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.^[1] The team played at the Pontiac Silverdome.

1980–81 Detroit Pistons season
Head coach	Scotty Robertson
General manager	Jack McCloskey
Owners	William Davidson
Arena	Pontiac Silverdome
Results
Record	21–61 (.256)
Place	Division: 6th (Central) Conference: 11th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
< 1979–80 1981–82 >

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).^[2][1]

Draft picks

Main article: 1980 NBA draft

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

Roster

1980–81 Detroit Pistons roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From C 54 Kent Benson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Indiana G 22 Larry Drew 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Missouri G 33 Keith Herron 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Villanova SF 35 Phil Hubbard 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Michigan F 32 Greg Kelser 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Michigan State G 30 Ron Lee 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 193 lb (88 kg) Oregon SG 25 John Long 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Detroit Mercy C 44 Paul Mokeski 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Kansas PF 42 Wayne Robinson 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 217 lb (98 kg) Virginia Tech G/F 41 Terry Tyler 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Detroit Mercy PG 15 Larry Wright 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Grambling State

Head coach Scotty Robertson Assistant(s) Don Chaney Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division v t e	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 Conference v t e
	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	NYN	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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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

See also

• 1980–81 NBA season