Editing Detroit Pistons (section)

===1957–1981: Decades of struggles===
[[File:Dave bing pistons (cropped).JPG|thumb|right|160px|[[Dave Bing]] joined the team in 1966, scoring 1,601 points in his rookie year.]]
Though the Pistons enjoyed a solid local following, Fort Wayne's small size made it difficult for them to be profitable, especially as other early NBA teams based in smaller cities started folding or relocating to larger markets.<ref name="Founded" /> After the 1956–57 season, Fred Zollner decided that Fort Wayne was too small to support an NBA team and announced the team would be playing elsewhere in the coming season. He ultimately settled on Detroit.<ref name="Founded" /> Although it was the fifth largest city in the United States at the time,<ref>{{cite web|title=Population of the 100 Largest Urban Places: 1950|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0027/tab18.txt|website=United States Census|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727053649/https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0027/tab18.txt|archive-date=July 27, 2020|access-date=April 11, 2021}}</ref> Detroit had not seen professional basketball in a decade.<ref name="Founded" /><ref name=Gems>{{cite web|title=Detroit Gems|url=https://www.nbahoopsonline.com/teams/LosAngelesLakers/History/DetroitGems/|website=NBA Hoops Online|access-date=June 6, 2017|archive-date=May 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525154451/http://nbahoopsonline.com/teams/LosAngelesLakers/History/DetroitGems/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Falcons>{{cite web|title=Detroit Falcons Basketball|url=https://www.nbahoopsonline.com/teams/Xdefunct/DetroitFalcons/|website=NBA Hoops Online|access-date=June 6, 2017|archive-date=August 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804220035/http://www.nbahoopsonline.com/teams/Xdefunct/DetroitFalcons/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=DSN>{{cite web|first=Ryan|last=Van Dusen|title=25 Things You Probably Didn't Know About the Pistons' First 10 Years in Detroit|url=https://detroitsportsnation.com/25-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-the-pistons-first-10-years-in-detroit/rake2204/detroit-pistons-news/03/12/2016/64032/|website=Detroit Sports Nation|date=March 12, 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422035135/https://detroitsportsnation.com/25-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-the-pistons-first-10-years-in-detroit/rake2204/detroit-pistons-news/03/12/2016/64032/|archivedate=April 22, 2019|access-date=February 24, 2019}}</ref> They lost the Detroit Eagles due to [[World War II]], both the [[Detroit Gems]] of the NBL (who became the [[Los Angeles Lakers|Minneapolis Lakers]]) and the [[Detroit Falcons (basketball)|Detroit Falcons]] of the [[Basketball Association of America|BAA]] in 1947, and the Detroit Vagabond Kings in 1949.<ref name="Founded" /><ref name=Gems/><ref name=Falcons/><ref name=DSN/> Zollner decided to keep the Pistons name, believing it made sense given Detroit's status as the center of the automobile industry.<ref name="Founded" /><ref name=Name/> [[George Yardley]] set the NBA single-season scoring record in the Pistons' first season in Detroit, becoming the first player to score 2,000 points in a season.<ref>{{cite web|last=Maxwell|first=John|title=The First 2,000-Point Scorer|url=https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/george_yardley_071226.html|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=December 26, 2007|access-date=March 19, 2019|archive-date=July 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729215315/https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/george_yardley_071226.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Richard|last=Goldstein|title=George Yardley, 75, Shooter Who Broke N.B.A. Record|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/16/sports/george-yardley-75-shooter-who-broke-nba-record.html|website=The New York Times|date=August 16, 2004|access-date=March 19, 2020|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118205151/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/16/sports/george-yardley-75-shooter-who-broke-nba-record.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Pistons played in [[Detroit Olympia|Olympia Stadium]] (home of the [[Detroit Red Wings]] of the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) at the time) for their first four seasons, then moved to [[Huntington Place#Cobo Arena|Cobo Arena]] beginning in the [[1961–62 Detroit Pistons season|1961–62 season]].<ref name=DSN/><ref name=Arenas>{{cite web|first=Ken|last=Haddad|title=5 places the Detroit Pistons called home|url=https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/2016/11/21/5-places-the-detroit-pistons-called-home/|website=ClickOnDetroit.com|date=November 21, 2016|access-date=June 15, 2017|archive-date=July 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729215518/https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/2016/11/21/5-places-the-detroit-pistons-called-home/|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the 1960s and 1970s, the Pistons were characterized by talented players including George Yardley, [[Bailey Howell]], [[Dave Debusschere]], [[Dave Bing]], and [[Bob Lanier]], questionable trades, and frequent coaching changes.