back in the Western Division the Pistons struggle again finishing in 3rd place with a 32-36 record. Along the way the Pistons made history winning a November 22nd game in Minneapolis over the Lakers by a score of 19-18, setting a record for the lowest scoring game in NBA history. However, it would be good enough for a spot in the playoff, where they would be upended by the Rochester Royals in a 3-game series.
1951/52: The Pistons continue to struggle finishing in 4th place with a poor record of 29-37. However, once again it would be good enough for a berth in the playoffs. Once again they would make a quick exit as they are beaten by the Rochester Royals in 2 straight.
1952/53: After 2 straight losing seasons the Pistons post a winning record finishing in 3rd place with a record of 36-33, as Larry Foust leads the team in points and rebounds. In the playoffs the Pistons would finally get past the Rochester Royals in a 3-game series taking the decisive Game 3 by 2 points.
1953/54: The Pistons continue to improve finishing in 3rd place with a solid record of 40-32. However, the Pistons would not win a game in the playoffs as the NBA experiment with a round robin format as the Pistons lose 2 games to both the Rochester Royals and Minneapolis Lakers.
1954/55: The Pistons capture the Western Division with sharp shooter Larry Foust leading the NBA in shooting percentage. After a first round bye the Pistons beat the Minneapolis Lakers in 4 games to reach their first NBA Finals. However, in a hard fought 7-game series the Pistons would be beaten by the Syracuse Nationals as they lost Game 7 on the road in the final seconds 92-91.
1955/56: After their trip to the NBA Finals the Pistons again finish in first place despite only finishing 2 games above .500 with a record of 37-35. In the playoffs the Pistons would overcome a 2-0 deficit to beat the St. Louis Hawks for a return trip to the NBA Finals. However, in the finals the Pistons would be beaten by the Philadelphia Warriors in 5 games.
1956/57: After a second straight NBA Finals defeat the Pistons would be part of a 3-way tie in the Western Division to make the playoffs with a mediocre 34-38 record. In the playoffs the Pistons would make a quick exit as they are beaten in 2 straight games by the Minneapolis Lakers. Following the season Fred Zollner determined his team could no longer compete in the small market of Fort Wayne, Indiana. So he moved his team to Detroit a growing city built around the automobile industry.
The 1950s
Detroit Pistons founder Fred Zollner moved the franchise from Fort Wayne, Indiana to Detroit, Michigan in 1957 to compete better financially with teams in bigger cities like Philadelphia, Boston, and New York. The club came to Detroit on the strength of two consecutive division titles and one year removed from two consecutive trips to the NBA Finals.
The team finished the 1950s with a record of 91-128, making the postseason all three seasons, but advancing to the second round only during the 1957-58 season, where they lost in the second round. The emergence of rookie Bailey Howell, mixed with All-Stars Gene Shue, Walter Dukes, and Chuck Noble gave the Pistons hope for the future as the 1950’s came to a close.
The 1960s
The selections of Dave DeBusschere, a native Detroiter and University of Detroit Mercy graduate, in 1962 and Dave Bing from Syracuse in 1966 were moments that infused excitement into an otherwise unsuccessful decade, one in which the team posted a 314-494 mark. DeBusschere was an All-Star forward and spent three years as the Pistons’ player-coach, making him the youngest coach in the history of the league at age 24. Bing burst on the scene in 1966, averaging 20 points, four rebounds, and four assists per game, en route to the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. These legendary Pistons could not change the team’s lack of success in the postseason, however. The Pistons made the playoffs following the 1961, 1962, 1963, and 1968 seasons, but again could not advance past the second round. The hiring of two-time NBA Champion head coach Butch van Breda Kolff and the selection of All-American Bob “The Dobber” Lanier brought the club great promise for the future.
The 1970s
The 1970's featured Detroit's first 50 win season (52-30 in 1973-74) and its worst season (16-60 in 1979-80). The team saw eight coaches, including former players Terry Dischinger, Earl Lloyd, and Ray Scott. Ownership changed in 1974, when Fred Zollner sold the franchise to Detroit native and Guardian Industries owner William Davidson.
The 1970’s revolved around two of the best players in franchise history: Dave Bing and Bob Lanier. The two combined for a Rookie of the Year Award, two All-NBA Team selections, and two All-Star Game MVP Awards in a combined 11 All-Star appearances.
A reVITALE-ization came in 1978, when the club moved its home from Cobo Hall to the Pontiac Silverdome. The team hired former University of Detroit Mercy head coach Dick Vitale. He lasted just over a season, and finished his NBA coaching career with a 34-60 record.
The 1980s
Over the course of nine months, Pistons General Manager “Trader” Jack McCloskey would change the future of the franchise. In 1981 he drafted Isiah Thomas and Kelly Tripucka and signed Bill Laimbeer and Vinnie Johnson. Chuck Daly was named head coach and players like Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman, Adrian Dantley, Mark Aguirre, John Salley, Rick Mahorn, and James Edwards were added. The Pistons of the 1980’s were known for the tough, physical style of basketball which would lead to the nickname, “the Bad Boys.” The team became hated throughout the NBA, but nowhere more than Chicago and Boston, the Pistons' main rivals in their quests to win NBA Championships. The Pistons made the postseason from 1983-1990. Every series was a tough battle, with the Pistons going to at least six games in six different series, ultimately winning back-to-back NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990.
The 1990s
As high as the Pistons had been during the 1980’s, the tide turned just as low in the 1990s. In 1991, head coach Chuck Daly and GM Jack McCloskey resigned and James Edwards, Scott Hastings, and Vinnie Johnson were traded. Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer retired in 1993, officially ending the reign of the Bad Boys. The future seemed bright after drafting Allan Houston, Lindsey Hunter, and Grant Hill in 1993 and 1994. The three youngsters teamed with head coach Doug Collins to win 100 games during the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons. At the end of the 1998 season, Joe Dumars retired from playing and moved into the front office, and was promoted to president of basketball operations after the 1999-2000 season. A serious injury to Grant Hill’s left ankle not only ended the Pistons’ 2000 playoff run, but would also end his career with the team.
The 2000s
