The 1993–94 Detroit Pistons season was the 46th season for the Detroit Pistons in the National Basketball Association, and their 37th season in Detroit, Michigan.
Season summary
Off-season In the 1993 NBA draft, the Pistons selected point guard Lindsey Hunter out of Jackson State University with the tenth overall pick, and also selected shooting guard Allan Houston from the University of Tennessee with the eleventh overall pick. During the off-season, the team acquired All-Star forward Sean Elliott from the San Antonio Spurs, signed free agent Greg Anderson, and hired Don Chaney as their new head coach. Early into the regular season, the Pistons traded Alvin Robertson, who was out due to a back injury, to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Mark Macon and Marcus Liberty.
Regular season After only playing just eleven games early into the regular season, Bill Laimbeer retired after an altercation with his teammate Isiah Thomas during a team practice, in which Thomas broke his hand after punching Laimbeer; Laimbeer averaged 9.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game this season. Under Chaney and with the addition of Elliott, Hunter, Houston and Anderson, the Pistons got off to a 5–4 start to the season, but then struggled and suffered a 14-game losing streak between December and January, and later on held an 11–37 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, the team traded Olden Polynice to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Pete Chilcutt, and signed free agent Charles Jones. The Pistons lost their final 13 games of the regular season, finishing tied for last place in the Central Division with an awful 20–62 record, their worst record since the 1979–80 season.
Joe Dumars averaged 20.4 points and 3.8 assists per game, and led the Pistons with 124 three-point field goals, while Terry Mills averaged 17.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, and Thomas provided the team with 14.8 points and 6.9 assists per game. In addition, Elliott contributed 12.1 points per game, while Hunter provided with 10.3 points, 4.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game, and was named the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, Houston contributed 8.5 points per game off the bench, Anderson averaged 6.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, and Jones provided with 2.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game off the bench in 42 games.
During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Hunter was selected for the inaugural NBA Rookie Game, as a member of the Phenoms team, while Houston participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. The Pistons finished fifth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 806,641 at The Palace of Auburn Hills during the regular season.
Aftermath This season marked an end of an era as Thomas retired, ending his thirteen-year career in the NBA with the Pistons. Thomas played in his final game in a 132–104 home loss to the Orlando Magic, at The Palace of Auburn Hills on April 19, 1994, where he ruptured his Achilles tendon, which forced him to retire. Also following the season, Elliott was traded back to his former team, the San Antonio Spurs after only one season with the Pistons, while Anderson signed with the Atlanta Hawks, Chilcutt signed with the Houston Rockets, and Jones briefly retired.
Draft picks
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 10 Lindsey Hunter PG Jackson State 1 11 Allan Houston SG Tennessee
Roster
Roster Notes Center Bill Laimbeer retired on December 1, 1993.
Regular season
Season standings
z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot
Game log