<ref name=Arenas/><ref>{{cite web|title=Happy Anniversary|url=https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/ftwayne_071023.html|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=October 23, 2017|access-date=June 16, 2017|archive-date=August 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803044909/https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/ftwayne_071023.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Thomas>{{cite web|first=Bill|last=Dow|title=How Isiah Thomas became the greatest Detroit Piston ever|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2017/04/14/detroit-pistons-isiah-thomas-palace/100469076/|website=Detroit Free Press|date=April 15, 2017|access-date=June 11, 2017|archive-date=June 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615213441/http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2017/04/14/detroit-pistons-isiah-thomas-palace/100469076/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=DeBusschere>{{cite web|first=Bruce|last=Markusen|title=24-year old DeBusschere was youngest coach in NBA history with Pistons|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2016/01/28/dave-debusschere-was-youngest-coach-in-nba-history/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=January 28, 2016|access-date=December 24, 2019|archive-date=December 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224143105/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2016/01/28/dave-debusschere-was-youngest-coach-in-nba-history/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Bill|last=Dow|title=How a Coin Toss Brought Detroit a Hall of Famer|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/how-a-coin-toss-brought-detroit-a-hall-of-famer/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=May 21, 2010|access-date=December 24, 2019|archive-date=February 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203065452/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/how-a-coin-toss-brought-detroit-a-hall-of-famer/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Bruce|last=Markusen|title=Hall of Famer Bob Lanier was more than just two big feet|url=https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2016/01/21/bob-lanier-was-more-than-two-big-feet/|website=Vintage Detroit|date=January 21, 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224153327/https://www.vintagedetroit.com/blog/2016/01/21/bob-lanier-was-more-than-two-big-feet/|archivedate=December 24, 2019|access-date=December 24, 2019}}</ref> At one point, DeBusschere was the youngest [[player-coach]] in the history of the NBA.<ref name=DeBusschere/> Then a trade during the [[1968–69 Detroit Pistons season|1968–69 season]] sent DeBusschere to the [[New York Knicks]] for [[Howard Komives]] and [[Walt Bellamy]], both of whom had their best seasons behind them.<ref name=DeBusschere/> DeBusschere became a key player in leading the Knicks to two NBA titles.<ref name=DeBusschere/> Howell had previously been dealt to the [[Baltimore Bullets (1963–1973)|Baltimore Bullets]] in [[1964–65 Detroit Pistons season|1964]] and former Pistons guard [[Gene Shue]], who was the head coach of the Bullets at the time, assessed the Pistons thusly: "Detroit has the worst management in the league."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/06/10/archives/howell-of-pistons-traded-to-bullets-in-8player-deal.html|title=Howell of Pistons Traded To Bullets in 8-Player Deal|work=The New York Times|date=June 10, 1964|access-date=July 29, 2022|archive-date=December 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207035640/https://www.nytimes.com/1964/06/10/archives/howell-of-pistons-traded-to-bullets-in-8player-deal.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nba.com/pistons/features/truebluepistons_110908.html |title=The DeBusschere Debacle |website=NBA.com |date=August 8, 2012 |access-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-date=March 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309191334/https://www.nba.com/pistons/features/truebluepistons_110908.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Howell would go to win two championships as a member of the [[Boston Celtics]]. Yardley, Lanier, and Bing all ended their Pistons tenure being traded away, frustrated with the direction and opportunities with Detroit.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1959/02/14/archives/yardley-deal-confirmed-doctors-approve-finger-cast-and-he-goes-to.html |title=Yardley Deal Confirmed; Doctors Approve Finger Cast and He Goes to Syracuse |work=The New York Times |date=February 14, 1959 |access-date=March 15, 2022 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=March 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314205409/https://www.nytimes.com/1959/02/14/archives/yardley-deal-confirmed-doctors-approve-finger-cast-and-he-goes-to.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/08/29/archives/people-in-sports-pistons-trade-bing-to-bullets.html |title=People in Sports |work=The New York Times |date=August 29, 1975 |access-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-date=March 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314205408/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/08/29/archives/people-in-sports-pistons-trade-bing-to-bullets.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/02/05/archives/pistons-send-lanier-to-bucks-for-benson-unhappy-in-detroit.html |title=Pistons Send Lanier to Bucks for Benson; Unhappy in Detroit |work=The New York Times |date=February 5, 1980 |access-date=March 15, 2022 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=March 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314205409/https://www.nytimes.com/1980/02/05/archives/pistons-send-lanier-to-bucks-for-benson-unhappy-in-detroit.