# 1980–81 Detroit Pistons season

The 1980–81 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 33rd season in the NBA and 24th season in the city of Detroit. The team played at the Pontiac Silverdome.
The rebuilding Pistons finished the season with a 21–61 (.256) record, 6th place in the Central Division. The team was led by center Kent Benson (15.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and guard John Long (17.7 ppg).

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College / Team |
| 1 | 17 | Larry Drew | Guard | United States | Missouri |
| 5 | 93 | Tony Fuller | Guard | United States | Pepperdine |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Milwaukee Bucks | 60 | 22 | .732 | – | 34–7 | 26–15 | 23–7 |
| x-Chicago Bulls | 45 | 37 | .549 | 15.0 | 26–15 | 19–22 | 20–9 |
| x-Indiana Pacers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 16.0 | 27–14 | 17–24 | 17–12 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 31 | 51 | .378 | 29.0 | 20–21 | 11–30 | 9–21 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 32.0 | 20–21 | 8–33 | 9–21 |
| Detroit Pistons | 21 | 61 | .256 | 39.0 | 14–27 | 7–34 | 9–21 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Boston Celtics | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 2 | y-Milwaukee Bucks | 60 | 22 | .732 | 2 |
| 3 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 4 | x-New York Knicks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 12 |
| 5 | x-Chicago Bulls | 45 | 37 | .549 | 17 |
| 6 | x-Indiana Pacers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 18 |
| 7 | Washington Bullets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 23 |
| 8 | Atlanta Hawks | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 |
| 9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 34 |
| 10 | New Jersey Nets | 24 | 58 | .293 | 38 |
| 11 | Detroit Pistons | 21 | 61 | .256 | 41 |
    z - clinched division title
    y - clinched division title
    x - clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1980-81 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 |
| Boston | 4–2 | — | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| Chicago | 4–2 | 1–5 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
| Cleveland | 5–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 0–5 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
| Detroit | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | — | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | — | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 |
| Indiana | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Kansas City | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 4–2 | 0–2 | — | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | — | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 |
| New Jersey | 2–3 | 0–6 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | — | 0–6 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| New York | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 6–0 | — | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Philadelphia | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Phoenix | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 3–2 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | — | 4–1 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 1–4 | — | 5–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–5 | — | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | — | 0–2 |
| Washington | 4–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1980–81 game log Total: 21–61 (Home: 14–27; Road: 7–34) :
October: 1–9 (home: 0–6; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 10
Washington
L 85–95
Pontiac Silverdome
0–1
2
October 11
@ Indiana
L 87–100
Market Square Arena
0–2
3
October 13
@ New Jersey
L 92–108
Rutgers Athletic Center
0–3
4
October 14
@ Cleveland
L 91–99
Richfield Coliseum
0–4
5
October 16
San Antonio
L 99–102
Pontiac Silverdome
0–5
6
October 18
Atlanta
L 123–125 (2OT)
Pontiac Silverdome
0–6
7
October 22
Philadelphia
L 93–94
Pontiac Silverdome
0–7
8
October 25
@ Houston
W 112–109
The Summit
1–7
9
October 29
Boston
L 85–103
Pontiac Silverdome
1–8
10
October 31
Phoenix
L 98–103 (OT)
Pontiac Silverdome
1–9 :
November: 7–8 (home: 5–3; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
11
November 1
@ Chicago
L 100–122
Chicago Stadium
1–10
12
November 4
@ Milwaukee
W 98–96
MECCA Arena
2–10
13
