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1981–82 Detroit Pistons season
Reference material by Wikipedia contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
NBA team season
March 2026
August 2023
Detroit Pistons 1982 39 43 Central 3 7 Scotty Robertson Jack McCloskey William Davidson Pontiac Silverdome Did not qualify DET
The 1981–82 Detroit Pistons season was the Detroit Pistons' 34th season in the NBA and 25th season in the city of Detroit.1981-82 Detroit Pistons The team played in the Detroit suburbs at the Pontiac Silverdome.
The Pistons had the second pick in the 1981 NBA draft and chose Isiah Thomas from Indiana, adding a future Hall of Fame player for the centerpiece of the rebuilding franchise. The team finished greatly improved, 39-43 (.476), 3rd in the Central Division, an 18-game improvement from the previous season. The team was led by a pair of rookies, guard Thomas (17.0 ppg, 7.8 apg, NBA All-Star, NBA All Rookie Team) and forward Kelly Tripucka (21.6 ppg, NBA All-Star, NBA All Rookie Team), along with guard John Long (21.9 ppg). The team also picked up center Bill Laimbeer (12.8 ppg, 11.3 rpg) in a trade with Cleveland and guard Vinnie Johnson from Seattle (7.7 ppg), two key components of future championship Piston teams.https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/1982.html 1981-82 Detroit Pistons Roster and Statshttps://pistonpowered.com/2011/10/24/chevette-to-corvette-no-37-the-1981-82-detroit-pistons/ Chevette to Corvette No. 37: The 1981-82 Detroit Pistons 24 October 2011
Draft picks
1981 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 2 Isiah Thomas PG Indiana 1 12 Kelly Tripucka SF/SG Notre Dame
Roster
Detroit Pistons 1981–82 #002FA7 #FFFFFF #eb003c #FFFFFF
54 Kent Benson C 6 10 235 Indiana
32 Kenny Carr F 6 7 220 North Carolina State
24 Alan Hardy basketball SG 6 7 195 Michigan
52 Steve Hayes basketball C 7 0 205 Idaho State
10 Vinnie Johnson SG 6 2 200 Baylor
42 Edgar Jones basketball F 6 10 225 Nevada
22 Jeff Judkins F 6 6 185 Utah
40 Bill Laimbeer C 6 11 245 Notre Dame
30 Ron Lee G 6 4 193 Oregon
25 John Long basketball, born 1956 SG 6 5 195 Detroit
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
Scotty Robertson Don Chaney
Regular season
Season standings
DET
DET
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
Game log
Regular season
Detroit Pistons 1982 #0000FF #FF0000 Total: 39–43 (Home: 23–18; Road: 16–25)
Detroit Pistons October yes #FF0000 #0000FF 1 0 1 0
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 1
| October 30
| Milwaukee
| W 118–113
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 1–0
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 2
| October 31
| @ Chicago
Detroit Pistons November #FF0000 #0000FF 4 3 2 4
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 3
| November 5
| New Jersey
| W 109–103
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 3–0
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 4
| November 6
| @ Washington
| L 82–86
|
|
|
| Capital Centre
| 3–1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 5
| November 7
| Boston
| L 88–129
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 3–2
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 6
| November 10
| Philadelphia
| L 93–95
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 3–3
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 7
| November 12
| Cleveland
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 8
| November 14
| @ Atlanta
| W 117–104
|
|
|
| The Omni
| 5–3
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 9
| November 18
| @ Cleveland
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 10
| November 19
| Washington
| W 122–97
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 6–4
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 11
| November 21
| Utah
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 12
| November 24
| @ Milwaukee
| L 95–103
|
|
|
| MECCA Arena
| 7–5
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 13
| November 25
| @ Kansas City
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 14
| November 27
| Atlanta
| L 112–114 (OT)
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 8–6
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 15
| November 28
| @ Philadelphia
| L 103–116
|
|
|
| The Spectrum
| 8–7
Detroit Pistons December #FF0000 #0000FF 2 3 3 7
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 16
| December 1
| @ New York
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 17
| December 2
| @ Boston
| L 114–115
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 8–9
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 18
| December 4
| @ Indiana
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 19
| December 5
| Milwaukee
| L 108–111
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 8–11
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 20
| December 10
| New York
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 21
| December 12
| @ Seattle
| L 111–117
|
|
|
| Kingdome
| 8–13
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 22
| December 13
| @ Portland
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 23
| December 15
| @ Golden State
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 24
| December 17
| Indiana
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 25
| December 19
| New York
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 26
| December 22
| @ Dallas
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 27
| December 23
| @ Denver
| W 124–119
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 12–15
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 28
| December 26
| Chicago
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 29
| December 29
| @ Washington
| L 125–129
|
|
|
| Capital Centre
| 13–16
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 30
| December 30
| @ New Jersey
| L 119–130
|
|
|
| Brendan Byrne Arena
| 13–17
Detroit Pistons January #FF0000 #0000FF 2 4 3 5
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 31
| January 2
| @ New York
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 32
| January 5
| Philadelphia
| W 124–101
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 14–18
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 33
| January 7
| Phoenix
| L 94–110
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 14–19
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 34
| January 9
| Los Angeles
| L 127–130
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 14–20
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 35
| January 10
| @ Boston
| L 124–134
|
|
|
| Hartford Civic Center
| 14–21
