1982–83 Detroit Pistons season

NBA team season March 2026 August 2023 Detroit Pistons 1983 37 45 Central 3 8 Scotty Robertson Jack McCloskey William Davidson Pontiac Silverdome Did not qualify DET The 1982–83 Detroit Pistons season was the Detroit Pistons' 35th season in the NBA and 26th season in the city of Detroit.https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/1983.html 1982–83 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference.com The team played at the Pontiac Silverdome in suburban Pontiac, Michigan. Expectations were high with the Pistons entering the season with hopes for continued improvement and a playoff berth, having improved from 16 to 21 to 39 wins in the previous three seasons, but the team regressed, finishing 37–45 (.451), 3rd in the Central Division. The team was led on the season by guard Isiah Thomas (22.9 ppg, 7.8 apg, NBA All-Star), center Bill Laimbeer (13.6 ppg, 12.1 rpg, NBA All-Star) and forward Kelly Tripucka (26.5 ppg). With the disappointing record and frequent clashes with team leader Thomas, the team fired coach Scotty Robertson at the end of the season.https://pistonpowered.com/2011/10/19/chevette-to-corvette-no-40-the-1982-83-detroit-pistons/ Chevette to Corvette No. 40: The 1982–83 Detroit Pistons October 19, 2011https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/04/18/Pistons-fire-Scotty-Robertson/2049102449090/ Pistons fire Scotty Robertson UPI General Manager Jack McCloskey met with Robertson to deliver the news, "'I was very disappointed and very shocked,' Robertson said. 'I thought Jack and I would discuss various aspects of the team and go on from there. He came in at noon and we talked for five minutes. 'We're going to make a change,' he said. He gave me two reasons. He said he didn't think the team had progressed enough this year and he said he didn't think our defense was as good as it should have been. I told him I agreed with him on both points. But where we had a difference of opinion was why. He thought it was my fault and I thought it was the set of circumstances.'" The team would hire Chuck Daly as his replacement for the 1983-84 Detroit Pistons season. Draft picks 1982 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 9 Cliff Levingston PF Wichita State 1 18 Ricky Pierce SG/SF Rice 4 78 Walker Russell SG Western Michigan Roster Detroit Pistons #002FA7 #FFFFFF #eb003c #FFFFFF 54 Kent Benson C 6 10 235 Indiana 15 Vinnie Johnson SG 6 2 200 Baylor 34 Jim Johnstone basketball SG 6 11 245 Wake Forest 34 Edgar Jones basketball PF 6 10 225 Nevada 40 Bill Laimbeer C 6 11 245 Notre Dame 53 Cliff Levingston PF 6 8 210 Wichita State 25 John Long basketball, born 1956 SG 6 5 195 Detroit 34 Scott May SF 6 7 215 Indiana 44 Tom Owens C 6 10 215 USC 22 Ricky Pierce SG 6 4 205 Rice 33 Walker Russell SG 6 5 195 Western Michigan 32 Jim Smith basketball, born 1958 PF 6 9 225 Ohio State 24 Ray Tolbert PF 6 9 225 Indiana 11 Isiah Thomas PG 6 1 180 Indiana 7 Kelly Tripucka F 6 6 220 Notre Dame 41 Terry Tyler F/G 6 7 215 Detroit 34 James Wilkes basketball F 6 7 195 UCLA 34 Jim Zoet C 7 1 240 Kent State Scotty Robertson Regular season Season standings DET DET z – clinched division title y – clinched division title x – clinched playoff spot Awards and records Isiah Thomas, All-NBA Second Team References See also 1982-83 NBA season Category:Detroit Pistons seasons Det Detroit Pistons Detroit Pistons