The 1996-97 Detroit Pistons season marked a period of transition and growth for the franchise under the leadership of head coach Doug Collins. The team finished with a 54-28 record, which was a significant improvement from the previous season. This performance secured them a spot in the NBA playoffs, where they were unfortunately eliminated in the first round by the Atlanta Hawks in a closely contested five-game series.
Key players included Grant Hill, who emerged as a standout performer, averaging 21.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game, earning him a spot on the All-NBA First Team. Joe Dumars provided veteran leadership, while newly acquired Otis Thorpe bolstered the frontcourt. The Pistons’ strong defensive play and balanced offense were central to their successful regular season. Despite their early playoff exit, the 1996-97 season set the foundation for future successes.
- Regular Season Record: 54-28
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 2-3
Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats for 1996-97 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Grant Hill | 80 | 21.4 | 9.0 | 7.3 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 30.3 | 5 | 23.6 | 6.8 | 5.4 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Joe Dumars | 79 | 14.7 | 2.4 | 4.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 43.2 | 5 | 13.8 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 26.1 |
| Lindsey Hunter | 82 | 14.2 | 2.8 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 35.5 | 5 | 15.0 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 41.4 |
| Otis Thorpe | 79 | 13.1 | 7.9 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 5 | 9.8 | 6.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Terry Mills | 79 | 10.8 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 42.2 | 5 | 11.8 | 7.0 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 34.6 |
| Aaron McKie | 42 | 6.3 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 37.5 | 5 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 20.0 |
| Theo Ratliff | 76 | 5.8 | 3.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 3 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| Grant Long | 65 | 5.0 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 36.2 | 5 | 5.0 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Stacey Augmon | 20 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Michael Curry | 81 | 3.9 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 29.9 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Don Reid | 47 | 2.8 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kenny Smith | 9 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rick Mahorn | 22 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Randolph Childress | 4 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 66.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Litterial Green | 45 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jerome Williams | 33 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Detroit Pistons in the 1997 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Atlanta Hawks
In the 1997 NBA Playoffs, the Detroit Pistons faced the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. Despite a strong effort, the Pistons were eliminated in a closely contested five-game series, with Atlanta winning 3-2. Grant Hill led the team with his versatile play, but Detroit struggled to contain Hawks' star Mookie Blaylock and his pivotal performances.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25, 1997 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 89-75 | |
| Apr 27, 1997 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 93-80 | |
| Apr 29, 1997 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 99-91 | |
| May 02, 1997 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 94-82 | |
| May 04, 1997 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 84-79 |
Detroit Pistons 1996-97 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1996-97 season for the Detroit Pistons.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 01, 1996 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 95-89 | |
| Nov 02, 1996 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 90-78 | |
| Nov 05, 1996 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 83-81 | |
| Nov 06, 1996 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 103-84 | |
| Nov 08, 1996 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 98-80 | |
| Nov 12, 1996 | @ Washington Bullets | W 92-79 | |
| Nov 13, 1996 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 95-94 | |
| Nov 15, 1996 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 95-84 | |
| Nov 16, 1996 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 102-98 | |
| Nov 20, 1996 | @ Boston Celtics | W 108-83 | |
| Nov 21, 1996 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 96-88 | |
| Nov 23, 1996 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 93-85 | |
| Nov 27, 1996 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 87-78 | |
| Nov 29, 1996 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 84-76 | |
| Dec 01, 1996 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 95-66 | |
| Dec 04, 1996 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 100-90 | |
| Dec 06, 1996 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 93-81 | |
| Dec 07, 1996 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 95-69 | |
| Dec 10, 1996 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 93-85 | |
| Dec 12, 1996 | @ Houston Rockets | L 115-96 | |
| Dec 15, 1996 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 99-89 | |
| Dec 16, 1996 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 98-92 | |
| Dec 18, 1996 | vs. New York Knicks | W 112-78 | |
| Dec 20, 1996 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 84-75 | |
| Dec 21, 1996 | @ New York Knicks | L 95-92 | |
| Dec 25, 1996 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 95-83 | |
| Dec 26, 1996 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 95-89 | |
| Dec 28, 1996 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 97-75 | |
| Dec 30, 1996 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 97-85 | |
| Jan 02, 1997 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 99-87 | |
| Jan 04, 1997 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 118-74 | |
| Jan 07, 1997 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 86-76 | |
| Jan 10, 1997 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 84-78 | |
| Jan 11, 1997 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 87-77 | |
| Jan 14, 1997 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 95-86 | |
| Jan 15, 1997 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 103-79 | |
| Jan 18, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 100-97 | |
| Jan 20, 1997 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 89-86 | |
| Jan 22, 1997 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 97-92 | |
| Jan 23, 1997 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 94-79 | |
| Jan 25, 1997 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 104-95 | |
| Jan 28, 1997 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 93-84 | |
| Jan 29, 1997 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 98-89 | |
| Feb 01, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 90-75 | |
| Feb 02, 1997 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 106-97 | |
| Feb 06, 1997 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 96-87 | |
| Feb 11, 1997 | @ Miami Heat | L 104-91 | |
| Feb 12, 1997 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 96-87 | |
| Feb 14, 1997 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 109-103 | |
| Feb 16, 1997 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 92-89 | |
| Feb 19, 1997 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 100-85 | |
| Feb 21, 1997 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 98-84 | |
| Feb 23, 1997 | @ Washington Bullets | W 85-79 | |
| Feb 24, 1997 | @ Orlando Magic | L 93-84 | |
| Feb 26, 1997 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 117-84 | |
| Feb 28, 1997 | @ Boston Celtics | W 106-100 | |
| Mar 02, 1997 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 82-75 | |
| Mar 04, 1997 | vs. Miami Heat | L 108-99 | |
| Mar 05, 1997 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 92-88 | |
| Mar 07, 1997 | @ Utah Jazz | L 95-88 | |
| Mar 08, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 91-85 | |
| Mar 11, 1997 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 93-80 | |
| Mar 13, 1997 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 102-82 | |
| Mar 16, 1997 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 86-83 | |
| Mar 17, 1997 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 85-82 | |
| Mar 19, 1997 | vs. Toronto Raptors | L 99-97 | |
| Mar 21, 1997 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 112-98 | |
| Mar 22, 1997 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 103-88 | |
| Mar 26, 1997 | @ New York Knicks | L 105-94 | |
| Mar 28, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 113-85 | |
| Mar 30, 1997 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 96-92 | |
| Apr 01, 1997 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 100-82 | |
| Apr 02, 1997 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 99-92 | |
| Apr 04, 1997 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 103-89 | |
| Apr 07, 1997 | vs. Miami Heat | L 94-88 | |
| Apr 10, 1997 | @ Miami Heat | L 93-83 | |
| Apr 11, 1997 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 93-85 | |
| Apr 13, 1997 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 108-91 | |
| Apr 14, 1997 | @ Orlando Magic | L 100-91 | |
| Apr 16, 1997 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 92-85 | |
| Apr 18, 1997 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 82-75 | |
| Apr 20, 1997 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 124-120 |