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The Detroit Pistons are a National Basketball Association team based in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan.
- Founded: 1941 as Ft. Wayne Zollner Pistons in National Basketball League, joined National Basketball Association in 1948. Relocated to Detroit in 1957.
- Formerly known as: Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons (1941-48), Fort Wayne Pistons (1948-57)
- Home Arena: The Palace of Auburn Hills
- Uniform colors: Red, white and blue
- Logo design: A basketball with "PISTONS" superimposed upon it.
- NBL Championships: 1944, 1945 (in Fort Wayne)
- NBA Eastern Division Championships: 1954, 1955 (in Fort Wayne)
- NBA Central Division Championships: 1988, 1989, 1990, 2002, 2003
- NBA Eastern Conference Championships: 1988, 1989, 1990, 2004
- NBA Championships: 1989, 1990, 2004
Franchise history
The franchise was founded in 1941 in Fort Wayne, Indiana by Fred Zollner, owner of a company that manufactured pistons for General Motors. It is the oldest existing franchise in the NBA. Led by star forward George Yardley, the Fort Wayne Pistons were a popular franchise and appeared in the NBA Finals in 1954 and 1955, losing both times. In 1957, Zollner moved the team to Detroit, a much larger city that did not have an NBA franchise; the Detroit Gems had folded after one season of existence. The new Detroit Pistons played in Olympia Stadium for their first four seasons, then moved to Cobo Arena. The franchise was a consistent disappointment, struggling on both the court and the box office. In 1974, Zollner sold the team to Bill Davidson, who remains the team's owner. Displeased with the team's location in downtown Detroit, Davidson moved it to the suburb of Pontiac in 1978, where it played in the mammoth Silverdome, a structure built for pro football.
The franchise's fortunes finally began to turn in 1981, when it drafted point guard Isiah Thomas out of Indiana University. In early 1982, it acquired center Bill Laimbeer and guard Vinnie Johnson. The three, along with later aquisitions Joe Dumars, Rick Mahorn, and Dennis Rodman, formed the core of a team that would rise to the top of the league. Coach Chuck Daly took the team to the NBA Finals three consecutive years (1988-90) and won NBA championships in 1989 and 1990. The team moved into the lavish Palace of Auburn Hills in 1988 and remains there today.
The franchise went through a lengthy transitional period as its key players either retired or left. Under the leadership of Dumars, who re-emerged as the team president, the Pistons have rebuilt their team to include rising stars Ben Wallace, Chauncey Billups, Richard "Rip" Hamilton, and recently, Rasheed Wallace. Coached by Hall of Fame inductee Larry Brown, the Pistons have returned to prominence, winning the 2004 NBA Championship.
Players of note
Not to be forgotten:
Retired numbers:
Current stars:
Coaches and others
Basketball Hall of Famers:
External links
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it:Detroit Pistons
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