Detroit Pistons
Team of Note
1954-1955 Fort Wayne Pistons
Record: 43-29Overall ranking: 372nd, 1.944 points above average
The 1954-1955 Pistons were the best team of the franchise’s nine-year NBA run in Fort Wayne. Fort Wayne posted a 43-29 record, won the first of three straight division titles, and advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
The Pistons lost a memorable championship series against the Syracuse Nationals. Fort Wayne lost the first two games in Syracuse, won the middle three games at home, but dropped the final two contests and the series back in Syracuse. The Nationals won Game 7 by one point on a late free throw and championship-clinching steal.
One last note: Fort Wayne played its three NBA Finals “home” games in Indianapolis, the only time a franchise has played home Finals games away from its base city. Fort Wayne’s home arena booked a national bowling tournament during the NBA Finals, and couldn’t accommodate the Pistons.
Detroit Pistons From Top to Bottom
| All-time Ranking | W-L | Playoffs | ||
| 80 | 2005-06 | Detroit Pistons | 64-18 | East finals |
| 90 | 1988-89 | Detroit Pistons | 63-19 | NBA champion |
| 113 | 1989-90 | Detroit Pistons | 59-23 | NBA champion |
| 123 | 1996-97 | Detroit Pistons | 54-28 | East first round |
| 130 | 1987-88 | Detroit Pistons | 54-28 | NBA finalist |
| 132 | 2003-04 | Detroit Pistons | 54-28 | NBA champion |
| 191 | 1973-74 | Detroit Pistons | 52-30 | West semifinals |
| 207 | 2006-07 | Detroit Pistons | 53-29 | East finals |
| 218 | 1998-99 | Detroit Pistons | 29-21 | East first round |
| 240 | 1983-84 | Detroit Pistons | 49-33 | East first round |
| 245 | 2004-05 | Detroit Pistons | 54-28 | NBA finalist |
| 251 | 1986-87 | Detroit Pistons | 52-30 | East finals |
| 270 | 1990-91 | Detroit Pistons | 50-32 | East finals |
| 274 | 2002-03 | Detroit Pistons | 50-32 | East finals |
| 316 | 1984-85 | Detroit Pistons | 46-36 | East semifinals |
| 337 | 1995-96 | Detroit Pistons | 46-36 | East first round |
| 383 | 1991-92 | Detroit Pistons | 48-34 | East first round |
| 388 | 1954-55 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 43-29 | NBA finalist |
| 399 | 1997-98 | Detroit Pistons | 37-45 | |
| 407 | 2001-02 | Detroit Pistons | 50-32 | East semifinals |
| 430 | 1949-50 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 40-28 | Central finals |
| 445 | 1953-54 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 40-32 | West semifinals |
| 456 | 1985-86 | Detroit Pistons | 46-36 | East first round |
| 464 | 1999-00 | Detroit Pistons | 42-40 | East first round |
| 540 | 1972-73 | Detroit Pistons | 40-42 | |
| 551 | 1955-56 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 37-35 | NBA finalist |
| 576 | 1952-53 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 36-33 | West finals |
| 621 | 1982-83 | Detroit Pistons | 37-45 | |
| 630 | 1970-71 | Detroit Pistons | 45-37 | |
| 673 | 1981-82 | Detroit Pistons | 39-43 | |
| 694 | 1976-77 | Detroit Pistons | 44-38 | West first round |
| 710 | 1992-93 | Detroit Pistons | 40-42 | |
| 714 | 1974-75 | Detroit Pistons | 40-42 | West first round |
| 718 | 1975-76 | Detroit Pistons | 36-46 | West semifinals |
| 721 | 1977-78 | Detroit Pistons | 38-44 | |
| 761 | 1958-59 | Detroit Pistons | 28-44 | West semifinals |
| 765 | 1967-68 | Detroit Pistons | 40-42 | East semifinals |
| 772 | 1961-62 | Detroit Pistons | 37-43 | West finals |
| 779 | 1951-52 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 29-37 | West semifinals |
| 782 | 1950-51 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 32-36 | West semifinals |
| 801 | 2000-01 | Detroit Pistons | 32-50 | |
| 808 | 1960-61 | Detroit Pistons | 34-45 | West semifinals |
| 814 | 1956-57 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 34-38 | West semifinals |
| 829 | 1957-58 | Detroit Pistons | 33-39 | West finals |
| 857 | 1978-79 | Detroit Pistons | 30-52 | |
| 868 | 1968-69 | Detroit Pistons | 32-50 | |
| 871 | 1948-49 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 22-38 | |
| 876 | 1969-70 | Detroit Pistons | 31-51 | |
| 886 | 1964-65 | Detroit Pistons | 31-49 | |
| 912 | 1962-63 | Detroit Pistons | 34-46 | West semifinals |
| 915 | 1959-60 | Detroit Pistons | 30-45 | West semifinals |
| 1003 | 1966-67 | Detroit Pistons | 30-51 | |
| 1043 | 1980-81 | Detroit Pistons | 21-61 | |
| 1056 | 1965-66 | Detroit Pistons | 22-58 | |
| 1058 | 1971-72 | Detroit Pistons | 26-56 | |
| 1076 | 1963-64 | Detroit Pistons | 23-57 | |
| 1085 | 1994-95 | Detroit Pistons | 28-54 | |
| 1097 | 1993-94 | Detroit Pistons | 20-62 | |
| 1104 | 1979-80 | Detroit Pistons | 16-66 | |