The 1981–82 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 34th season in the NBA and 25th season in the city of Detroit.[1] The team played in the Detroit suburbs at the Pontiac Silverdome.
The Pistons had the second pick in the 1981 NBA draft and chose Isiah Thomas from Indiana, adding a future Hall of Fame player for the centerpiece of the rebuilding franchise. The team finished greatly improved, 39-43 (.476), 3rd in the Central Division, an 18-game improvement from the previous season. The team was led by a pair of rookies, guard Thomas (17.0 ppg, 7.8 apg, NBA All-Star, NBA All Rookie Team) and forward Kelly Tripucka (21.6 ppg, NBA All-Star, NBA All Rookie Team), along with guard John Long (21.9 ppg) The team also picked up center Bill Laimbeer (12.8 ppg, 11.3 rpg) in a trade with Cleveland and guard Vinnie Johnson from Seattle (7.7 ppg), two key components of future championship Piston teams.[2][3]
1981–82 Detroit Pistons roster
Players
|
Coaches
|
Pos.
|
No.
|
Name
|
Height
|
Weight
|
DOB
|
From
|
C
|
54
|
Benson, Kent
|
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
|
235 lb (107 kg)
|
|
Indiana
|
F
|
32
|
Carr, Kenny
|
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
|
220 lb (100 kg)
|
|
NC State
|
SG
|
24
|
Hardy, Alan
|
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
|
195 lb (88 kg)
|
|
Michigan
|
C
|
52
|
Hayes, Steve
|
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
|
205 lb (93 kg)
|
|
Idaho State
|
SG
|
10
|
Johnson, Vinnie
|
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
|
200 lb (91 kg)
|
|
Baylor
|
F
|
42
|
Jones, Edgar
|
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
|
225 lb (102 kg)
|
|
Nevada
|
F
|
22
|
Judkins, Jeff
|
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
|
185 lb (84 kg)
|
|
Utah
|
C
|
40
|
Laimbeer, Bill
|
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
|
245 lb (111 kg)
|
|
Notre Dame
|
G
|
30
|
Lee, Ron
|
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
|
193 lb (88 kg)
|
|
Oregon
|
SG
|
25
|
Long, John
|
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
|
195 lb (88 kg)
|
|
Detroit Mercy
|
PG
|
11
|
Thomas, Isiah
|
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
|
180 lb (82 kg)
|
|
Indiana
|
F
|
7
|
Tripucka, Kelly
|
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
|
220 lb (100 kg)
|
|
Notre Dame
|
G/F
|
41
|
Tyler, Terry
|
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
|
215 lb (98 kg)
|
|
Detroit Mercy
|
|
- Head coach
- Assistant coach(es)
- Legend
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (S) Suspended
- Injured
|
- z - clinched division title
- y - clinched division title
- x - clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
edit
1981-82 NBA Records
|
Team
|
ATL
|
BOS
|
CHI
|
CLE
|
DAL
|
DEN
|
DET
|
GSW
|
HOU
|
IND
|
KCK
|
LAL
|
MIL
|
NJN
|
NYK
|
PHI
|
PHO
|
POR
|
SAS
|
SDC
|
SEA
|
UTA
|
WAS
|
Atlanta
|
— |
1–5 |
2–3 |
4–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–4 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
4–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
3–3 |
3–2 |
5–1 |
3–3 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–4
|
Boston
|
5–1 |
— |
4–2 |
5–0 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
6–0 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
4–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
3–3 |
5–1 |
5–1 |
4–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
