# 1979–80 Detroit Pistons season

The 1979–80 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 32nd season in the NBA and 23rd season in the city of Detroit. The Pistons were coming off a 30–52 (.366) record from their first season in the Eastern Conference, and aiming to halt declines of six and eight wins from their previous two seasons, but by finishing 16–66 (.195) they had the worst record in franchise history at the time, and the worst NBA record since the 1972–73 Philadelphia 76ers won only nine games.
Coach Dick Vitale, who was also in charge of player personnel, was fired 12 games into the season, having pushed for a disastrous trade with the Boston Celtics for Bob McAdoo when Pistons free agent M.L. Carr signed with Boston that would eventually net the Celtics key championship components Carr, Robert Parrish, and Kevin McHale in a series of exchanges. Injuries to McAdoo and center Bob Lanier, who was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks during the season, left the Pistons a depleted roster and the team finished with fourteen consecutive defeats. Second year players John Long (19.4 ppg) and Terry Tyler (12.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg) had solid seasons to lead the overwhelmed Pistons.
Vitale never coached again following his dismissal. He began a long and successful career as a television analyst at fledgling cable network ESPN approximately a month after leaving the bench.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 4 | Greg Kelser | SF | United States | Michigan State |
| 1 | 10 | Roy Hamilton | PG | United States | UCLA |
| 1 | 15 | Phil Hubbard | PF | United States | Michigan |
| 3 | 48 | Terry Duerod | SG | United States | Detroit |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Atlanta Hawks | 50 | 32 | .610 | – | 32–9 | 18–23 | 21–9 |
| x-Houston Rockets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 9 | 29–12 | 12–29 | 20–10 |
| x-San Antonio Spurs | 41 | 41 | .500 | 9 | 27–14 | 14–27 | 14–16 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 37 | 45 | .451 | 13 | 28–13 | 9–32 | 16–14 |
| Indiana Pacers | 37 | 45 | .451 | 13 | 26–15 | 11–30 | 15–15 |
| Detroit Pistons | 16 | 66 | .195 | 34 | 13–28 | 3–38 | 4–26 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Boston Celtics | 61 | 21 | .744 | – |
| 2 | y-Atlanta Hawks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 11 |
| 3 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 59 | 23 | .720 | 2 |
| 4 | x-Houston Rockets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 |
| 5 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 |
| 6 | x-Washington Bullets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 22 |
| 7 | New York Knicks | 39 | 43 | .476 | 22 |
| 8 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 37 | 45 | .451 | 24 |
| 8 | Indiana Pacers | 37 | 45 | .451 | 24 |
| 10 | New Jersey Nets | 34 | 48 | .415 | 27 |
| 11 | Detroit Pistons | 16 | 66 | .195 | 44 |
    z - clinched division title
    y - clinched division title
    x - clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1979-80 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
| Boston | 4–2 | — | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Chicago | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 0–6 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
| Houston | 4–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | — | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Kansas City | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 |
| Los Angeles | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | — | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–1 |
| New Jersey | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| New York | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | — | 0–6 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Philadelphia | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 6–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | — | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | — | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | — | 0–2 |
| Washington | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1979–80 game log Total: 16–66 (Home: 13–28; Road: 3–38) :
October: 4–5 (home: 3–1; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 12
Indiana
W 114–105
Pontiac Silverdome
1–0
2
October 13
@ San Antonio
W 112–110
HemisFair Arena
2–0
3
October 16
@ Cleveland
L 117–137
Richfield Coliseum
2–1
4
October 18
New York
W 129–115
Pontiac Silverdome
3–1
5
October 19
@ Philadelphia
L 104–112
The Spectrum
3–2
6
October 20
@ Washington
L 106–117
Capital Centre
3–3
7
October 24
Washington
W 104–103
Pontiac Silverdome
4–3
8
October 26
San Antonio
L 113–129
Pontiac Silverdome
4–4
9
October 27
