On This Day

Detroit Pistons in History

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Events in Sport

  • 1958-03-09 Detroit Pistons forward George Yardley III scores 26 points in 111-90 defeat to Syracuse Nationals; 1st NBA player to score 2,000 points in a season

Chamberlain's Record Rookie Score

1960-01-25 Wilt Chamberlain scores 58 points, the most ever by an NBA rookie, as Philadelphia Warriors beat Detroit Pistons, 127-117 at Bethlehem, PA

NBA Legend Wilt Chamberlain

Elvin Hayes

1968-11-13 As a rookie, future Basketball Hall of Fame forward Elvin Hayes scores 54 points in San Diego Rockets' 122-120 win over Detroit Pistons, a career-high

NBA Forward Elvin Hayes
  • 1974-01-15 24th NBA All-Star Game, Seattle Center Coliseum: West beats East, 134-123; MVP: Bob Lanier, Detroit Pistons
  • 1974-10-19 Detroit Pistons beat Trailblazers in Portland (next win 6-1-90)
  • 1982-03-11 Detroit Pistons play the Chicago Bulls, with final score of Detroit 152 to Chicago 144 and Detroit having 20 blocked shots

First NBA All-Star Saturday

1984-01-29 34th NBA All-Star Game, Denver: East beats West, 154-145 (OT); MVP: Isiah Thomas, Detroit Pistons, G; first All-Star Saturday; Legends Classic, West wins, 64-63; first Slam-Dunk winner, Larry Nance

NBA Point Guard and Coach Isiah Thomas
  • 1986-02-09 36th NBA All-Star Game, Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX: East beats West, 139-132; MVP: Isiah Thomas, Detroit Pistons, G
  • 1987-02-14 Detroit Pistons-Philadelphia 76ers game draws crowd of 53,745 at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac; third largest crowd in NBA history; Pistons win, 125-107
  • 1988-01-29 Detroit Pistons draw a then record NBA regular season crowd of 61,983 fans to the Pontiac Silverdome for a 125-108 win over the Boston Celtics
  • 1988-06-21 42nd NBA Championship: LA Lakers beat Detroit Pistons, 4 games to 3
  • 1989-06-13 43rd NBA Championship: Detroit Pistons sweeps LA Lakers in 4 games
  • 1990-06-10 Detroit Pistons beat Trailblazers for 1st time since 1974 in Portland
  • 1990-06-14 NBA Finals: Defending champion Detroit Pistons beat Portland Trail Blazers, 92-90 in Game 5 for back-to-back titles; MVP: Isiah Thomas
  • 1991-04-05 Detroit Pistons Joe Dumaars ends NBA free throw streak of 62 games
  • 1992-04-12 2nd lowest NBA scoring game - Detroit Pistons 72, NY Knicks 61
  • 1999-04-01 Detroit Pistons guard Joe Dumars becomes 10th player in NBA history to play 1,000 games with the same team and one of 8 to play 1,000 games with his only team; scores 18 points in 107-75 rout of Chicago Bulls
  • 2000-01-23 Dallas' Don Nelson becomes the 6th coach in NBA history to win 900 career games when the Mavericks defeat the Detroit Pistons, 99-91 at The Palace of Auburn Hills
  • 2004-06-15 NBA Finals: Detroit Pistons beat Los Angeles Lakers, 100-87 in Game 5 to complete one of the greatest upsets in NBA history; MVP: Chauncey Billups

NBA Finals

2005-06-23 NBA Finals: San Antonio Spurs beat defending champion Detroit Pistons, 81-74 in Game 7 for club's 3rd title; MVP: Tim Duncan, his 3rd MVP award

NBA Power Forward Tim Duncan
  • 2019-04-05 OKC guard Russell Westbrook becomes first player in NBA history to average a triple-double for the third consecutive season during the Thunder's 123-110 win at home over Detroit Pistons
  • 2023-12-26 The Detroit Pistons suffer a 118-112 loss to the Brooklyn Nets at home to set an NBA single-season record with their 27th straight defeat