6–0
|
Chicago
|
3–2 |
2–4 |
— |
5–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
0–6 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
3–3 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–5 |
2–4 |
3–2 |
1–5 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–4
|
Cleveland
|
2–4 |
0–5 |
1–5 |
— |
2–0 |
0–2 |
1–5 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–5 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
0–6 |
0–6 |
0–6 |
0–5 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
1–5
|
Dallas
|
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
— |
1–5 |
1–1 |
0–5 |
2–4 |
1–1 |
4–2 |
1–4 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
2–3 |
2–3 |
1–5 |
2–3 |
1–4 |
3–3 |
1–1
|
Denver
|
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
5–1 |
— |
1–1 |
3–2 |
5–1 |
0–2 |
4–2 |
1–4 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–3 |
2–3 |
2–4 |
5–0 |
2–3 |
3–3 |
2–0
|
Detroit
|
4–2 |
0–6 |
6–0 |
5–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
— |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–4 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
2–4 |
2–4 |
3–3 |
2–3 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–4
|
Golden State
|
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
5–0 |
2–3 |
0–2 |
— |
1–4 |
2–0 |
3–2 |
3–3 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
4–2 |
2–4 |
3–2 |
5–1 |
1–5 |
3–2 |
1–1
|
Houston
|
0–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
4–2 |
1–5 |
0–2 |
4–1 |
— |
2–0 |
3–3 |
1–4 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
3–2 |
4–1 |
3–3 |
4–1 |
2–3 |
6–0 |
2–0
|
Indiana
|
2–4 |
1–5 |
3–3 |
5–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
4–2 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
— |
1–1 |
0–2 |
0–6 |
4–2 |
3–2 |
0–6 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–5
|
Kansas City
|
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–4 |
2–4 |
0–2 |
2–3 |
3–3 |
1–1 |
— |
1–4 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
2–3 |
0–5 |
1–5 |
4–1 |
2–3 |
3–3 |
0–2
|
Los Angeles
|
2–0 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
4–1 |
4–1 |
2–0 |
3–3 |
4–1 |
2–0 |
4–1 |
— |
0–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
4–2 |
5–1 |
2–3 |
5–1 |
4–2 |
5–0 |
2–0
|
Milwaukee
|
3–3 |
3–3 |
5–1 |
6–0 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
4–2 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
6–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
— |
4–1 |
3–3 |
4–2 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
3–2
|
New Jersey
|
2–3 |
1–5 |
4–2 |
6–0 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
4–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–4 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–4 |
— |
4–2 |
3–3 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
4–2
|
New York
|
1–5 |
1–5 |
2–3 |
6–0 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
3–3 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–3 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
3–3 |
2–4 |
— |
1–5 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
1–5
|
Philadelphia
|
3–3 |
2–4 |
5–1 |
5–0 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
3–2 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
6–0 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–4 |
3–3 |
5–1 |
— |
1–1 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
