The 1998-99 Detroit Pistons season was marked by significant changes and challenges. The team, coached by Alvin Gentry, finished the lockout-shortened season with a 29-21 record, securing the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. This season was notable for the acquisition of Christian Laettner and Jerry Stackhouse, who provided a strong scoring punch alongside Grant Hill. Hill led the team in scoring, averaging 21.1 points per game, and continued to be a versatile force with his all-around play.
Despite their strong regular-season performance, the Pistons faced a disappointing first-round playoff exit. They were swept by the Atlanta Hawks in a best-of-five series. This season’s outcome highlighted the need for further roster adjustments to improve playoff competitiveness. Overall, while the team showed promise during the regular season, their postseason struggles underscored the challenges they faced in making a deeper playoff run.
- Regular Season Record: 29-21
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 2-3
Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats for 1998-99 Season
Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
Grant Hill | 50 | 21.1 | 7.1 | 6.0 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 5 | 19.4 | 7.2 | 7.4 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
Jerry Stackhouse | 42 | 14.5 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 27.8 | 5 | 10.0 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 25.0 |
Lindsey Hunter | 49 | 11.9 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 38.6 | 5 | 7.2 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 27.3 |
Joe Dumars | 38 | 11.3 | 1.8 | 3.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 40.3 | 5 | 10.2 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 52.6 |
Bison Dele | 49 | 10.5 | 5.6 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 5 | 10.6 | 6.4 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
Christian Laettner | 16 | 7.6 | 3.4 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 33.3 | 5 | 10.2 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
Jerome Williams | 50 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 5 | 6.2 | 6.4 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Jud Buechler | 50 | 5.5 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 41.2 | 5 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 25.0 |
Don Reid | 47 | 5.1 | 3.6 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Korleone Young | 3 | 4.3 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 25.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Loy Vaught | 37 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Charles O'Bannon | 18 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Khalid Reeves | 11 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 33.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Eric Montross | 46 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 5 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
Mikki Moore | 2 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Mark Macon | 7 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 33.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Corey Beck | 8 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Steve Henson | 4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |

Detroit Pistons in the 1999 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Atlanta Hawks
In the 1999 NBA Playoffs, the Detroit Pistons faced off against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. Despite a strong regular season performance, the Pistons struggled offensively and were ultimately swept by the Hawks in a best-of-five series, losing 3-0. This early exit highlighted Detroit's need for improved scoring depth to complement their defensive prowess.
Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
---|---|---|---|
May 08, 1999 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 90-70 | |
May 10, 1999 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 89-69 | |
May 12, 1999 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 79-63 | |
May 14, 1999 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 103-82 | |
May 16, 1999 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 87-75 |

Detroit Pistons 1998-99 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1998-99 season for the Detroit Pistons.
Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
---|---|---|---|
Feb 05, 1999 | @ Miami Heat | W 95-81 | |
Feb 07, 1999 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 107-98 | |
Feb 08, 1999 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 106-103 | |
Feb 09, 1999 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 90-86 | |
Feb 11, 1999 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 87-81 | |
Feb 15, 1999 | @ New York Knicks | L 78-69 | |
Feb 16, 1999 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 97-82 | |
Feb 17, 1999 | vs. Miami Heat | L 91-80 | |
Feb 19, 1999 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 101-93 | |
Feb 21, 1999 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 85-64 | |
Feb 23, 1999 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 106-80 | |
Feb 24, 1999 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 89-73 | |
Feb 26, 1999 | vs. Miami Heat | W 95-93 | |
Feb 28, 1999 | vs. New York Knicks | W 89-68 | |
Mar 02, 1999 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 108-78 | |
Mar 04, 1999 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 99-84 | |
Mar 06, 1999 | @ Orlando Magic | L 87-82 | |
Mar 08, 1999 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 75-71 | |
Mar 10, 1999 | @ Washington Wizards | L 97-87 | |
Mar 12, 1999 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 93-83 | |
Mar 14, 1999 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 85-72 | |
Mar 16, 1999 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 86-82 | |
Mar 17, 1999 | vs. Toronto Raptors | L 103-101 | |
Mar 19, 1999 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 94-87 | |
Mar 21, 1999 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 104-101 | |
Mar 22, 1999 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 115-86 | |
Mar 24, 1999 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 84-71 | |
Mar 26, 1999 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 90-85 | |
Mar 28, 1999 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 104-87 | |
Mar 30, 1999 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 93-77 | |
Mar 31, 1999 | @ Boston Celtics | W 87-72 | |
Apr 01, 1999 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 107-75 | |
Apr 03, 1999 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 92-77 | |
Apr 05, 1999 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 88-86 | |
Apr 07, 1999 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 89-82 | |
Apr 09, 1999 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 102-101 | |
Apr 11, 1999 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 88-79 | |
Apr 12, 1999 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 92-86 | |
Apr 14, 1999 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 83-79 | |
Apr 16, 1999 | vs. New York Knicks | W 80-71 | |
Apr 18, 1999 | @ Orlando Magic | L 88-81 | |
Apr 21, 1999 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 88-85 | |
Apr 22, 1999 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 104-96 | |
Apr 25, 1999 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 91-83 | |
Apr 27, 1999 | @ Boston Celtics | W 92-85 | |
Apr 28, 1999 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 101-93 | |
Apr 30, 1999 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 81-76 | |
May 02, 1999 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 100-96 | |
May 03, 1999 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 115-71 | |
May 05, 1999 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 105-100 |