November 5
@ Philadelphia
L 103–107
The Spectrum
2–11
14
November 7
@ Washington
L 88–114
Capital Centre
2–12
15
November 8
Dallas
W 101–73
Pontiac Silverdome
3–12
16
November 11
@ New York
L 118–149
Madison Square Garden
3–13
17
November 12
Milwaukee
L 98–122
Pontiac Silverdome
3–14
18
November 14
Chicago
W 106–99
Pontiac Silverdome
4–14
19
November 16
@ New Jersey
L 80–89
Rutgers Athletic Center
4–15
20
November 18
Indiana
L 97–102
Pontiac Silverdome
4–16
21
November 20
San Diego
W 97–90
Pontiac Silverdome
5–16
22
November 22
New Jersey
W 117–103
Pontiac Silverdome
6–16
23
November 26
Utah
L 97–104
Pontiac Silverdome
6–17
24
November 28
Kansas City
W 104–94
Pontiac Silverdome
7–17
25
November 29
@ Atlanta
W 98–95
The Omni
8–17 :
December: 2–12 (home: 2–4; road: 0–8)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
26
December 2
Boston
L 85–94
Pontiac Silverdome
8–18
27
December 5
@ Washington
L 92–103
Capital Centre
8–19
28
December 6
@ Cleveland
L 100–101
Richfield Coliseum
8–20
29
December 10
Atlanta
L 92–100
Pontiac Silverdome
8–21
30
December 12
Cleveland
W 101–95
Pontiac Silverdome
9–21
31
December 13
@ New York
L 94–100
Madison Square Garden
9–22
32
December 17
New York
L 103–119
Pontiac Silverdome
9–23
33
December 18
@ Milwaukee
L 104–121
MECCA Arena
9–24
34
December 19
Indiana
W 109–106
Pontiac Silverdome
10–24
35
December 21
@ San Diego
L 97–117
San Diego Sports Arena
10–25
36
December 23
@ Phoenix
L 104–113
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10–26
37
December 26
Houston
L 94–114
Pontiac Silverdome
10–27
38
December 27
@ Chicago
L 97–104
Chicago Stadium
10–28
39
December 30
@ Atlanta
L 89–96
The Omni
10–29 :
January: 3–13 (home: 3–5; road: 0–8)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
40
January 2
New York
W 102–100
Pontiac Silverdome
11–29
41
January 6
@ Portland
L 90–110
Memorial Coliseum
11–30
42
January 7
@ Seattle
L 94–99
Kingdome
11–31
43
January 10
@ Golden State
L 103–105
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
11–32
44
January 11
@ Los Angeles
L 108–117
The Forum
11–33
45
January 13
Milwaukee
L 96–119
Pontiac Silverdome
11–34
46
January 14
@ Indiana
L 99–101
Market Square Arena
11–35
47
January 15
Washington
L 89–106
Pontiac Silverdome
11–36
48
January 17
New Jersey
L 103–119
Pontiac Silverdome
11–37
49
January 19
@ Boston
L 90–92
Hartford Civic Center
11–38
50
January 20
Philadelphia
W 83–75
Pontiac Silverdome
12–38
51
January 22
Chicago
L 92–125
Pontiac Silverdome
12–39
52
January 24
Cleveland
W 117–94
Pontiac Silverdome
13–39
53
January 26
@ Utah
L 99–102
Salt Palace Acord Arena
13–40
54
January 27
@ Denver
L 123–143
McNichols Sports Arena
13–41
55
January 29
Golden State
L 112–117
Pontiac Silverdome
13–42 :
February: 3–10 (home: 2–4; road: 1–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
56
February 3
@ San Antonio
L 99–102
HemisFair Arena
13–43
57
February 4
@ Kansas City
L 90–91
Kemper Arena
13–44
58
February 6
Los Angeles
L 102–111
Pontiac Silverdome
13–45
59
February 7
@ Chicago
L 90–98
Chicago Stadium
13–46
60
February 8
Indiana
L 101–124
Pontiac Silverdome
13–47
61
February 10
@ Dallas
W 101–95
Reunion Arena
14–47
62
February 13
@ New York
L 92–120
Madison Square Garden
14–48
63
February 14
Washington
W 105–103
Pontiac Silverdome
15–48
64
February 17
@ Cleveland
L 108–109
Richfield Coliseum
15–49
65
February 18
@ Philadelphia
L 97–111
The Spectrum
15–50
66
February 19
Portland
L 106–115
Pontiac Silverdome
15–51
67
February 21
Boston
L 119–130
Pontiac Silverdome
15–52
68
February 27
Cleveland
W 118–109
Pontiac Silverdome
16–52 :
March: 5–9 (home: 2–5; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
69
March 1
@ New Jersey
W 117–104
Rutgers Athletic Center
17–52
70
March 3
@ Milwaukee
L 98–115
MECCA Arena
17–53
71
March 5
New York
L 101–104
Pontiac Silverdome
17–54
72
March 7
Denver
L 109–121
Pontiac Silverdome
17–55
73
March 11
Atlanta
W 100–97
Pontiac Silverdome
18–55
73
March 13
Seattle
L 100–102
Pontiac Silverdome
18–56
75
March 14
@ Indiana
W 101–94
Market Square Arena
19–56
76
March 18
New Jersey
W 118–115
Pontiac Silverdome
20–56
77
March 20
Milwaukee
L 86–104
Pontiac Silverdome
20–57
78
March 22
Chicago
L 103–109
Pontiac Silverdome
20–58
79
March 24
@ Atlanta
L 91–96
The Omni
20–59
80
March 25
@ Philadelphia
L 75–114
The Spectrum
20–60
81
March 27
@ Boston
W 115–90
Boston Garden
21–60
82
March 28
@ Washington
L 103–108
Capital Centre
21–61 :
1980–81 schedule :