The 1959-60 Detroit Pistons season marked their third year in Detroit after relocating from Fort Wayne. The team, coached by Dick McGuire, ended the regular season with a 30-45 record, placing them fourth in the Western Division. Despite their losing record, they managed to secure a playoff spot.
In the playoffs, the Pistons faced the Minneapolis Lakers in the Western Division Semifinals. The series was a best-of-three, and Detroit emerged victorious in a tightly contested battle, winning 2-1. However, their playoff run was short-lived as they were swept 4-0 by the St. Louis Hawks in the Western Division Finals. The team was led by standout players like Gene Shue and Walter Dukes, who contributed significantly throughout the season. Despite their challenges, the Pistons displayed resilience and potential for future seasons.
- Regular Season Record: 30-45
- Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 0-2
Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats for 1959-60 Season
POINTS
Gene Shue
22.9
REBOUNDS
Walter Dukes
7.7
ASSISTS
Tony Windis
2.1
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Gene Shue | 75 | 22.9 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 24.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bailey Howell | 75 | 17.8 | 5.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 17.0 | 9.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Walter Dukes | 67 | 15.0 | 7.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 24.0 | 9.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chuck Noble | 58 | 11.2 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 7.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ed Conlin | 70 | 11.2 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Archie Dees | 73 | 9.5 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 5.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Shellie McMillon | 75 | 8.9 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 10.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Earl Lloyd | 68 | 8.9 | 3.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 8.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dick McGuire | 68 | 7.1 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 5.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Barney Cable | 7 | 6.9 | 3.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Billy Kenville | 25 | 5.1 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tony Windis | 9 | 4.0 | 3.2 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Gary Alcorn | 58 | 4.0 | 2.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Detroit Pistons in the 1960 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Minneapolis Lakers
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 12, 1960 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | L 113-112 | |
| Mar 13, 1960 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | L 114-99 |
Detroit Pistons 1959-60 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1959-60 season for the Detroit Pistons.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 1959 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | W 106-105 | |
| Oct 24, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 108-103 | |
| Oct 28, 1959 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 117-102 | |
| Oct 31, 1959 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 120-112 | |
| Nov 04, 1959 | vs. New York Knicks | L 107-101 | |
| Nov 06, 1959 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | W 118-113 | |
| Nov 07, 1959 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | L 113-111 | |
| Nov 08, 1959 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 118-107 | |
| Nov 10, 1959 | @ Boston Celtics | L 128-109 | |
| Nov 11, 1959 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 119-105 | |
| Nov 12, 1959 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | W 107-93 | |
| Nov 14, 1959 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 111-103 | |
| Nov 15, 1959 | @ New York Knicks | W 103-94 | |
| Nov 17, 1959 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 132-129 | |
| Nov 18, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 110-93 | |
| Nov 20, 1959 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | L 105-85 | |
| Nov 21, 1959 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 109-107 | |
| Nov 22, 1959 | vs. New York Knicks | W 115-104 | |
| Nov 24, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 104-91 | |
| Nov 25, 1959 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 104-97 | |
| Nov 28, 1959 | @ Boston Celtics | L 136-110 | |
| Dec 04, 1959 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | W 120-101 | |
| Dec 05, 1959 | @ New York Knicks | L 124-108 | |
| Dec 06, 1959 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 118-116 | |
| Dec 09, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 129-119 | |
| Dec 10, 1959 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 129-111 | |
| Dec 13, 1959 | vs. New York Knicks | W 147-129 | |
| Dec 16, 1959 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 107-106 | |
| Dec 19, 1959 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 120-112 | |
| Dec 20, 1959 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 102-86 | |
| Dec 22, 1959 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 136-104 | |
| Dec 25, 1959 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 121-103 | |
| Dec 26, 1959 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | L 108-105 | |
| Dec 27, 1959 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | L 119-109 | |
| Dec 30, 1959 | vs. New York Knicks | L 124-109 | |
| Jan 01, 1960 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 119-107 | |
| Jan 02, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 114-113 | |
| Jan 03, 1960 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 114-112 | |
| Jan 05, 1960 | @ New York Knicks | L 121-110 | |
| Jan 07, 1960 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 120-105 | |
| Jan 08, 1960 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 118-107 | |
| Jan 09, 1960 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 126-103 | |
| Jan 10, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 108-103 | |
| Jan 13, 1960 | vs. New York Knicks | W 114-113 | |
| Jan 16, 1960 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | W 105-98 | |
| Jan 17, 1960 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 115-110 | |
| Jan 23, 1960 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 130-110 | |
| Jan 25, 1960 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 127-117 | |
| Jan 26, 1960 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 121-114 | |
| Jan 27, 1960 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 144-108 | |
| Jan 29, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 130-125 | |
| Jan 30, 1960 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 117-107 | |
| Jan 31, 1960 | @ Boston Celtics | L 146-128 | |
| Feb 03, 1960 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 117-105 | |
| Feb 04, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 121-102 | |
| Feb 06, 1960 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | W 116-101 | |
| Feb 07, 1960 | @ Minneapolis Lakers | L 104-102 | |
| Feb 09, 1960 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 122-113 | |
| Feb 10, 1960 | @ Boston Celtics | L 153-121 | |
| Feb 12, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 133-101 | |
| Feb 13, 1960 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | L 123-117 | |
| Feb 16, 1960 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 111-104 | |
| Feb 19, 1960 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 136-116 | |
| Feb 20, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 110-107 | |
| Feb 21, 1960 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 122-120 | |
| Feb 24, 1960 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 128-110 | |
| Feb 25, 1960 | @ Boston Celtics | L 121-107 | |
| Feb 27, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 116-114 | |
| Feb 28, 1960 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 113-111 | |
| Mar 01, 1960 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 108-106 | |
| Mar 02, 1960 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 116-100 | |
| Mar 03, 1960 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 110-101 | |
| Mar 06, 1960 | @ New York Knicks | L 120-112 | |
| Mar 08, 1960 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 122-101 | |
| Mar 09, 1960 | vs. Minneapolis Lakers | W 117-116 |