1992–93 Detroit Pistons season

The 1992–93 Detroit Pistons season was the 45th season for the Detroit Pistons in the National Basketball Association, and their 36th season in Detroit, Michigan.^[1] During the off-season, the Pistons signed free agent Terry Mills,^[2][3][4] acquired Olden Polynice from the Los Angeles Clippers,^[5][6][7] and hired Ron Rothstein as their new head coach.^[8][9][10]

Under Rothstein, and with the addition of Mills and Polynice, the Pistons struggled losing nine of their first eleven games of the regular season, which included a seven-game losing streak. However, the team won ten of their next eleven games, but then fell below .500 in winning percentage posting a six-game losing streak in January, and later on holding a 21–29 record at the All-Star break.^[11] At mid-season, the Pistons traded Orlando Woolridge to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for All-Star guard Alvin Robertson.^[12][13][14] With the addition of Robertson, the Pistons posted a six-game winning streak between March and April, but then lost five of their final eight games of the season, finishing in sixth place in the Central Division with a 40–42 record, and missing the NBA playoffs for the first time in ten years.^[15]

Joe Dumars averaged 23.5 points and 4.0 assists per game, led the Pistons with 112 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, while Isiah Thomas averaged 17.6 points, 8.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and Mills provided the team with 14.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. In addition, Mark Aguirre contributed 9.9 points per game off the bench, but only played 51 games due to injuries and weight problems,^[16][17] while Robertson provided with 9.3 points, 3.6 assists and 2.2 steals per game in 30 games after the trade, Bill Laimbeer averaged 8.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, Polynice provided with 7.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, and Dennis Rodman contributed 7.5 points, and led the league with 18.3 rebounds per game.^[18]

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, Dumars and Thomas were both selected for the 1993 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Eastern Conference All-Star team; it was Thomas's eleventh and final All-Star appearance, and his twelfth All-Star selection.^[19][20][21] Dumars and Rodman were both named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team; Dumars also finished tied in tenth place in Most Valuable Player voting,^[22][23] while Mills finished tied in eleventh place in Most Improved Player voting,^[23] and Rodman finished in fourth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.^[24][23]

The Pistons finished second in the NBA in home-game attendance behind the Charlotte Hornets, with an attendance of 889,614 at The Palace of Auburn Hills during the regular season.^[18][25] Rodman's bizarre behavior off the court was a great concern, as he was involved in several off-the-court incidents, including a suicide attempt.^[26][27][28] Following the season, he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs after seven seasons with the Pistons,^[29][30][31] while Aguirre signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Clippers,^[17][32][33] and Rothstein was fired as head coach after just one season with the Pistons.^[34][35][36]