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 36
| January 12
| @ Chicago
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 37
| January 14
| Washington
| L 114–121
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 15–22
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 38
| January 16
| Boston
| L 120–128
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 15–23
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 39
| January 17
| @ Milwaukee
| W 108–103
|
|
|
| MECCA Arena
| 16–23
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 40
| January 19
| @ Utah
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 41
| January 21
| @ San Diego
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 42
| January 22
| @ Los Angeles
| L 111–123
|
|
|
| The Forum
| 17–25
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 43
| January 23
| @ Phoenix
| L 90–113
|
|
|
| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
| 17–26
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 44
| January 27
| Atlanta
| W 108–107
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 18–26
Detroit Pistons February #FF0000 #0000FF 5 3 2 3
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 45
| February 2
| @ Atlanta
| W 106–105
|
|
|
| The Omni
| 19–26
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 46
| February 5
| @ Chicago
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 47
| February 6
| New Jersey
| L 120–125
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 20–27
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 48
| February 9
| Chicago
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 49
| February 10
| @ New Jersey
| L 108–115
|
|
|
| Brendan Byrne Arena
| 21–28
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 50
| February 11
| Cleveland
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 51
| February 13
| Portland
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 52
| February 16
| Houston
| W 111–109
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 23–29
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 53
| February 17
| @ San Antonio
| L 112–126
|
|
|
| HemisFair Arena
| 23–30
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 54
| February 20
| Indiana
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 55
| February 25
| San Antonio
| L 116–119
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 24–31
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 56
| February 27
| Kansas City
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 57
| February 28
| @ Indiana
Detroit Pistons March #FF0000 #0000FF 5 2 4 5
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 58
| March 2
| @ Milwaukee
| L 91–101
|
|
|
| MECCA Arena
| 25–33
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 59
| March 4
| Chicago
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 60
| March 6
| @ New York
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 61
| March 8
| Boston
| L 101–111
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 27–34
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 62
| March 10
| Denver
| L 113–124
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 27–35
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 63
| March 12
| Golden State
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 64
| March 14
| @ Cleveland
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 65
| March 16
| San Diego
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 66
| March 18
| Seattle
| W 119–115
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 31–35
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 67
| March 19
| @ Houston
| W 111–102
|
|
|
| The Summit
| 32–35
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 68
| March 21
| @ Atlanta
| L 111–119
|
|
|
| The Omni
| 32–36
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 69
| March 25
| Philadelphia
| W 100–98
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 33–36
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 70
| March 26
| @ Boston
| L 104–125
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 33–37
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 71
| March 27
| @ New Jersey
| W 123–121
|
|
|
| Brendan Byrne Arena
| 34–37
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 72
| March 30
| @ Washington
| L 98–127
|
|
|
| Capital Centre
| 34–38
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 73
| March 31
| @ Indiana
Detroit Pistons April #FF0000 #0000FF 4 3 1 1
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 74
| April 1
| Dallas
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 75
| April 3
| Indiana
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 76
| April 7
| Atlanta
| W 120–115
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 36–40
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 77
| April 9
| Milwaukee
| L 100–118
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 36–41
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 78
| April 11
| New York
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 79
| April 14
| @ Philadelphia
| L 111–119
|
|
|
| The Spectrum
| 37–42
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 80
| April 15
| Cleveland
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
| 81
| April 17
| New Jersey
| L 132–147
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 38–43
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
| 82
| April 18
| @ Cleveland
DET 1982
Player statistics
PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPGKent Benson757232.9.505.273.8048.72.1.881.3012.5Kenny Carr28615.9.458.000.6464.9.8.21.217.4Glenn Hagan406.3.429.0001.0001.02.0.33.001.8Alan Hardy3808.2.456.000.6210.9.5.24.113.7Steve Hayes26015.8.495.000.6103.8.9.12.694.5Phil Hubbard523821.2.505.000.6505.21.3.73.3110.0Vinnie Johnson671517.8.493.273.7542.12.4.75.347.7Edgar Jones481916.7.548.500.6984.3.8.581.927.8Jeff Judkins3008.4.383.100.6151.1.5.20.672.6Greg Kelser11016.6.407.000.6593.51.1.45.648.8Bill Laimbeer303031.2.516.143.81311.31.8.571.1312.8Ron Lee81718.1.358.305.7061.93.91.43.253.4John Long696632.0.492.133.8653.72.1.94.3621.9Paul Mokeski39313.4.441.000.7583.1.6.33.593.2Isiah Thomas727233.8.424.288.7042.97.82.08.2417.0Kelly Tripucka828237.5.496.227.7975.43.31.09.2521.6Terry Tyler82024.3.523.250.7406.05.4.941.959.9Larry Wright106.0.000.000.000.0.0.0.0.0
Awards and records
Isiah Thomas, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team
Kelly Tripucka, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team
References
See also
1981-82 NBA season
Category:Detroit Pistons seasons
Det
Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons