The 1980–81 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 33rd season in the NBA and 24th season in the city of Detroit.[1] The team played at the Pontiac Silverdome.
The rebuilding Pistons finished the season with a 21–61 (.256) record, 6th place in the Central Division. The team was led by center Kent Benson (15.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and guard John Long (17.7 ppg).[2] [1]
See main article: 1980 NBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College / Team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 | Larry Drew | Guard |  United States | Missouri | |
| 5 | 93 | Tony Fuller | Guard | United States | Pepperdine |
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
| 1980-81 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| — | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 | ||
| 4–2 | — | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | ||
| 4–2 | 1–5 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | ||
| 5–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 0–5 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | ||
| 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | ||
| 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | ||
| Detroit | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | |
| 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | — | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | ||
| 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | — | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | ||
| 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | ||
| 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 4–2 | 0–2 | — | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 | ||
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | — | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | |
| 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | ||
| 2–3 | 0–6 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | — | 0–6 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | ||
| 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 6–0 | — | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | ||
| 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | ||
| 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 3–2 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 | ||
| 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | ||
| 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | — | 4–1 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | ||
| 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 1–4 | — | 5–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | ||
| 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–5 | — | 4–1 | 1–1 | ||
| 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | — | 0–2 | ||
| Washington | 4–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| October 10| Washington| L 85–95|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| October 11| @ Indiana| L 87–100|||| Market Square Arena| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| October 13| @ New Jersey| L 92–108|||| Rutgers Athletic Center| 0–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| October 14| @ Cleveland| L 91–99|||| Richfield Coliseum| 0–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| October 16| San Antonio| L 99–102|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 0–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 6| October 18| Atlanta| L 123–125 (2OT)|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 0–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 7| October 22| Philadelphia| L 93–94|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 0–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 8| October 25| @ Houston| W 112–109|||| The Summit| 1–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 9| October 29| Boston| L 85–103|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 1–8|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 10| October 31| Phoenix| L 98–103 (OT)|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 1–9|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 11| November 1| @ Chicago| L 100–122|||| Chicago Stadium| 1–10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 12| November 4| @ Milwaukee| W 98–96|||| MECCA Arena| 2–10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 13| November 5| @ Philadelphia| L 103–107|||| The Spectrum| 2–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 14| November 7| @ Washington| L 88–114|||| Capital Centre| 2–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 15| November 8| Dallas| W 101–73|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 3–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 16| November 11| @ New York| L 118–149|||| Madison Square Garden| 3–13|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 17| November 12| Milwaukee| L 98–122|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 3–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 18| November 14| Chicago| W 106–99|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 4–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 19| November 16| @ New Jersey| L 80–89|||| Rutgers Athletic Center| 4–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 20| November 18| Indiana| L 97–102|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 4–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 21| November 20| San Diego| W 97–90|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 5–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 22| November 22| New Jersey| W 117–103|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 6–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 23| November 26| Utah| L 97–104|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 6–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 24| November 28| Kansas City| W 104–94|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 7–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 25| November 29| @ Atlanta| W 98–95|||| The Omni| 8–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 26| December 2| Boston| L 85–94|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 8–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 27| December 5| @ Washington| L 92–103|||| Capital Centre| 8–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 28| December 6| @ Cleveland| L 100–101|||| Richfield Coliseum| 8–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 29| December 10| Atlanta| L 92–100|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 8–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 30| December 12| Cleveland| W 101–95|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 9–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 31| December 13| @ New York| L 94–100|||| Madison Square Garden| 9–22|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 32| December 17| New York| L 103–119|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 9–23|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 33| December 18| @ Milwaukee| L 104–121|||| MECCA Arena| 9–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 34| December 19| Indiana| W 109–106|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 10–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 35| December 21| @ San Diego| L 97–117|||| San Diego Sports Arena| 10–25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 36| December 23| @ Phoenix| L 104–113|||| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum| 10–26|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 37| December 26| Houston| L 94–114|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 10–27|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 38| December 27| @ Chicago| L 97–104|||| Chicago Stadium| 10–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 39| December 30| @ Atlanta| L 89–96|||| The Omni| 10–29|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 40| January 2| New York| W 102–100|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 11–29|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 41| January 6| @ Portland| L 90–110|||| Memorial Coliseum| 11–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 42| January 7| @ Seattle| L 94–99|||| Kingdome| 11–31|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 43| January 10| @ Golden State| L 103–105|||| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena| 11–32|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 44| January 11| @ Los Angeles| L 108–117|||| The Forum| 11–33|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 45| January 13| Milwaukee| L 96–119|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 11–34|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 46| January 14| @ Indiana| L 99–101|||| Market Square Arena| 11–35|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 47| January 15| Washington| L 89–106|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 11–36|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 48| January 17| New Jersey| L 103–119|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 11–37|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 49| January 19| @ Boston| L 90–92|||| Hartford Civic Center| 11–38|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 50| January 20| Philadelphia| W 83–75|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 12–38|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 51| January 22| Chicago| L 92–125|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 12–39|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 52| January 24| Cleveland| W 117–94|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 13–39|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 53| January 26| @ Utah| L 99–102|||| Salt Palace Acord Arena| 13–40|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 54| January 27| @ Denver| L 123–143|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 13–41|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 55| January 29| Golden State| L 112–117|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 13–42|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 56| February 3| @ San Antonio| L 99–102|||| HemisFair Arena| 13–43|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 57| February 4| @ Kansas City| L 90–91|||| Kemper Arena| 13–44|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 58| February 6| Los Angeles| L 102–111|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 13–45|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 59| February 7| @ Chicago| L 90–98|||| Chicago Stadium| 13–46|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 60| February 8| Indiana| L 101–124|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 13–47|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 61| February 10| @ Dallas| W 101–95|||| Reunion Arena| 14–47|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 62| February 13| @ New York| L 92–120|||| Madison Square Garden| 14–48|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 63| February 14| Washington| W 105–103|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 15–48|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 64| February 17| @ Cleveland| L 108–109|||| Richfield Coliseum| 15–49|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 65| February 18| @ Philadelphia| L 97–111|||| The Spectrum| 15–50|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 66| February 19| Portland| L 106–115|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 15–51|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 67| February 21| Boston| L 119–130|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 15–52|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 68| February 27| Cleveland| W 118–109|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 16–52|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 69| March 1| @ New Jersey| W 117–104|||| Rutgers Athletic Center| 17–52|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 70| March 3| @ Milwaukee| L 98–115|||| MECCA Arena| 17–53|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 71| March 5| New York| L 101–104|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 17–54|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 72| March 7| Denver| L 109–121|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 17–55|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 73| March 11| Atlanta| W 100–97|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 18–55|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 73| March 13| Seattle| L 100–102|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 18–56|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 75| March 14| @ Indiana| W 101–94|||| Market Square Arena| 19–56|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 76| March 18| New Jersey| W 118–115|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 20–56|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 77| March 20| Milwaukee| L 86–104|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 20–57|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 78| March 22| Chicago| L 103–109|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 20–58|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 79| March 24| @ Atlanta| L 91–96|||| The Omni| 20–59|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 80| March 25| @ Philadelphia| L 75–114|||| The Spectrum| 20–60|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 81| March 27| @ Boston| W 115–90|||| Boston Garden| 21–60|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 82| March 28| @ Washington| L 103–108|||| Capital Centre| 21–61