@ Milwaukee
L 118–132
MECCA Arena
4–5 :
November: 3–11 (home: 3–5; road: 0–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
10
November 1
Cleveland
L 125–127
Pontiac Silverdome
4–6
11
November 3
Houston
L 111–114
Pontiac Silverdome
4–7
12
November 7
Atlanta
L 107–115
Pontiac Silverdome
4–8
13
November 9
Philadelphia
W 106–98
Pontiac Silverdome
5–8
14
November 10
@ Houston
L 104–112
The Summit
5–9
15
November 14
@ Boston
L 111–115
Boston Garden
5–10
16
November 17
New Jersey
L 93–98
Pontiac Silverdome
5–11
17
November 20
@ Atlanta
L 105–109
The Omni
5–12
18
November 21
Utah
W 98–93
Pontiac Silverdome
6–12
19
November 23
Milwaukee
W 119–100
Pontiac Silverdome
7–12
20
November 24
@ Indiana
L 97–115
Market Square Arena
7–13
21
November 27
@ New York
L 114–116 (OT)
Madison Square Garden
7–14
22
November 28
@ New Jersey
L 89–98
Rutgers Athletic Center
7–15
23
November 29
Kansas City
L 95–105
Pontiac Silverdome
7–16 :
December: 3–13 (home: 2–4; road: 1–9)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
24
December 1
San Antonio
W 134–124
Pontiac Silverdome
8–16
25
December 4
Boston
L 114–118 (OT)
Pontiac Silverdome
8–17
26
December 5
@ Kansas City
L 93–109
Municipal Auditorium
8–18
27
December 7
@ Houston
L 109–124
The Summit
8–19
28
December 8
@ Indiana
L 102–103
Market Square Arena
8–20
29
December 12
@ Golden State
W 114–96
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
9–20
30
December 14
@ Los Angeles
L 122–138
The Forum
9–21
31
December 15
@ Phoenix
L 105–126
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9–22
32
December 16
@ San Diego
L 126–133
San Diego Sports Arena
9–23
33
December 18
Philadelphia
L 102–114
Pontiac Silverdome
9–24
34
December 20
Atlanta
L 103–122
Pontiac Silverdome
9–25
35
December 22
@ San Antonio
L 112–141
HemisFair Arena
9–26
36
December 25
@ Cleveland
L 101–111
Richfield Coliseum
9–27
37
December 26
Indiana
L 97–98
Pontiac Silverdome
9–28
38
December 28
Denver
W 114–98
Pontiac Silverdome
10–28
39
December 29
@ Atlanta
L 104–115
The Omni
10–29 :
January: 4–11 (home: 3–4; road: 1–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
40
January 2
@ Denver
L 116–135
McNichols Sports Arena
10–30
41
January 4
@ Seattle
L 105–123
Kingdome
10–31
42
January 6
@ Portland
L 102–119
Memorial Coliseum
10–32
43
January 8
@ Utah
L 110–124
Salt Palace
10–33
44
January 11
Los Angeles
L 100–123
Pontiac Silverdome
10–34
45
January 12
@ Indiana
L 109–122
Market Square Arena
10–35
46
January 13
Chicago
W 107–102
Pontiac Silverdome
11–35
47
January 17
Washington
W 110–107
Pontiac Silverdome
12–35
48
January 19
Houston
W 122–110
Pontiac Silverdome
13–35
49
January 22
@ Chicago
L 131–145
Chicago Stadium
13–36
50
January 23
Boston
L 104–131
Pontiac Silverdome
13–37
51
January 25
@ New Jersey
W 119–116
Rutgers Athletic Center
14–37
52
January 27
New York
L 93–98
Pontiac Silverdome
14–38
53
January 29
Golden State
L 100–111
Pontiac Silverdome
14–39
54
January 30
@ Philadelphia
L 108–121
The Spectrum
14–40 :
February: 1–10 (home: 1–7; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
55
February 7
Seattle
L 102–119
Pontiac Silverdome
14–41
56
February 9
@ New York
L 107–114
Madison Square Garden
14–42
57
February 10
@ Boston
L 111–128
Boston Garden
14–43
58
February 13
Cleveland
L 102–107
Pontiac Silverdome
14–44
59
February 15
Philadelphia
L 104–114
Pontiac Silverdome
14–45
60
February 16
@ Cleveland
L 104–123
Richfield Coliseum
14–46
61
February 17
Atlanta
L 99–108
Pontiac Silverdome
14–47
62
February 21
Phoenix
L 116–125
Pontiac Silverdome
14–48
63
February 23
Portland
L 107–130
Pontiac Silverdome
14–49
64
February 27
San Diego
L 113–129
Pontiac Silverdome
14–50
65
February 29
New Jersey
W 137–128 (OT)
Pontiac Silverdome
15–50 :
March: 1–16 (home: 1–7; road: 0–9)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
66
March 2
@ Boston
L 115–118
Boston Garden
15–51
67
March 4
@ Washington
L 107–135
Capital Centre
15–52
68
March 5
New York
W 120–113
Pontiac Silverdome
16–52
69
March 7
Washington
L 105–106
Pontiac Silverdome
16–53
70
March 8
@ New York
L 104–110
Madison Square Garden
16–54
71
March 9
@ New Jersey
L 100–140
Rutgers Athletic Center
16–55
72
March 12
New Jersey
L 119–137
Pontiac Silverdome
16–56
73
March 14
San Antonio
L 102–113
Pontiac Silverdome
16–57
74
March 16
Houston
L 99–102
Pontiac Silverdome
16–58
75
March 17
@ Philadelphia
L 109–123
The Spectrum
16–59
76
March 18
Cleveland
L 107–108 (OT)
Pontiac Silverdome
16–60
77
March 20
Boston
L 106–124
Pontiac Silverdome
16–61
78
March 21
@ Atlanta
L 95–108
The Omni
16–62
79
March 23
@ Washington
L 114–119
Capital Centre
16–63
80
March 26
Indiana
L 114–124
Pontiac Silverdome
16–64
81
March 28
@ Houston
L 112–128
The Summit
16–65
82
March 30
@ San Antonio
L 124–144
HemisFair Arena
16–66 :
1979–80 schedule :