1993–94 Detroit Pistons season
The 1993–94 NBA season was the Pistons' 46th season in the National Basketball Association, and 37th season in the city of Detroit.[1] In the 1993 NBA draft, the Pistons selected Lindsey Hunter out of Jackson State with the tenth pick,[2] and selected Allan Houston from the University of Tennessee with the eleventh pick. During the off-season, the Pistons acquired Sean Elliott from the San Antonio Spurs,[3] signed free agent Greg Anderson and hired Don Chaney as head coach. Although the Pistons started out 5–4 without Alvin Robertson, who was out with a back injury and then traded to the Denver Nuggets in November.[4] The Pistons continued to struggle as Bill Laimbeer retired after playing just eleven games after an ugly practice scuffle with Isiah Thomas.[5] Laimbeer averaged 9.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game this season.
1993–94 Detroit Pistons season | |
---|---|
Head coach | Don Chaney |
Owners | William Davidson |
Arena | The Palace of Auburn Hills |
Results | |
Record | 20–62 (.244) |
Place | Division: 6th (Central) Conference: 13th (Eastern) |
Playoff finish | Did Not Qualify |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | WKBD-TV PASS Sports |
Radio | WWJ |
Things got worse as the team suffered a 14-game losing streak between December and January. At midseason, Olden Polynice was traded to the Sacramento Kings for Pete Chilcutt,[6] as the Pistons lost their final 13 games of the season, finishing last place in the Central Division with a 20–62 record,[7] their worst record since 1979–80. Joe Dumars led the team in scoring with 20.4 points per game, while Terry Mills averaged 17.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, and Elliott provided the team with 12.1 points per game. Hunter contributed 10.3 points, 4.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game, and was named the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, while Houston provided with 8.5 points per game off the bench, and Anderson averaged 6.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.[8]
This season marked an end of an era as Thomas retired, ending his thirteen-year career with the Pistons.[9] In his final season, Thomas averaged 14.8 points and 6.9 assists per game in 58 games. His final game was a 132–104 home loss to the Orlando Magic on April 19, 1994, where he ruptured his Achilles tendon, which forced him to retire.[10] Also following the season, Elliott would return to his former team, the San Antonio Spurs after playing just one season with the Pistons,[11] while Anderson signed with the Atlanta Hawks, and Chilcutt signed with the Houston Rockets.
Draft picks
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 10 | Lindsey Hunter | PG | ![]() | Jackson State |
1 | 11 | Allan Houston | SG | ![]() | Tennessee |
Roster
Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roster Notes
- Center Bill Laimbeer retired on December 1.
Regular season
Season standings
Central Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y-Atlanta Hawks | 57 | 25 | .695 | – | 36–5 | 21–20 | 21–7 |
x-Chicago Bulls | 55 | 27 | .671 | 2 | 31–10 | 24–17 | 21–7 |
x-Indiana Pacers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 10 | 29–12 | 18–23 | 15–13 |
x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 10 | 31–10 | 16–25 | 16–12 |
Charlotte Hornets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 16 | 28–13 | 13–28 | 12–16 |
Detroit Pistons | 20 | 62 | .244 | 37 | 10–31 | 10–31 | 4–24 |
Milwaukee Bucks | 20 | 62 | .244 | 37 | 11–30 | 9–32 | 9–19 |
# | Eastern Conference | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | c-Atlanta Hawks | 57 | 25 | .695 | – |
2 | y-New York Knicks | 57 | 25 | .695 | – |
3 | x-Chicago Bulls | 55 | 27 | .671 | 2 |
4 | x-Orlando Magic | 50 | 32 | .610 | 7 |
5 | x-Indiana Pacers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 10 |
6 | x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 10 |
7 | x-New Jersey Nets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 12 |
8 | x-Miami Heat | 42 | 40 | .512 | 15 |
9 | Charlotte Hornets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 16 |
10 | Boston Celtics | 32 | 50 | .390 | 25 |
11 | Philadelphia 76ers | 25 | 57 | .305 | 32 |
12 | Washington Bullets | 24 | 58 | .293 | 33 |
13t | Milwaukee Bucks | 20 | 62 | .244 | 37 |
13t | Detroit Pistons | 20 | 62 | .244 | 37 |
- z - clinched division title
- y - clinched division title
- x - clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
1993-94 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
Atlanta | — | 4–0 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
Boston | 0–4 | — | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 |
Charlotte | 1–4 | 4–0 | — | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
Chicago | 3–2 | 2–2 | 4–1 | — | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
Cleveland | 1–3 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 3–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–5 | 0–4 | 0–5 | 1–1 |
Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
Detroit | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
Golden State | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | — | 0–4 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 4–0 | — | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
