1997–98 Detroit Pistons season explained

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Pistons' 50th season in the National Basketball Association, and 41st season in the city of Detroit.^[1] During the off-season, the Pistons signed free agents Brian Williams,^{[2] [3] [4]} and Malik Sealy.^{[5] [6] [7]} After winning their first two games, the Pistons lost five straight and struggled with a 6–11 start, as Joe Dumars missed ten games due to a shoulder injury during the first month of the season.^{[8] [9] [10] [11]} In late December, the team traded Theo Ratliff and Aaron McKie to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Jerry Stackhouse and Eric Montross.^{[12] [13] [14] [15]} At midseason, head coach Doug Collins was fired after a 21–24 start, and was replaced with assistant Alvin Gentry;^{[16] [17] [18]} Collins would later on get a job as color analyst for the NBA on NBC.^{[19] [20] [21]} The Pistons held a 22–25 record at the All-Star break,^[22] then later on posted a 7-game losing streak between March and April, missing the playoffs finishing sixth in the Central Division with a disappointing 37–45 record.^[23]

Grant Hill had another stellar season, averaging 21.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game,^{[24] [25] [26] [27] [28]} and also finished in ninth place in Most Valuable Player voting,^[29] while Williams averaged 16.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. In addition, Stackhouse mostly played off the bench as the team's sixth man, averaging 15.7 points per game in 57 games after the trade, while Dumars provided the team with 13.1 points per game, and led them with 158 three-point field goals, and Lindsey Hunter contributed 12.1 points and 1.7 steals per game. Sealy contributed 7.7 points per game off the bench, and starting power forward Don Reid provided with 3.5 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.^[30]

Following the season, Sealy signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves,^{[31] [32] [33]} while Grant Long re-signed with his former team, the Atlanta Hawks,^{[34] [35]} and Rick Mahorn re-signed with his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers.^{[36] [37]}

Draft picks

See main article: 1997 NBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	19		C/PF		Kansas
2	31		SG/SF		UCLA

Roster

Roster Notes

• Point guard Rumeal Robinson was signed by the Pistons during the off-season, but did not play for them and was waived on November 20, 1997.^{[38] [39]}

Regular season

Season standings

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1997-98 NBA Records
width=100	Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	TOR	UTA	VAN	WAS
	—	2–1	4–0	1–3	4–0	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	1–3	3–1	0–2	1–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	4–0
	1–2	—	1–2	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–2	1–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–0	0–2	2–0	3–2
	0–4	2–1	—	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–2
	3–1	3–1	3–1	—	2–2	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	2–1	4–0	1–1	4–0	4–0	3–1	2–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	3–1
	0–4	3–1	2–2	2–2	—	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–2	2–0	3–1	1–2	2–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	2–0	1–2
	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	—	3–1	0–2	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–3	0–4	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–4	0–4	0–4	2–2	1–1	0–4	4–0	1–1
	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	—	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	2–2	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	2–2	1–3	0–4	0–4	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–1
Detroit	2–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	2–0	2–0	—	2–0	1–1	1–3	2–0	0–2	1–2	2–2	0–2	2–2	2–2	1–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–0	0–2	0–2	2–2
	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	3–1	3–1	0–2	—	1–3	0–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	0–2	0–4	1–3	0–2
	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	4–0	4–0	1–1	3–1	—	1–1	4–0	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–3	4–0	2–2	1–3	2–0	0–4	3–1	1–1
	3–1	4–0	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	—	2–0	0–2	3–1	4–0	2–0	2–1	2–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	4–0	1–1	2–0	4–0
	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–1	2–2	0–2	3–1	0–4	0–2	—	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–4	3–1	1–3	0–4	1–1	1–3	1–3	0–2
L.A. Lakers	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0	4–0	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	4–0	—	1–1	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–2	4–0	4–0	1–3	2–0	3–1	4–0	1–1
	3–1	4–0	1–3	1–2	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–1	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	—	3–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	4–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	0–2	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–2
	1–3	2–2	1–3	0–4	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–0	0–2	1–3	—	1–1	0–4	3–1	2–1	2–2	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–2
	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–2	3–1	2–0	4–0	3–1	0–2	4–0	0–4	1–1	1–1	—	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–1	1–3	3–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–3	4–0	0–2
	2–1	2–2	2–2	0–4	1–3	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	4–0	0–2	—	2–2	3–1	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–1	0–2	2–0	1–3
	2–2	2–2	3–1	0–4	2–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	1–1	1–2	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–1	2–2	—	4–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–2	2–0	1–3
	2–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–0	2–1	1–1	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–2	2–0	1–3	0–4	—	4–0	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–2	2–0	3–1
	1–3	1–3	1–2	1–2	1–3	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	0–4	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–2	0–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	—	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	0–2	2–0	3–1
	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–0	4–0	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	2–0	1–3	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	—	2–2	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	1–3	4–0	1–1
	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	3–1	3–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	0–2	0–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–2	—	3–1	2–2	0–4	2–0	3–1	2–2	1–1
	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–2	0–4	0–2	1–3	0–4	0–2	0–2	1–3	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–3	—	0–4	1–3	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1
	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	4–0	4–0	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	3–1	0–4	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–2	4–0	—	2–2	2–0	1–3	4–0	1–1
	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	4–0	2–0	3–1	3–1	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	4–0	3–1	2–2	—	2–0	2–2	4–0	1–1
	0–4	0–3	0–4	0–4	1–3	1–1	2–0	0–4	2–0	0–2	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–1	1–3	1–3	1–3	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	—	0–2	1–1	0–3
	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	4–0	4–0	2–0	4–0	4–0	1–1	3–1	1–3	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	2–2	2–0	—	4–0	0–2
	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	3–1	2–0	3–1	1–3	0–2	3–1	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–4	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	2–2	2–2	0–4	0–4	1–1	0–4	—	1–1
Washington	0–4	2–3	2–2	1–3	2–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	0–4	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–1	2–0	3–1	3–1	1–3	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–0	2–0	1–1	—