Birthdays in Sport

  • 1925-09-19 Jack McCloskey, American basketball coach (Portland Trail Blazers 1972-74) and executive (GM Detroit Pistons NBA C'ship 1989, 90), born in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania (d. 2017)
  • 1926-05-07 Charles Wolf, American basketball coach (Cincinnati Royals 1960-63, Detroit Pistons 1963-64), born in Covington, Kentucky (d. 2022)
  • 1930-07-20 Chuck Daly, American Basketball Hall of Fame coach (2-time NBA champion Detroit Pistons), born in Kane, Pennsylvania (d. 2009)
  • 1931-12-18 Gene Shue, American NBA basketball guard, 1954-64, 5X All-Star (New York Knicks, Fort Wayne/Detroit Pistons, and 2 other teams), and NBA coach, 1966-89, 2X Coach of the Year (Baltimore/Washington Bullets, Philadelphia 76ers, and 2 other teams), born in Baltimore, Maryland (d. 2022)
  • 1937-05-31 Bob Ferry, American basketball forward (St. Louis Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Baltimore Bullets) and executive (GM Washington Bullets; NBA Exec of the Year 1979, 82), born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 2021)
  • 1939-01-31 Johnny Egan, American basketball point guard (Detroit Pistons, NY Knicks, Baltimore Bullets, LA Lakers, SD/Houston Rockets) and coach (Houston Rockets 1973-76), born in Hartford, Connecticut (d. 2022)
  • 1939-07-15 Don Kojis, American basketball forward (NBA All-Star 1968, 69; Detroit Pistons, SD Rockets, Seattle SuperSonics), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (d. 2021)
  • 1940-11-21 Terry Dischinger, American College Basketball HOF guard (Purdue; 3 x NBA All-Star; NBA Rookie of the Year 1963 Baltimore Bullets; Detroit Pistons; Olympic gold 1960), born in Terre Haute, Indiana (d. 2023)
  • 1942-11-02 Ron Reed, American basketball forward (Detroit Pistons) and baseball pitcher (MLB All Star 1968 Atlanta Braves; World Series 1980 Philadelphia Phillies), born in LaPorte, Indiana
  • 1943-02-22 Tom Van Arsdale, American NBA basketball player, 1965-77, 3X All-Star (Detroit Pistons, Cincinnati/Kansas City/Omaha Kings, Philadelphia 76ers), born in Indianapolis, Indiana
  • 1946-03-22 Don Chaney, NBA player (Houston Rockets)/coach (Detroit Pistons)
  • 1946-07-13 Bob Kauffman, American NBA basketball forward, 1968-75, 3X All-Star (Buffalo Braves and 3 other teams), and coach, 1977-78 (Detroit Pistons), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2015)
  • 1948-09-10 Bob Lanier, American Basketball HOF center (8 x NBA All-Star; NBA All-Star Game MVP 1974; Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks), born in Buffalo, New York (d. 2022)
  • 1949-01-11 Chris Ford, American basketball guard (NBA C'ship 1971 Detroit Pistons; Boston Celtics) and coach (Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, LA Clippers), born in Atlantic City, New Jersey (d. 2023)
  • 1954-11-05 Alvin Gentry, American basketball head coach (New Orleans Pelicans 2015-19; Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns), born in Shelby, North Carolina
  • 1955-08-15 Kenneth Carr, American basketball forward (Olympic gold 1976; LA Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Portland TBs), born in Clearwater, Florida
  • 1955-11-22 James Edwards, American basketball center (NBA C'ship 1989, 90 Detroit Pistons, 1996 Chicago Bulls), born in Seattle, Washington
  • 1957-04-17 Dwane Casey, American basketball coach (Detroit Pistons 2018-19; Toronto, Minnesota; NBA All-Star Game 2018), born in Indianapolis, Indiana
  • 1957-05-19 Bill Laimbeer, NBA forward (Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons)
  • 1958-09-21 Rick Mahorn, American NBA forward, 1980-99 (Washington Bullets, Detroit Pistons, and 3 other teams), born in Hartford, Connecticut
  • 1959-02-16 (Peter) Kelly Tripucka, American NBA forward, 1981-91, 2X All-Star (Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, Cahrlotte Hornets), born in Glenn Ridge New Jersey
  • 1959-10-27 Rick Carlisle, American basketball guard and head coach (Dallas Mavericks 2008-19; Indiana Pacers; NBA Coach of the Year 2002, Detroit Pistons), born in Ogdensburg, New York
  • 1959-12-10 Mark Aguirre, American NBA forward (Detroit Pistons), born in Chicago, Illinois

