The 1958-59 season marked a challenging period for the Detroit Pistons in the NBA. The team, led by head coach Red Rocha, ended the regular season with a 28-44 record. This performance placed them third in the Western Division, reflecting a struggle to find consistent success on the court.
Despite their less-than-stellar record, the Pistons managed to secure a playoff berth. However, their postseason journey was short-lived as they faced a 2-1 series defeat against the Minneapolis Lakers in the opening round of the playoffs. Key players for the Pistons during this season included George Yardley and Gene Shue, who provided notable contributions but were unable to propel Detroit past their playoff hurdles. The 1958-59 season underscored the Pistons’ need to strengthen their roster and performance for future campaigns.
- Regular Season Record: 28-44
- Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 1-2
Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats for 1958-59 Season
POINTS
George Yardley
20.9
REBOUNDS
Walter Dukes
7.1
ASSISTS
Dick McGuire
1.9
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| George Yardley | 46 | 20.9 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Gene Shue | 72 | 17.6 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 27.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Phil Jordon | 72 | 14.3 | 3.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 15.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Walter Dukes | 72 | 13.0 | 7.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 14.3 | 5.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ed Conlin | 15 | 11.7 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dick McGuire | 71 | 9.3 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 15.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Earl Lloyd | 72 | 8.4 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 8.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Joe Holup | 68 | 8.4 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chuck Noble | 65 | 7.1 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dick Farley | 70 | 7.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 3.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Shellie McMillon | 48 | 6.4 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 6.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Barney Cable | 32 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Detroit Pistons in the 1959 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Minneapolis Lakers
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 14, 1959 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | L 92-89 | |
| Mar 15, 1959 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | W 117-103 | |
| Mar 18, 1959 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | L 129-102 |
Detroit Pistons 1958-59 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1958-59 season for the Detroit Pistons.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 19, 1958 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 103-94 | |
| Oct 23, 1958 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 104-103 | |
| Oct 25, 1958 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 117-112 | |
| Oct 26, 1958 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | L 108-100 | |
| Oct 31, 1958 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 120-113 | |
| Nov 01, 1958 | @ Boston Celtics | L 112-98 | |
| Nov 02, 1958 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 107-91 | |
| Nov 07, 1958 | vs. New York Knicks | L 115-101 | |
| Nov 09, 1958 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 136-133 | |
| Nov 13, 1958 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | W 119-110 | |
| Nov 14, 1958 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 111-109 | |
| Nov 15, 1958 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 102-91 | |
| Nov 18, 1958 | @ Boston Celtics | L 115-102 | |
| Nov 22, 1958 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 103-86 | |
| Nov 23, 1958 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | W 124-109 | |
| Nov 25, 1958 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | L 98-90 | |
| Nov 26, 1958 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 112-95 | |
| Nov 28, 1958 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 101-93 | |
| Nov 29, 1958 | @ Boston Celtics | L 110-96 | |
| Dec 02, 1958 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 95-91 | |
| Dec 05, 1958 | vs. New York Knicks | L 110-108 | |
| Dec 06, 1958 | @ New York Knicks | W 99-92 | |
| Dec 10, 1958 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 89-82 | |
| Dec 11, 1958 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 107-101 | |
| Dec 12, 1958 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 97-95 | |
| Dec 14, 1958 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 101-95 | |
| Dec 17, 1958 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 102-95 | |
| Dec 18, 1958 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | L 113-104 | |
| Dec 20, 1958 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 111-104 | |
| Dec 25, 1958 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | W 98-97 | |
| Dec 26, 1958 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 131-91 | |
| Dec 30, 1958 | @ New York Knicks | L 93-90 | |
| Jan 02, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 111-104 | |
| Jan 03, 1959 | vs. New York Knicks | L 106-102 | |
| Jan 04, 1959 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 118-94 | |
| Jan 06, 1959 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 107-105 | |
| Jan 09, 1959 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 103-90 | |
| Jan 10, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 101-69 | |
| Jan 11, 1959 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 111-100 | |
| Jan 13, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 112-92 | |
| Jan 14, 1959 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 114-108 | |
| Jan 17, 1959 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 106-104 | |
| Jan 18, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 107-88 | |
| Jan 21, 1959 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 112-105 | |
| Jan 24, 1959 | @ New York Knicks | L 122-118 | |
| Jan 25, 1959 | @ Boston Celtics | L 119-118 | |
| Jan 26, 1959 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 102-98 | |
| Jan 27, 1959 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 121-107 | |
| Jan 30, 1959 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | L 88-86 | |
| Jan 31, 1959 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 103-88 | |
| Feb 01, 1959 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 130-96 | |
| Feb 04, 1959 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 119-117 | |
| Feb 06, 1959 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 122-103 | |
| Feb 08, 1959 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | L 115-103 | |
| Feb 09, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 122-97 | |
| Feb 11, 1959 | @ Syracuse Nationals | W 118-114 | |
| Feb 13, 1959 | vs. New York Knicks | W 96-90 | |
| Feb 15, 1959 | @ Boston Celtics | L 120-94 | |
| Feb 17, 1959 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | L 97-90 | |
| Feb 18, 1959 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | L 105-95 | |
| Feb 20, 1959 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 111-106 | |
| Feb 21, 1959 | vs. New York Knicks | W 114-101 | |
| Feb 22, 1959 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 139-108 | |
| Feb 25, 1959 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 104-100 | |
| Feb 26, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 106-101 | |
| Mar 01, 1959 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 117-101 | |
| Mar 03, 1959 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 116-107 | |
| Mar 04, 1959 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 127-97 | |
| Mar 06, 1959 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | L 99-98 | |
| Mar 07, 1959 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 137-128 | |
| Mar 08, 1959 | @ New York Knicks | L 127-120 | |
| Mar 11, 1959 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | W 123-118 |