The 1961-62 Detroit Pistons had a challenging season, finishing with a 37-43 record. Under the guidance of head coach Dick McGuire, they struggled for consistency throughout the year. Despite their efforts, the Pistons failed to make a significant impact in the Western Division, where they placed fourth.
Key players included Bailey Howell, who was a standout performer, averaging 19.9 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. Gene Shue also played a pivotal role, contributing 22.6 points and 5.5 assists per game. However, despite strong individual performances, the team’s overall lack of depth hindered their playoff aspirations.
The Pistons made it to the playoffs but were eliminated in the Western Division Semifinals by the Los Angeles Lakers in a closely contested five-game series. This season was a building block for the franchise as they looked to improve in the subsequent years.
- Regular Season Record: 37-43
- Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 3-1, Division Finals: 2-4
Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats for 1961-62 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Bailey Howell | 79 | 19.9 | 7.9 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 20.0 | 8.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Gene Shue | 80 | 19.0 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 16.1 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Don Ohl | 77 | 17.0 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8 | 20.5 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob Ferry | 80 | 13.9 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 11.1 | 3.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ray Scott | 75 | 13.3 | 7.5 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 17.3 | 13.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Walter Dukes | 77 | 9.4 | 5.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 12.4 | 12.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| George Lee | 75 | 7.6 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6 | 4.3 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jackie Moreland | 74 | 7.4 | 3.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 5.4 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Willie Jones | 69 | 6.1 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 11.0 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Johnny Egan | 58 | 5.5 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 13.6 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Shellie McMillon | 14 | 5.1 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chuck Noble | 26 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Detroit Pistons in the 1962 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Cincinnati Royals
In the 1962 NBA Playoffs, the Detroit Pistons advanced to the second round but faced a formidable opponent in the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite their efforts, the Pistons were outmatched by the Lakers' dynamic duo of Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, resulting in a series loss. This performance underscored the need for Detroit to bolster their roster to compete with the league's elite teams.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 1962 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 123-122 | |
| Mar 17, 1962 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 129-107 | |
| Mar 18, 1962 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 118-107 | |
| Mar 20, 1962 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 112-111 |
1962 Conference Championship vs. Los Angeles Lakers
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 24, 1962 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 132-108 | |
| Mar 25, 1962 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 127-112 | |
| Mar 27, 1962 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 111-106 | |
| Mar 29, 1962 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 118-117 | |
| Mar 31, 1962 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 132-125 | |
| Apr 03, 1962 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 123-117 |
Detroit Pistons 1961-62 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1961-62 season for the Detroit Pistons.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 21, 1961 | @ Boston Celtics | L 137-102 | |
| Oct 25, 1961 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 120-116 | |
| Oct 27, 1961 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 128-118 | |
| Oct 28, 1961 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 135-126 | |
| Nov 01, 1961 | vs. New York Knicks | W 111-95 | |
| Nov 04, 1961 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 135-132 | |
| Nov 08, 1961 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 132-128 | |
| Nov 09, 1961 | @ Boston Celtics | W 116-110 | |
| Nov 10, 1961 | @ New York Knicks | W 124-118 | |
| Nov 11, 1961 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 132-119 | |
| Nov 15, 1961 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 127-122 | |
| Nov 18, 1961 | vs. Chicago Packers | W 119-112 | |
| Nov 19, 1961 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 128-112 | |
| Nov 21, 1961 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 108-102 | |
| Nov 24, 1961 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 142-135 | |
| Nov 25, 1961 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 104-103 | |
| Nov 26, 1961 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 107-101 | |
| Nov 28, 1961 | @ Boston Celtics | L 116-108 | |
| Dec 01, 1961 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 119-116 | |
| Dec 02, 1961 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 118-109 | |
| Dec 06, 1961 | vs. New York Knicks | W 133-97 | |
| Dec 08, 1961 | @ Chicago Packers | W 133-107 | |
| Dec 09, 1961 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 114-107 | |
| Dec 12, 1961 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 132-109 | |
| Dec 14, 1961 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 107-103 | |
| Dec 16, 1961 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 121-110 | |
| Dec 17, 1961 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 122-116 | |
| Dec 19, 1961 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 124-111 | |
| Dec 20, 1961 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 117-102 | |
| Dec 23, 1961 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 134-125 | |
| Dec 25, 1961 | @ Chicago Packers | L 118-97 | |
| Dec 26, 1961 | @ Chicago Packers | L 108-101 | |
| Dec 27, 1961 | vs. Chicago Packers | W 121-93 | |
| Dec 29, 1961 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 131-116 | |
| Dec 30, 1961 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 109-108 | |
| Jan 01, 1962 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 145-139 | |
| Jan 02, 1962 | @ New York Knicks | L 110-104 | |
| Jan 03, 1962 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 112-103 | |
| Jan 05, 1962 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 138-135 | |
| Jan 06, 1962 | vs. New York Knicks | L 115-111 | |
| Jan 09, 1962 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 122-113 | |
| Jan 10, 1962 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 113-110 | |
| Jan 12, 1962 | @ Chicago Packers | W 102-99 | |
| Jan 13, 1962 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 119-112 | |
| Jan 14, 1962 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 118-108 | |
| Jan 17, 1962 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 126-116 | |
| Jan 19, 1962 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 136-125 | |
| Jan 20, 1962 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 123-107 | |
| Jan 21, 1962 | @ Boston Celtics | W 124-120 | |
| Jan 22, 1962 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 115-106 | |
| Jan 24, 1962 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 111-102 | |
| Jan 25, 1962 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 101-100 | |
| Jan 27, 1962 | vs. New York Knicks | W 115-107 | |
| Jan 28, 1962 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 110-97 | |
| Jan 31, 1962 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 123-122 | |
| Feb 02, 1962 | @ Chicago Packers | L 112-96 | |
| Feb 03, 1962 | @ Chicago Packers | W 116-109 | |
| Feb 04, 1962 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 121-113 | |
| Feb 06, 1962 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 119-118 | |
| Feb 07, 1962 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 113-107 | |
| Feb 11, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 132-116 | |
| Feb 14, 1962 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 119-110 | |
| Feb 16, 1962 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 127-121 | |
| Feb 17, 1962 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 123-113 | |
| Feb 18, 1962 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 119-112 | |
| Feb 20, 1962 | @ New York Knicks | L 110-103 | |
| Feb 21, 1962 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 126-123 | |
| Feb 23, 1962 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 134-120 | |
| Feb 25, 1962 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 128-99 | |
| Feb 27, 1962 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 107-100 | |
| Feb 28, 1962 | vs. New York Knicks | L 119-109 | |
| Mar 02, 1962 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 120-112 | |
| Mar 03, 1962 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | L 128-114 | |
| Mar 04, 1962 | @ Chicago Packers | W 133-116 | |
| Mar 07, 1962 | vs. New York Knicks | W 119-112 | |
| Mar 09, 1962 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 130-111 | |
| Mar 10, 1962 | @ Syracuse Nationals | L 128-111 | |
| Mar 11, 1962 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 126-123 | |
| Mar 12, 1962 | @ Chicago Packers | W 121-116 | |
| Mar 14, 1962 | vs. Syracuse Nationals | W 105-102 |