Isiah Thomas (62 years old)

1961-04-30 American NBA point guard (Detroit Pistons; 1990 NBA playoff MVP), born in Chicago, Illinois

Isiah Thomas
  • 1962-08-05 Otis Thorpe, American basketball forward (NBA All-Star 1992, NBA C'ship 1994 Houston Rockets), born in Boynton Beach Florida
  • 1963-05-24 Joe Dumars, American Basketball Hall of Fame guard (Detroit Pistons; 6-time NBA All-Star), born in Shreveport, Louisiana
  • 1963-09-28 Johnny Dawkins, American basketball guard (NBA: San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers; Detroit Pistons) and coach (Stanford, UCF), born in Washington, D.C.
  • 1964-05-16 John Salley, NBA star (Detroit Pistons)
  • 1966-05-27 Eric Leckner, NBA center (Detroit Pistons)
  • 1966-09-09 Lance Blanks, American basketball guard (Detroit Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves), executive (GM Phoenix Suns 2010-13) and broadcaster (ESPN, Longhorn Network), born in Del Rio, Texas (d. 2023)
  • 1966-11-13 Rumeal Robinson, NBA guard (Portland Trail Blazers, Detroit Pistons)
  • 1967-12-21 Terry Mills, NBA forward (Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons), born in Romulus, Michigan
  • 1968-08-22 Michael Curry, American basketball forward and coach (Detroit Pistons), born in Anniston, Alabama
  • 1969-03-25 Dale Davis, American basketball forward (NBA All-Star 2000; Indiana Pacers, Portland TBs, GS Warriors, Detroit Pistons), born in Toccoa, Georgia
  • 1969-04-14 Mark Macon, American NBA guard (Detroit Pistons), born in Saginaw, Michigan
  • 1970-12-03 Lindsey Hunter, American basketball guard (NBA C'ship 2002, 04; LA Lakers, Detroit Pistons), born in Utica, Mississippi
  • 1971-04-20 Allan Houston, American basketball player (NY Knicks, Detroit Pistons), born in Louisville, Kentucky
  • 1971-10-08 Monty Williams, American basketball coach (NBA Coach of the Year 2022, Phoenix Suns 2019-23; New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans 2010-15; Detroit Pistons), born in Fredericksburg, Virginia
  • 1973-04-17 Theo Ratliff, American NBA forward and center (Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers), born in Demopolis, Alabama
  • 1973-12-04 Corliss Williamson, American basketball forward (NBA C'ship 2004, Detroit Pistons; NBA 6th Man of the Year 2002; NCAA Final 4 MOP 1994), born in Russellville, Arkansas
  • 1973-12-30 Don Reid, NBA guard/forward (Detroit Pistons)
  • 1974-09-07 Antonio McDyess, American basketball forward (NBA All-Star 2001; Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons), born in Quitman, Mississippi
  • 1974-09-10 Ben Wallace, American basketball forward (NBA C'ship 2004; NBA Defensive Player of the Year 2002-03, 2005-06; NBA All-Star 2003–06; Detroit Pistons), born in White Hall, Alabama
  • 1974-09-17 Rasheed Wallace, American basketball forward (NBA C'ship 2004; NBA All-Star 2000, 01, 06, 08; Portland Trailblazers, Detroit Pistons), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • 1974-11-05 Jerry Stackhouse, American NBA guard and forward (Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers), born in Kinston, North Carolina
  • 1975-02-22 Charles O'Bannon, American NBA guard (Detroit Pistons), born in Bellflower, California
  • 1979-06-26 Walter Herrmann, Argentine basketball small forward (Olympic gold 2004; Detroit Pistons; Spanish League Top Scorer & All-Star Game MVP 2003), born in Venado Tuerto, Santa Fe, Argentina
  • 1985-06-20 Darko Miličić, Serbian basketball player (Detroit Pistons), born in Novi Sad, Serbia, Yugoslavia
  • 1989-03-16 Blake Griffin, American basketball forward (6 x NBA All-Star; 5 x All-NBA: NBA Rookie of the Year 2011; LA Clippers, Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics), born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  • 1999-03-14 Marvin Bagley III, American NBA player (Detroit Pistons), born in Temple, Arizona
  • 2001-09-25 Cade Cunningham, American basketball point guard who was NBA draft 2021 #1 overall pick Detroit Pistons; NBA All-Rookie First Team 2022, born in Arlington, Texas