Indiana | 2–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
L.A. Clippers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | — | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–5 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 0–4 | 0–5 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
Miami | 1–3 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
Milwaukee | 0–5 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | — | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 |
Minnesota | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 0–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
New Jersey | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | — | 4–1 | 0–5 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
New York | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | — | 3–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–0 |
Orlando | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–3 | — | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 |
Philadelphia | 0–4 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 0–4 | — | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 |
Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 3–2 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | — | 4–1 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 |
Sacramento | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–4 | — | 1–3 | 0–5 | 1–3 | 2–0 |
San Antonio | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — | 0–4 | 0–5 | 2–0 |
Seattle | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 4–0 | — | 3–1 | 2–0 |
Utah | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 5–0 | 1–3 | — | 2–0 |
Washington | 0–4 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — |
Player statistics
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joe Dumars | 69 | 69 | 37.6 | .452 | .388 | .836 | 2.2 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 20.4 |
Terry Mills | 80 | 74 | 34.7 | .511 | .329 | .797 | 8.4 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 17.3 |
Isiah Thomas | 58 | 56 | 30.2 | .417 | .310 | .702 | 2.7 | 6.9 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 14.8 |
Olden Polynice | 37 | 36 | 36.5 | .547 | .000 | .457 | 12.3 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 13.1 |
Sean Elliott | 73 | 73 | 33.0 | .455 | .299 | .803 | 3.6 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 12.1 |
Lindsey Hunter | 82 | 26 | 26.5 | .375 | .333 | .732 | 2.3 | 4.8 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 10.3 |
Bill Laimbeer | 11 | 5 | 22.5 | .522 | .333 | .846 | 5.1 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 9.8 |
Allan Houston | 79 | 20 | 19.2 | .405 | .299 | .824 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 8.5 |
Greg Anderson | 77 | 47 | 21.1 | .543 | .333 | .571 | 7.4 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 6.4 |
David Wood | 78 | 3 | 15.2 | .459 | .449 | .756 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 4.1 |
Pete Chilcutt | 30 | 0 | 13.0 | .425 | .214 | .769 | 3.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 3.8 |
Mark Macon | 35 | 1 | 10.6 | .396 | .286 | .625 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 3.6 |
Ben Coleman | 9 | 0 | 8.6 | .480 | .500 | 2.9 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 3.1 | |
Marcus Liberty | 35 | 0 | 7.8 | .310 | .370 | .486 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 2.9 |
Charles Jones | 42 | 0 | 20.9 | .462 | .000 | .559 | 5.6 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 2.2 |
Tod Murphy | 7 | 0 | 8.1 | .500 | .500 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.1 | |
Tracy Moore | 3 | 0 | 3.3 | .667 | 1.000 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 2.0 | |
Dan O'Sullivan | 13 | 0 | 4.3 | .333 | .750 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 |
Player Statistics Citation:[8]
Awards and records
- Lindsey Hunter, NBA All-Rookie Team 2nd Team
References
- 1993-94 Detroit Pistons
- "PRO BASKETBALL; Pick and Troll: Magic Trades No. 1 Choice Webber". New York Times. July 1, 1993. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
- "PRO BASKETBALL; Detroit Trades Rodman To San Antonio for Elliott". New York Times. October 2, 1993. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
- "Transactions". New York Times. November 20, 1993. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
- "'Sensitive' Laimbeer Mulled Retiring After Fighting Isiah". Chicago Tribune. November 21, 1993. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
- "TRANSACTIONS". New York Times. February 22, 1994. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
- "1993–94 Detroit Pistons Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- "1993–94 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- "Isiah Thomas Bids Farewell". New York Times. May 12, 1994. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
- "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Thomas Ends on Injury". New York Times. April 20, 1994. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
- "PRO BASKETBALL; Sean Elliott Again Is a Spur". New York Times. July 20, 1994. Retrieved December 30, 2021.