Game log

Player statistics

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
	72	72	32.3	.416	.371	.825	1.4	3.5	0.6	0.0	13.1
	23	0	2.8	.500	.375	1.000	0.1	0.2	0.0	0.0	1.6
	81	81	40.7	.452	.143	.740	7.7	6.8	1.8	0.7	21.1
	71	67	35.3	.383	.321	.740	3.5	3.2	1.7	0.1	12.1
	40	17	18.5	.427	.000	.719	3.8	0.6	0.7	0.3	3.5
	59	0	12.0	.457	—	.676	3.3	0.3	0.2	0.1	2.4
	24	1	19.7	.413	.176	.870	2.8	1.6	1.0	0.0	4.5
	28	10	12.6	.456	—	.429	3.8	0.1	0.2	0.5	2.5
	30	0	7.8	.377	.000	.800	1.1	0.6	0.3	0.0	2.1
	33	0	9.6	.500	—	.826	2.2	0.3	0.2	0.3	2.7
	24	12	24.4	.514	—	.683	5.0	0.6	0.5	2.3	6.5
	68	44	14.6	.534	—	.704	2.6	0.4	0.4	0.8	3.5
	77	10	21.3	.428	.220	.824	2.8	1.3	0.8	0.3	7.7
	57	15	31.5	.428	.208	.782	3.3	3.1	1.0	0.7	15.7
	78	78	33.6	.511	.333	.707	8.9	1.2	0.9	0.7	16.2
	77	3	16.9	.524	.000	.651	4.9	0.6	0.7	0.1	5.3

Player Statistics Citation:

Awards and records

• Grant Hill, All-NBA Second Team

Transactions

• August 7, 1997: Acquired the 2003 1st Round Draft Pick (Darko Miličić) from the Vancouver Grizzlies for Otis Thorpe
• August 16, 1997: Signed Brian Williams
• October 9, 1997: Waived Randolph Childress
• October 25, 1997: Signed Malik Sealy
• December 18, 1997: Acquired Jerry Stackhouse, Eric Montross and a 2005 2nd Round Draft Pick (Alex Acker) from the Philadelphia 76ers for Aaron McKie, Theo Ratliff and a 2003 1st Round Draft Pick (Carlos Delfino)
• January 17, 1998: Signed Steve Henson to the first of two 10-day contracts
• February 9, 1998: Signed Steve Henson for the remainder of the season

Player Transactions Citation:^[40]