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1974, Zollner sold the team to glass magnate [[Bill Davidson (businessman)|Bill Davidson]], who remained the team's principal owner until his death in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|first=Sam|last=Golimper|title=Pistons Are Sold for $8.1-Million|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/07/30/archives/pistons-are-sold-for-81million2-pistons-sold-to-detroit-group-by.html|website=The New York Times|date=July 30, 1974|access-date=May 17, 2018|archive-date=May 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518070436/https://www.nytimes.com/1974/07/30/archives/pistons-are-sold-for-81million2-pistons-sold-to-detroit-group-by.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Davidson>{{cite web|title=Detroit Pistons owner Davidson dies at 86|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3979385|website=ESPN.com|agency=ESPN.com news services|date=March 15, 2009|access-date=June 16, 2017|archive-date=March 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310010726/http://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3979385|url-status=live}}</ref>

The team had a winning season in [[1970–71 Detroit Pistons season|1971]], having spent the 1960s below .500, and then had a brief period of sustained success in the mid-1970s, qualifying for the playoffs in four straight seasons ([[1973–74 Detroit Pistons season|1974]], [[1974–75 Detroit Pistons season|1975]], [[1975–76 Detroit Pistons season|1976]] and [[1976–77 Detroit Pistons season|1977]]).<ref>{{cite web|title=1974 NBA Playoffs Summary|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1974.html|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=May 17, 2018|archive-date=July 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723055944/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1974.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1975 NBA Playoffs Summary|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1975.html|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=May 17, 2018|archive-date=July 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712150740/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1975.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1976 NBA Playoffs Summary|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1976.html|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=May 17, 2018|archive-date=July 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711140304/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1976.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1977 NBA Playoffs Summary|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1977.html|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=May 17, 2018|archive-date=July 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711100930/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1977.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Hope was then placed in [[Dick Vitale]] in [[1978–79 Detroit Pistons season|1978]], the former head coach at the [[Detroit Mercy Titans men's basketball|University of Detroit]], but he was fired the following season, and the team limped into the 1980s with a 16–66 record in [[1979–80 NBA season|1979–80]].<ref name=1980s>{{cite web|title=Detroit Pistons: 1980's|url=https://www.nba.com/pistons/history/1980s.html/|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818053734/https://www.nba.com/pistons/history/1980s.html/|archivedate=August 18, 2020|access-date=June 11, 2017}}</ref> The 1979–80 team lost its last 14 games of the season which, when coupled with the seven losses at the start of the [[1980–81 Detroit Pistons season|1980–81 season]], constituted a then-NBA record [[List of National Basketball Association longest losing streaks|losing streak of 21 games]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1979-80 Detroit Pistons Schedule and Results|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/1980_games.html|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=May 18, 2018|archive-date=May 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519032536/https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/1980_games.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Over time, Davidson became displeased with Cobo Arena, but opted not to follow the Red Wings to the under-construction [[Joe Louis Arena]] next door. Instead, in 1978, he moved the team to the suburb of [[Pontiac, Michigan|Pontiac]], where they played in the 82,000 capacity [[Pontiac Silverdome|Silverdome]], a structure built for professional [[American football|football]] (and the home of the [[Detroit Lions]] at the time).<ref name=Arenas/><ref>{{cite news|first=Paul|last=Attner|title=22,000-Seat Silverdome To Become Pistons' Home|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1978/03/18/22000-seat-silverdome-to-become-pistons-home/15448c5a-4be3-4cb4-ab1c-a2305b0662df/?noredirect=on|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 18, 1978|access-date=February 24, 2019|archive-date=August 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818175355/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1978/03/18/22000-seat-silverdome-to-become-pistons-home/15448c5a-4be3-4cb4-ab1c-a2305b0662df/?noredirect=on|url-status=live}}</ref>