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bfb" | 1 | November 5 | Minnesota | W 104–99 | Isiah Thomas (26) | Olden Polynice (14) | Isiah Thomas (10) | The Palace of Auburn Hills21,454 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#bfb" | 2 | November 6 | @ Indiana | W 113–107 | Joe Dumars (27) | Bill Laimbeer,Olden Polynice (9) | Isiah Thomas (10) | Market Square Arena14,331 | 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 3 | November 9 | Washington | L 112–118 | Sean Elliott (27) | Olden Polynice (15) | Isiah Thomas (16) | The Palace of Auburn Hills21,454 | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 4 | November 11 | @ L.A. Clippers | L 99–111 | Terry Mills (18) | Olden Polynice (13) | Isiah Thomas (6) | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena9,021 | 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 5 | November 12 | @ Utah | L 89–109 | Olden Polynice (17) | Olden Polynice (18) | Isiah Thomas (8) | Delta Center19,911 | 2–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 6 | November 14 | @ Portland | L 111–114 | Sean Elliott (27) | Olden Polynice (13) | Isiah Thomas (12) | Memorial Coliseum12,888 | 2–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#bfb" | 7 | November 17 | Orlando | W 98–92 | Bill Laimbeer (26) | Olden Polynice (10) | Joe Dumars (8) | The Palace of Auburn Hills21,454 | 3–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#bfb" | 8 | November 19 | San Antonio | W 95–86 | Joe Dumars (24) | Terry Mills (15) | Lindsey Hunter (6) | The Palace of Auburn Hills21,454 | 4–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#bfb" | 9 | November 21 | Philadelphia | W 103–89 | Bill Laimbeer (25) | Terry Mills (8) | Joe Dumars (9) | The Palace of Auburn Hills21,454 | 5–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 10 | November 24 | Boston | L 103–118 | Olden Polynice (27) | Olden Polynice (13) | Lindsey Hunter,Joe Dumars (7) | The Palace of Auburn Hills21,454 | 5–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 11 | November 27 | @ New York | L 85–112 | Lindsey Hunter (14) | Olden Polynice,Terry Mills (9) | Bill Laimbeer (6) | Madison Square Garden19,763 | 5–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 12 | November 28 | Golden State | L 88–91 | Lindsey Hunter,Sean Elliott (20) | Olden Polynice (11) | Lindsey Hunter (8) | The Palace of Auburn Hills21,454 | 5–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 13 | November 30 | @ Cleveland | L 74–92 | Olden Polynice,Terry Mills,Sean Elliott (12) | Olden Polynice (16) | Mark Macon (7) | Richfield Coliseum16,365 | 5–8
|- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 14 | December 2 | Phoenix | L 101–102 | Terry Mills (33) | Olden Polynice (13) | Isiah Thomas (13) | The Palace of Auburn Hills21,454 | 5–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 15 | December 7 | @ Orlando | L 89–91 | Joe Dumars (28) | Olden Polynice (16) | Isiah Thomas (10) | Orlando Arena15,291 | 5–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 16 | December 8 | Atlanta | L 97–105 | Joe Dumars (29) | Olden Polynice (25) | Isiah Thomas (12) | The Palace of Auburn Hills21,454 | 5–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 17 | December 10 | Milwaukee | L 88–90 | Olden Polynice (25) | Olden Polynice (15) | Isiah Thomas (14) | The Palace of Auburn Hills21,454 | 5–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#bfb" | 18 | December 11 | @ Minnesota | W 92–80 | Joe Dumars (22) | Terry Mills,Olden Polynice (14) | Isiah Thomas (8) | Target Center18,397 | 6–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 19 | December 14 | L.A. Lakers | L 93–99 | Joe Dumars (21) | Olden Polynice (22) | Lindsey Hunter (7) | The Palace of Auburn Hills20,236 | 6–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#bfb" | 20 | December 16 | @ Washington | W 97–95 | Joe Dumars (27) | Terry Mills (17) | Lindsey Hunter (7) | USAir Arena8,143 | 7–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#bfb" | 21 | December 18 | Cleveland | W 98–92 (OT) | Terry Mills (25) | Olden Polynice (18) | Isiah Thomas (7) | The Palace of Auburn Hills20,155 | 8–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 22 | December 20 | @ Philadelphia | L 92–121 | Terry Mills (16) | Cadillac Anderson (8) | Lindsey Hunter,Mark Macon,Isiah Thomas,Terry Mills (3) | The Spectrum8,109 | 8–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 23 | December 21 | Charlotte | L 97–108 | Lindsey Hunter (20) | Olden Polynice (12) | Terry Mills (6) | The Palace of Auburn Hills21,454 | 8–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 24 | December 23 | Chicago | L 72–81 | Lindsey Hunter (21) | Olden Polynice (10) | Sean Elliott,Lindsey Hunter (5) | The Palace of Auburn Hills21,454 | 8–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 25 | December 27 | @ Charlotte | L 94–109 | Terry Mills (26) | Olden Polynice (14) | Lindsey Hunter (10) | Charlotte Coliseum23,698 | 8–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 26 | December 28 | @ Atlanta | L 101–119 | Joe Dumars (17) | Terry Mills (10) | Mark Macon (6) | The Omni15,981 | 8–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 27 | December 30 | Sacramento | L 91–97 | Terry Mills (22) | Olden Polynice (13) | Sean Elliott,Joe Dumars (5) | The Palace of Auburn Hills19,399 | 8–19
|- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 28 | January 2 | Miami | L 85–93 | Joe Dumars (24) | Olden Polynice (16) | Lindsey Hunter,Joe Dumars (5) | The Palace of Auburn Hills19,274 | 8–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 29 | January 4 | @ Chicago | L 91–97 | Lindsey Hunter (29) | Olden Polynice,Sean Elliott (11) | Joe Dumars (8) | Chicago Stadium18,676 | 8–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 30 | January 8 | Indiana | L 92–101 | Sean Elliott (26) | Olden Polynice (15) | Lindsey Hunter (7) | The Palace of Auburn Hills19,878 | 8–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 31 | January 11 | Denver | L 86–94 | Joe Dumars (18) | Olden Polynice (16) | Lindsey Hunter,Isiah Thomas (6) | The Palace of Auburn Hills17,685 | 8–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 32 | January 13 | New York | L 80–94 | Isiah Thomas (21) | Terry Mills (15) | Isiah Thomas (9) | The Palace of Auburn Hills19,431 | 8–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 33 | January 15 | @ New York | L 88–97 | Terry Mills (21) | Cadillac Anderson (15) | Isiah Thomas (6) | Madison Square Garden19,763 | 8–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 34 | January 17 | Utah | L 94–109 | Cadillac Anderson (23) | Cadillac Anderson (16) | Allan Houston (5) | The Palace of Auburn Hills19,137 | 8–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 35 | January 18 | @ Milwaukee | L 91–123 | Allan Houston (19) | Cadillac Anderson (11) | Isiah Thomas (9) | Bradley Center12,879 | 8–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#bfb" | 36 | January 21 | @ Miami | W 118–98 | Joe Dumars (35) | Cadillac Anderson,Ben Coleman (8) | Isiah Thomas (14) | Miami Arena14,925 | 9–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 37 | January 22 | @ Washington | L 93–98 | Joe Dumars (25) | Cadillac Anderson (14) | Isiah Thomas (8) | Baltimore Arena12,756 | 9–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 38 | January 24 | Chicago | L 86–92 | Joe Dumars (25) | Cadillac Anderson (16) | Isiah Thomas (9) | The Palace of Auburn Hills20,249 | 9–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 39 | January 26 | @ Golden State | L 92–108 | Joe Dumars (32) | Cadillac Anderson (17) | Isiah Thomas (5) | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena15,025 | 9–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 40 | January 28 | @ L.A. Lakers | L 97–105 | Isiah Thomas (31) | Cadillac Anderson (11) | Joe Dumars (6) | Great Western Forum13,235 | 9–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 41 | January 29 | @ Denver | L 110–128 | Joe Dumars (31) | Cadillac Anderson (10) | Lindsey Hunter (3) | McNichols Sports Arena17,171 | 9–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 42 | January 31 | Cleveland | L 103–107 | Joe Dumars (29) | Cadillac Anderson (14) | Terry Mills (5) | The Palace of Auburn Hills18,553 | 9–33
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bfb" | 43 | February 2 | Milwaukee | W 104–90 | Allan Houston (28) | Terry Mills (17) | Lindsey Hunter (10) | The Palace of Auburn Hills17,156 | 10–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 44 | February 4 | Seattle | L 84–108 | Joe Dumars (30) | Cadillac Anderson,Charles Jones (10) | Lindsey Hunter (5) | The Palace of Auburn Hills21,454 | 10–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 45 | February 5 | New Jersey | L 100–107 | Joe Dumars (42) | Cadillac Anderson (12) | Isiah Thomas,Lindsey Hunter (4) | The Palace of Auburn Hills21,454 | 10–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#fcc" | 46 | February 7 | @ Atlanta | L 97–141 | Allan Houston (22) | Terry Mills,Marcus Liberty (8) | Allan Houston,Isiah Thomas (3) | The Omni9,324 | 10–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="#bfb" | 47 | February 9 | @ Boston | W 102–95 | Isiah Thomas (28) | Olden Polynice (11) | Isiah Thomas (9) | Boston Garden14,890