1994–95 Detroit Pistons season

Last updated

1994–95   Detroit Pistons season
Head coach Don Chaney
General manager Billy McKinney
Owners William Davidson
Arena The Palace of Auburn Hills
Results
Record28–54 (.341)
PlaceDivision: 7th (Central)
Conference: 12th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television WKBD-TV
PASS Sports
Radio WJR
< 1993–94 1995–96 >

The 1994–95 Detroit Pistons season was the 47th season for the Detroit Pistons in the National Basketball Association, and their 38th season in Detroit, Michigan. [1] After finishing with a miserable 20–62 record the previous season, along with the retirements of Bill Laimbeer and Isiah Thomas, the Pistons received the third overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft, and selected small forward Grant Hill out of Duke University. [2] [3] [4] The team also signed free agents Oliver Miller, [5] [6] [7] Johnny Dawkins, [8] [9] and Rafael Addison, [10] and acquired Mark West from the Phoenix Suns during the off-season. [5] [7]

Contents

However, after a respectable 8–7 start to the regular season, the Pistons lost 13 of their next 14 games, which included an 8-game losing streak, as second-year guard Lindsey Hunter only played just 42 games due to foot and ankle injuries, [11] [12] and Dawkins was released to free agency after 50 games. [13] After holding a 17–29 record at the All-Star break, [14] the Pistons continued to struggle losing eight of their final nine games, finishing in last place in the Central Division with a 28–54 record. [15]

Hill became an immediate fan favorite averaging 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, and was also named the co-NBA Rookie of the Year along with Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks, [16] [17] [18] while Joe Dumars averaged 18.1 points and 5.5 assists per game, and contributed 103 three-point field goals. In addition, Terry Mills provided the team with 15.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, while second-year guard Allan Houston showed improvement averaging 14.5 points per game, and leading the Pistons with 158 three-point field goals, and Miller averaged 8.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. Meanwhile, Addison contributed 8.3 points per game off the bench, but was released by the team to free agency shortly before the regular season had ended, [19] while Hunter contributed 7.5 points and 1.2 steals per game, and West provided with 7.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. [20]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the America West Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, Hill and Dumars were both selected for the 1995 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; [21] [22] [23] it was Hill's first ever All-Star appearance, as he also became the first rookie ever to lead in All-Star voting. [24] [25] [26] Houston finished in fifth place in Most Improved Player voting. [27] [28]

The Pistons finished eighth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 719,090 at The Palace of Auburn Hills during the regular season. [20] [29] Following the season, Miller was left unprotected in the 1995 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Toronto Raptors expansion team, [30] [31] [32] and head coach Don Chaney was fired. [33] [34]

For the season, the Pistons added new red alternate road uniforms with blue side panels, which would remain in use until the franchise's 1996 teal-colored rebrand. [35]

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
13 Grant Hill SFFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States Duke
248 Jevon Crudup PFFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States Missouri

Roster

1994–95 Detroit Pistons roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.PlayerHeightWeightDOBFrom
F 17 Bill Curley 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)220 lb (100 kg)1972–05–29 Boston College
G 12 Johnny Dawkins 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)165 lb (75 kg)1963–09–28 Duke
G 4 Joe Dumars 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg)1963–05–24 McNeese State
F 33 Grant Hill 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)225 lb (102 kg)1972–10–05 Duke
G 20 Allan Houston 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)200 lb (91 kg)1971–04–20 Tennessee
G 1 Lindsey Hunter 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)170 lb (77 kg)1970–12–03 Jackson State
G 32 Negele Knight 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)175 lb (79 kg)1967–03–06 Dayton
C 45 Eric Leckner 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)265 lb (120 kg)1966–05–27 Wyoming
G 2 Mark Macon 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)185 lb (84 kg)1969–04–14 Temple
F 25 Oliver Miller 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)280 lb (127 kg)1970–04–06 Arkansas
F 6 Terry Mills 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)230 lb (104 kg)1967–12–21 Michigan
C 41 Mark West 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)230 lb (104 kg)1960–11–05 Old Dominion
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injury icon 2.svg Injured

Roster
Updated: April 19, 1995

Roster Notes

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division
W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y- Indiana Pacers 5230.634–33–819–2218–10
x- Charlotte Hornets 5032.610229–1221–2017–11
x- Chicago Bulls 4735.573528–1319–2216–12
x- Cleveland Cavaliers 4339.524926–1517–2417–11
x- Atlanta Hawks 4240.5121024–1718–239–19
Milwaukee Bucks 3448.4151822–1912–2913–15
Detroit Pistons 2854.3412422–196–358–20
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1c-Orlando Magic 5725.695–
2y-Indiana Pacers 5230.6345
3x-New York Knicks 5527.6712
4x-Charlotte Hornets 5032.6107
5x-Chicago Bulls 4735.57310
6x-Cleveland Cavaliers 4339.52414
7x-Atlanta Hawks 4240.51215
8x-Boston Celtics 3547.42722
9 Milwaukee Bucks 3448.41523
10 Miami Heat 3250.39025
11 New Jersey Nets 3052.36627
12 Detroit Pistons 2854.34129
13 Philadelphia 76ers 2458.29333
14 Washington Bullets 2161.25636
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot

Game log

Regular season

1994–95 game log
Total: 28–54 (Home: 22–19; Road: 6–35)
November: 7–6 (home: 5–2; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
December: 2–11 (home: 1–5; road: 1–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
January: 5–9 (home: 4–4; road: 1–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
35January 20, 1995
8:00 p.m. EST 		Houston L 96–106 Mills (33) Mills (9) Dumars (8) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454		11–24
February: 6–8 (home: 6–1; road: 0–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
All-Star Break
52February 23, 1995
8:30 p.m. EST 		@ Houston L 99–110 Dumars (28) Miller (10) Dumars (8) The Summit
16,611		19–33
March: 5–11 (home: 3–5; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
April: 3–9 (home: 3–2; road: 0–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1994–95 schedule

Player statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG  Points per game

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Grant Hill 706938.3.477.148.7326.45.01.80.919.9
Joe Dumars 676738.0.430.305.8052.45.51.10.118.1
Terry Mills 726934.9.447.382.7997.82.20.90.515.5
Allan Houston 763926.3.463.424.8602.22.20.80.214.5
Oliver Miller 642224.3.555.231.6297.41.50.91.88.5
Rafael Addison 791622.5.476.289.7473.11.40.70.38.3
Mark West 675823.0.556.4786.10.30.41.57.5
Lindsey Hunter 422622.5.374.333.7271.83.81.20.27.5
Johnny Dawkins 50923.4.463.342.9092.34.11.00.06.5
Mark Macon 55613.1.381.323.7941.41.11.20.05.0
Negele Knight 441715.1.392.393.6671.32.60.50.14.1
Eric Leckner 571110.9.527.000.7083.10.20.30.33.9
Bill Curley 53111.2.433.7502.30.50.40.42.7
Walter Bond 5010.2.250.250.7501.01.40.20.02.0
Mike Peplowski 603.51.000.5000.50.20.20.01.8
Ivano Newbill 3409.7.356.3642.40.50.40.31.2

Player statistics citation: [20]

Awards and records

References

  1. ↑ 1994-95 Detroit Pistons
  2. ↑ Brown, Clifton (June 30, 1994). "BASKETBALL; The Bucks Go with Robinson as No. 1 Pick". The New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  3. ↑ Denlinger, Ken (June 30, 1994). "Robinson Goes with the Bucks". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  4. ↑ "1994 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Pistons Sign Miller to Offer Sheet". United Press International. September 7, 1994. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
  6. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Miller Joins Pistons". The New York Times. September 8, 1994. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Oliver Miller Signs Piston Offer". Chicago Tribune. September 8, 1994. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  8. ↑ "PRO BASKETBALL; A Bigger, Richer Kemp Gets Ready to Attack the Boards". The New York Times. Associated Press. October 11, 1994. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Golden State Under New Sole Ownership". Reading Eagle. News Services. October 11, 1994. p. D5. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
  10. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Pistons Give Hill a $45 Million Contract". The New York Times. September 30, 1994. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Bullets' MacLean Out Longer After Fight". Tampa Bay Times. January 4, 1995. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Pistons Activate West". United Press International. January 20, 1995. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  13. ↑ "NBA ROUNDUP: Smits Helps Pacers End Spurs' Streak, 117-100". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. March 8, 1995. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  14. ↑ "NBA Games Played on February 9, 1995". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  15. ↑ "1994–95 Detroit Pistons Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Mavericks' Kidd, Pistons' Hill Share NBA Rookie-of-Year Award". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 18, 1995. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  17. ↑ "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Celtics Drop Ford as Coach". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 18, 1995. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  18. ↑ "NBA & ABA Rookie of the Year Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Transactions". The New York Times. April 20, 1995. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  20. 1 2 3 "1994–95 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  21. ↑ Cotton, Anthony (February 12, 1995). "New-Age NBA Reaches for the Stars". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  22. ↑ "1995 NBA All-Star Recap". NBA.com. NBA.com Staff. September 13, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  23. ↑ "1995 NBA All-Star Game: West 139, East 112". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Hill 1st Rookie to Lead All-Star Voting". United Press International. January 26, 1995. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  25. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Hill Is Top Vote-Getter". The New York Times. January 27, 1995. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  26. ↑ "NBA All-Stars Topped by Rookie Hill". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. January 27, 1995. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Most Improved Player". The Telegraph-Herald. May 11, 1995. p. 2B. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  28. ↑ "1994–95 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  29. ↑ "1994–95 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  30. ↑ Wise, Mike (June 25, 1995). "PRO BASKETBALL; Anthony Is No. 2 of the Secaucus 27". The New York Times. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  31. ↑ Heisler, Mark (June 25, 1995). "Armstrong Becomes Top Expansion Pick: NBA: Raptors Take Guard from Bulls. Massenburg Also Headed to Toronto, While Lakers Lose Harvey to Vancouver". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  32. ↑ "1995 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  33. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Pistons to Fire Chaney & Co., Report Says". The New York Times. April 11, 1995. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  34. ↑ "Pistons to Fire Chaney, Likely Hire Collins: Pro basketball: Dismissals of Coach and Key Executive Expected a Day Later Than Planned". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 26, 1995. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Detroit Pistons Uniform". Chris Creamer's Sports Logos Page - SportsLogos.Net. Retrieved July 8, 2021.

See also

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