See also

• 1997-98 NBA season

Notes and References

1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/1998.html 1997-98 Detroit Pistons
2. News: Associated Press . Williams Signs with Pistons . The New York Times . August 17, 1997 . September 23, 2022.
3. News: Staff and Wire Reports . Ex-Clipper Williams Signs with Pistons . Los Angeles Times . August 17, 1997 . December 5, 2022.
4. News: Thompson . Jack . Brian Williams Signs with Pistons . Chicago Tribune . August 17, 1997 . July 26, 2021.
5. News: Associated Press . Pistons Sign Sealy . The New York Times . August 26, 1997 . January 15, 2022.
6. News: Staff and Wire Reports . Robinson Takes Pay Cut to Sign with Suns . Los Angeles Times . August 26, 1997 . October 3, 2022.
7. News: Thompson . Jack . Suns Sign Clifford Robinson . Chicago Tribune . August 26, 1997 . January 28, 2023.
8. News: Associated Press . NBA -- Nuggets Rocked by Bad News: Eric Williams Out for Season . The Seattle Times . November 10, 1997 . October 3, 2022.
9. News: Associated Press . N.B.A: YESTERDAY; Magic Takes Charge Early and Cruises Past the 76ers . The New York Times . November 23, 1997 . July 17, 2017.
10. News: Associated Press . Dumars and Hill Power Pistons Past Hawks . Los Angeles Times . November 23, 1997 . December 15, 2022.
11. News: Tribune News Services . Hurting Hawks Fall Again as Williams Lifts Pistons . Chicago Tribune . November 23, 1997 . February 2, 2023.
12. News: Philadelphia 76ers Trade Guard Jerry Stackhouse and Center Eric Montross to the Detroit Pistons . Associated Press . December 18, 1997 . June 20, 2023.
13. News: Associated Press . PRO BASKETBALL; 76ers Send Stackhouse and Montross to Pistons . The New York Times . December 19, 1997 . June 20, 2021.
14. News: Associated Press . 76ers Give Up on Backcourt, Deal Stackhouse to Pistons . Los Angeles Times . December 19, 1997 . July 11, 2022.
15. News: Stackhouse to Pistons . The Washington Post . December 19, 1997 . December 5, 2022.
16. News: Associated Press . PRO BASKETBALL; Pistons Replace Collins with an Assistant Coach . The New York Times . February 3, 1998 . May 16, 2022.
17. News: Bucher . Ric . Pistons Fire Collins as Coach . The Washington Post . February 3, 1998 . December 27, 2022.
18. News: Smith . Sam . Collins Out in Detroit . Chicago Tribune . February 3, 1998 . October 7, 2022.
19. News: Sandomir . Richard . PLUS: TV SPORTS; NBC Hires Collins as N.B.A. Analyst . The New York Times . March 18, 1998 . November 18, 2022.
20. News: Hirsley . Michael . Collins to Join Costas, Thomas on NBC Team . Chicago Tribune . March 18, 1998 . July 4, 2021.
21. News: Kent . Milton . NBC Adds Collins and Bolsters Its Playoff Roster . Los Angeles Times . March 20, 1998 . December 12, 2022.
22. News: NBA Games Played on February 5, 1998 . Basketball-Reference . July 19, 2022.
23. Web site: 1997–98 Detroit Pistons Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. June 22, 2021.
24. News: Armour . Terry . Jordan Top All-Star Vote-Getter; Bryant, 19, Youngest Ever Picked . Chicago Tribune . January 26, 1998 . December 27, 2022.
25. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Lakers Get Four-Star Rating as Van Exel, Jones Honored . Los Angeles Times . January 28, 1998 . April 20, 2023.
26. News: NBA.com Staff . 1998 NBA All-Star Recap . NBA.com . September 13, 2021 . May 16, 2023.
27. Web site: 1997-98 All-Star Events and Contestants - in New York . Eskimo North . December 27, 2022.
28. Web site: 1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114 . Basketball-Reference . November 27, 2021.
29. News: 1997–98 NBA Awards Voting . Basketball-Reference . January 2, 2022.
30. Web site: 1997–98 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. June 22, 2021.
31. News: Associated Press . N.B.A.: ROUNDUP -- ATLANTA; Laettner Is Signed, Then Sent to Detroit . The New York Times . January 23, 1999 . November 9, 2022.
32. News: NBA Transactions . The Washington Post . January 23, 1999 . January 30, 2023.
33. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title . The New York Times . February 4, 1999 . June 28, 2022.
34. News: Broussard . Chris . N.B.A.: NOTEBOOK -- NETS; Gatling Finds a Way to Add to Points Total . The New York Times . February 2, 1999 . September 18, 2022.
35. News: Johnson . L.C. . Headliners . Orlando Sentinel . February 20, 1999 . January 29, 2023.
36. News: CBS News.com Staff . Sixers Sign Rick Mahorn . CBS News . February 24, 1999 . October 14, 2021.
37. News: Transactions . The New York Times . February 25, 1999 . April 2, 2023.
38. News: Barkley, NBA Officials to Talk . Tampa Bay Times . October 31, 1997 . December 25, 2023.
39. News: Transactions . The New York Times . November 21, 1997 . December 25, 2023.
40. Web site: 1997–98 Detroit Pistons Transactions. Basketball-Reference. December 30, 2021.