The Detroit Pistons are an American professional basketball team located in Detroit, Michigan. The franchise initially started as the Fort Wayne (Zollner) Pistons and played for the NBL, before moving to the NBA. The team moved to Detroit in 1957 to capitalize on the bigger financial market in the city.
The Pistons ascended up the NBA ranks after moving to Detroit and in the 1980s, became one of the most known and top teams in the NBA. This coincided with the franchise drafting star point guard Isiah Thomas. The Pistons front office then built the team around Thomas, pairing him with players such as Bill Laimbeer, John Sally, Joe Dumars and Dennis Rodman.
The team fell short multiple times at first, losing to the Boston Celtics in a very hard-fought playoff series before finally breaking through and winning their first championship in 1989. The Pistons were known as the ‘Bad Boy Pistons’ for their rough and tough playing style and tendency to get under their opponent's skin.
The team repeated its championship formula in 1990 and won back-to-back championships. In the early 2000s, the Pistons went through a rebuild and built a team around well-constructed role players Rip Hamilton, Chauncey Billups and Ben Wallace.
Detroit Pistons Championships
The Detroit Pistons have won five championships so far — two in the NBL (1944 and 1945), and three in the NBA (1989, 1990 and 2004).
Who did the Pistons beat for their championships?
In 1988, the Pistons made the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in a grueling seven-game series. This fueled a fire for the Pistons and in the 1989 season, fate would have it such that the Pistons and Lakers met in the Finals again. This time around, it was a no contest as the Pistons swept the Lakers to win their first championship in franchise history.
In the 1989 season, the Pistons successfully defended their championship by beating the Portland Trail Blazers in the Finals in six games. Isaiah Thomas won the Finals MVP and cemented himself as one of the greatest point guards in NBA history.
In 2004, the Pistons had successfully rebuilt their team after the late 1980s glory days and had a team that was ready to compete and win the championship at the highest level. In the 2004 Finals, the Pistons beat the Los Angeles Lakers headlined by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal in five games to take home the 2004 NBA championship.
FAQ's on Detroit Pistons championships
A. The Detroit Pistons have won three championships in franchise history.
A. Isaiah Thomas was the point guard for the Pistons.
A. The Pistons won their championships in 1989, 1990 and 2004.
A. Yes, Cade Cunningham currently plays for the Pistons.
A. Isaiah Thomas has two championships.
