The 1957-58 Detroit Pistons season marked their debut in the Motor City after relocating from Fort Wayne. The team, led by head coach Charles Eckman, finished the regular season with a record of 33-39, securing third place in the Western Division.
Key players included George Yardley, who had a standout season, becoming the first player in NBA history to score over 2,000 points in a single season, averaging 27.8 points per game. Despite Yardley’s efforts, the Pistons struggled with consistency, reflected in their sub-.500 record.
The Pistons advanced to the playoffs but were eliminated in the Western Division Semifinals by the Cincinnati Royals, losing the series 2-0. The season highlighted the need for a stronger supporting cast around Yardley to advance further in the competitive NBA landscape. The move to Detroit set the foundation for the franchise’s future growth and development.
- Regular Season Record: 33-39
- Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 2-0, Division Finals: 1-4
Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats for 1957-58 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| George Yardley | 72 | 27.8 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 23.4 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Gene Shue | 63 | 15.6 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 18.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Harry Gallatin | 72 | 14.9 | 4.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 12.9 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Walter Dukes | 72 | 11.2 | 5.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 15.9 | 11.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Phil Jordon | 46 | 9.0 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6 | 6.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dick McGuire | 69 | 8.1 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 9.6 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Nat Clifton | 68 | 7.8 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chuck Noble | 61 | 7.4 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 2.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Houbregs | 17 | 7.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Billy Kenville | 35 | 7.4 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 6.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Joe Holup | 37 | 5.6 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 6.0 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Thieben | 27 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dick Atha | 17 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tom Marshall | 9 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Ebben | 9 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Doug Bolstorff | 4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 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 1958 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Cincinnati Royals
In the 1958 NBA Playoffs, the Detroit Pistons advanced to the second round, where they faced the Cincinnati Royals. The Pistons emerged victorious in the series, clinching a spot in the Western Division Finals. Despite their efforts, they were unable to overcome the St. Louis Hawks, who eventually went on to win the NBA Championship.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 15, 1958 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 100-83 | |
| Mar 16, 1958 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 124-104 |
1958 Conference Championship vs. St. Louis Hawks
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 19, 1958 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 114-111 | |
| Mar 22, 1958 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 99-96 | |
| Mar 23, 1958 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 109-89 | |
| Mar 25, 1958 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 145-101 | |
| Mar 27, 1958 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 120-96 |
Detroit Pistons 1957-58 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1957-58 season for the Detroit Pistons.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 1957 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 105-94 | |
| Oct 26, 1957 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 112-100 | |
| Oct 30, 1957 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | W 115-96 | |
| Nov 03, 1957 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 94-88 | |
| Nov 05, 1957 | @ Boston Celtics | L 111-105 | |
| Nov 12, 1957 | vs. New York Knicks | W 109-107 | |
| Nov 15, 1957 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | L 112-104 | |
| Nov 16, 1957 | @ New York Knicks | W 109-105 | |
| Nov 17, 1957 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 95-91 | |
| Nov 19, 1957 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 92-75 | |
| Nov 21, 1957 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 112-90 | |
| Nov 23, 1957 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 115-110 | |
| Nov 26, 1957 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | W 109-91 | |
| Nov 27, 1957 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 121-110 | |
| Nov 29, 1957 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 99-96 | |
| Nov 30, 1957 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 100-96 | |
| Dec 01, 1957 | @ New York Knicks | L 109-102 | |
| Dec 03, 1957 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 124-113 | |
| Dec 05, 1957 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 109-99 | |
| Dec 06, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 118-91 | |
| Dec 07, 1957 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 109-105 | |
| Dec 10, 1957 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 100-97 | |
| Dec 12, 1957 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 101-96 | |
| Dec 15, 1957 | vs. New York Knicks | L 116-109 | |
| Dec 17, 1957 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 106-99 | |
| Dec 21, 1957 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 112-101 | |
| Dec 22, 1957 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 119-93 | |
| Dec 25, 1957 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | L 106-104 | |
| Dec 26, 1957 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 110-106 | |
| Dec 27, 1957 | @ New York Knicks | L 125-120 | |
| Dec 28, 1957 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 117-111 | |
| Dec 31, 1957 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 130-96 | |
| Jan 04, 1958 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 81-78 | |
| Jan 05, 1958 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 95-93 | |
| Jan 07, 1958 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 114-99 | |
| Jan 08, 1958 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 109-107 | |
| Jan 10, 1958 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | L 124-114 | |
| Jan 11, 1958 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | W 129-102 | |
| Jan 12, 1958 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 135-109 | |
| Jan 15, 1958 | @ Boston Celtics | L 131-113 | |
| Jan 16, 1958 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 113-108 | |
| Jan 17, 1958 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 115-94 | |
| Jan 18, 1958 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 105-103 | |
| Jan 19, 1958 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | L 118-111 | |
| Jan 22, 1958 | vs. New York Knicks | L 115-92 | |
| Jan 23, 1958 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | L 128-125 | |
| Jan 25, 1958 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 105-98 | |
| Jan 26, 1958 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 107-103 | |
| Jan 27, 1958 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 115-93 | |
| Jan 30, 1958 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 87-83 | |
| Jan 31, 1958 | vs. New York Knicks | W 119-105 | |
| Feb 01, 1958 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 106-86 | |
| Feb 02, 1958 | @ Boston Celtics | L 119-115 | |
| Feb 04, 1958 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 118-113 | |
| Feb 07, 1958 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 125-107 | |
| Feb 09, 1958 | vs. New York Knicks | L 100-98 | |
| Feb 11, 1958 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 115-98 | |
| Feb 12, 1958 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 122-105 | |
| Feb 14, 1958 | @ Boston Celtics | W 111-109 | |
| Feb 15, 1958 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | L 111-110 | |
| Feb 16, 1958 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 100-98 | |
| Feb 18, 1958 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 120-98 | |
| Feb 19, 1958 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | W 117-115 | |
| Feb 21, 1958 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 109-107 | |
| Feb 22, 1958 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 98-96 | |
| Feb 25, 1958 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 114-113 | |
| Feb 26, 1958 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 106-99 | |
| Feb 27, 1958 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | W 112-109 | |
| Mar 01, 1958 | @ New York Knicks | W 103-101 | |
| Mar 06, 1958 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | W 132-116 | |
| Mar 08, 1958 | @ Boston Celtics | L 108-103 | |
| Mar 09, 1958 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 111-90 |