6–0
|
Phoenix
|
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
3–2 |
3–2 |
2–0 |
2–4 |
2–3 |
1–1 |
3–2 |
2–4 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
— |
3–3 |
4–1 |
4–2 |
3–3 |
3–2 |
1–1
|
Portland
|
0–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
3–2 |
3–2 |
2–0 |
4–2 |
1–4 |
1–1 |
5–0 |
1–5 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
3–3 |
— |
3–2 |
4–2 |
3–3 |
4–1 |
0–2
|
San Antonio
|
1–1 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
5–1 |
4–2 |
2–0 |
2–3 |
3–3 |
0–2 |
5–1 |
3–2 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
1–4 |
2–3 |
— |
3–2 |
4–1 |
3–3 |
1–1
|
San Diego
|
1–1 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
3–2 |
0–5 |
0–2 |
1–5 |
1–4 |
0–2 |
1–4 |
1–5 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
2–4 |
2–4 |
2–3 |
— |
1–5 |
1–4 |
0–2
|
Seattle
|
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
4–1 |
3–2 |
1–1 |
5–1 |
3–2 |
1–1 |
3–2 |
2–4 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
3–3 |
3–3 |
1–4 |
5–1 |
— |
5–0 |
1–1
|
Utah
|
0–2 |
0–2 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
3–3 |
3–3 |
1–1 |
2–3 |
0–6 |
1–1 |
3–3 |
0–5 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
0–2 |
2–3 |
1–4 |
3–3 |
4–1 |
0–5 |
— |
1–1
|
Washington
|
4–2 |
0–6 |
4–2 |
5–1 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
4–1 |
1–1 |
0–2 |
5–1 |
2–0 |
0–2 |
2–3 |
2–4 |
5–1 |
0–6 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
2–0 |
1–1 |
1–1 |
—
|
1981–82 game log Total: 39–43 (Home: 23–18; Road: 16–25)
|
October: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0)
|
November: 6–7 (home: 4–3; road: 2–4)
|
December: 5–10 (home: 2–3; road: 3–7)
|
January: 5–9 (home: 2–4; road: 3–5)
|
February: 7–6 (home: 5–3; road: 2–3)
|
March: 9–7 (home: 5–2; road: 4–5)
|
April: 5–4 (home: 4–3; road: 1–1)
|
1981–82 schedule
|
Player
|
GP
|
GS
|
MPG
|
FG%
|
3P%
|
FT%
|
RPG
|
APG
|
SPG
|
BPG
|
PPG
|
Kent Benson
|
75
|
72
|
32.9
|
.505
|
.273
|
.804
|
8.7
|
2.1
|
.88
|
1.30
|
12.5
|
Kenny Carr
|
28
|
6
|
15.9
|
.458
|
.000
|
.646
|
4.9
|
.8
|
.21
|
.21
|
7.4
|
Glenn Hagan
|
4
|
0
|
6.3
|
.429
|
.000
|
1.000
|
1.0
|
2.0
|
.33
|
.00
|
1.8
|
Alan Hardy
|
38
|
0
|
8.2
|
.456
|
.000
|
.621
|
0.9
|
.5
|
.24
|
.11
|
3.7
|
Steve Hayes
|
26
|
0
|
15.8
|
.495
|
.000
|
.610
|
3.8
|
.9
|
.12
|
.69
|
4.5
|
Phil Hubbard
|
52
|
38
|
21.2
|
.505
|
.000
|
.650
|
5.2
|
1.3
|
.73
|
.31
|
10.0
|
Vinnie Johnson
|
67
|
15
|
17.8
|
.493
|
.273
|
.754
|
2.1
|
2.4
|
.75
|
.34
|
7.7
|
Edgar Jones
|
48
|
19
|
16.7
|
.548
|
.500
|
.698
|
4.3
|
.8
|
.58
|
1.92
|
7.8
|
Jeff Judkins
|
30
|
0
|
8.4
|
.383
|
.100
|
.615
|
1.1
|
.5
|
.20
|
.67
|
2.6
|
Greg Kesler
|
11
|
0
|
16.6
|
.407
|
.000
|
.659
|
3.5
|
1.1
|
.45
|
.64
|
8.8
|
Bill Laimbeer
|
30
|
30
|
31.2
|
.516
|
.143
|
.813
|
11.3
|
1.8
|
.57
|
1.13
|
12.8
|
Ron Lee
|
81
|
7
|
18.1
|
.358
|
.305
|
.706
|
1.9
|
3.9
|
1.43
|
.25
|
3.4
|
John Long
|
69
|
66
|
32.0
|
.492
|
.133
|
.865
|
3.7
|
2.1
|
.94
|
.36
|
21.9
|
Paul Mokeski
|
39
|
3
|
13.4
|
.441
|
.000
|
.758
|
3.1
|
.6
|
.33
|
.59
|
3.2
|
Isiah Thomas
|
72
|
72
|
33.8
|
.424
|
.288
|
.704
|
2.9
|
7.8
|
2.08
|
.24
|
17.0
|
Kelly Tripucka
|
82
|
82
|
37.5
|
.496
|
.227
|
.797
|
5.4
|
3.3
|
1.09
|
.25
|
21.6
|
Terry Tyler
|
82
|
0
|
24.3
|
.523
|
.250
|
.740
|
6.0
|
5.4
|
.94
|
1.95
|
9.9
|
Larry Wright
|
1
|
0
|
6.0
|
.000
|
.000
|
.000
|
.0
|
.0
|
.0
|
.0
|
.0
|