Deaths in Sport

  • 2009-05-09 Chuck Daly, American Basketball Hall of Fame coach (2-time NBA champion Detroit Pistons), dies of pancreatic cancer at 78
  • 2015-07-25 Bob Kauffman, American NBA basketball forward, 1968-75, 3X All-Star (Buffalo Braves and 3 other teams), and coach, 1977-78 (Detroit Pistons), dies of heart failure at 69
  • 2017-06-01 Jack McCloskey, American basketball coach (Portland Trail Blazers 1972-74) and executive (GM Detroit Pistons NBA C'ship 1989, 90), dies from Alzheimer's disease at 91
  • 2021-10-27 Bob Ferry, American basketball forward (St. Louis Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Baltimore Bullets) and executive (GM Washington Bullets; NBA Exec of the Year 1979, 82), dies at 84
  • 2021-11-19 Don Kojis, American basketball forward (NBA All-Star 1968, 69; Detroit Pistons, SD Rockets, Seattle SuperSonics), dies at 82
  • 2022-04-03 Gene Shue, American NBA basketball guard, 1954-64, 5X All-Star (New York Knicks, Fort Wayne/Detroit Pistons, and 2 other teams), and NBA coach, 1966-89, 2X Coach of the Year (Baltimore/Washington Bullets, Philadelphia 76ers, and 2 other teams), dies from melanoma at 90
  • 2022-05-10 Bob Lanier, American Basketball HOF center (8 x NBA All-Star; NBA All-Star Game MVP 1974; Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks), dies at 73
  • 2022-07-21 Johnny Egan, American basketball point guard (Detroit Pistons, NY Knicks, Baltimore Bullets, LA Lakers, SD/Houston Rockets) and coach (Houston Rockets 1973-76), dies after a fall at 83
  • 2022-11-26 Charles Wolf, American basketball coach (Cincinnati Royals 1960-63, Detroit Pistons 1963-64), dies at 96
  • 2023-01-17 Chris Ford, American basketball guard (NBA C'ship 1971 Detroit Pistons; Boston Celtics) and coach (Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, LA Clippers), dies from a heart attack at 74
  • 2023-05-03 Lance Blanks, American basketball guard (Detroit Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves), executive (GM Phoenix Suns 2010-13), and broadcaster (ESPN, Longhorn Network), takes his own life at 56
  • 2023-10-10 Terry Dischinger, American College Basketball HOF guard (Purdue; 3 x NBA All-Star; NBA Rookie of the Year 1963 Baltimore Bullets; Detroit Pistons; Olympic gold 1960), dies at 82

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