Detroit Pistons Collecting and Fan Guide
Overview
The Detroit Pistons have long been remembered as the "Bad Boys" of the NBA, endearing them to the city of Detroit with their consecutive titles in the late-80s. Although they have seen a downturn in the last few years, thanks to their dominant teams of the late-80s and first decade of the 2000s, they remain a collecting favorite.
Originally created as the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons of the NBL in 1941, the team joined the BAA in 1948 as the Fort Wayne Pistons. The Pistons remained in Fort Wayne until 1957, when ownership decided to move to a bigger city, and the Detroit Pistons were born.
The Pistons struggled in Detroit and only posted three winning seasons in their first 26 years in the The Motor City. However, things started to fall into place in 1981 and 1982, when the Pistons drafted Isiah Thomas and traded for Bill Laimbeer and Vinnie Johnson. Things began to really turn around when Chuck Daly was named the coach in 1983. The team became a regular in the playoffs and added more key pieces, including Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman and Adrian Dantley. Despite competing in a period dominated by Magic, Bird and Jordan, the Pistons achieved the ultimate prize in 1988-89, winning the NBA title. They added another title the following season.
The period that followed saw a swift collapse for the Pistons and many of the top players moved elsewhere. Although the team added Grant Hill in 1994, the teams of the 1990s were mostly average. The following decade was a resurgence for the Pistons, largely orchestrated by Joe Dumars, who was brought on as the president of basketball operations. The team made the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons, including six Eastern Conference Finals appearances and another title in the 2003-04 season. They followed up with another trip to the NBA Finals in the next season, but lost tot he Spurs in seven games.
Since the 2008-09 season, the team has not returned to playoffs or even totaled more than 30 wins in a season. Despite a lack of recent team success, the Pistons have added some youth along with seasoned talent in the hopes that they can kickstart the next period of excellence for the Detroit Pistons.
Collectors have plenty of options when it comes to merchandise and collectibles for the Detroit Pistons. Using the tabs above, check out the top Pistons players to collect, top merchandise and jersey options, autograph guide, game tickets and the most watched Detroit Pistons cards and memorabilia on eBay.
TTM Autographs
Another option for collectors looking to get autographs is TTM or "Through the mail." A complete guide to the process can be seen here: How to Get (Almost) Free Autographs Through the Mail.
Although it is not a lock, Detroit Pistons fans looking to take advantage of this can try their luck with current players and coaches using the following address:
"Insert Specific Player/Coach/Executive"
c/o Detroit Pistons
The Palace of Auburn Hills
6 Championship Drive
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
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Fan Gear
Detroit Pistons Jerseys & Gear Guide
Looking for something to support your team? There are tons of options for Detroit Pistons fans across all budgets. Normal price ranges are noted when available. View a complete breakdown of the jersey options using our detailed NBA jersey guide.
Detroit Pistons Jersey Guide
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Detroit Pistons Signature Sneakers
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Detroit Pistons T-Shirts & Hats
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Cards
Detroit Pistons Basketball Card Guide
Collecting interest for the Detroit Pistons is largely based on the title teams of the late-80s and the corresponding Hall of Fame talent found on those championship teams. View cards for the top former and current members of the Pistons below.
Top Former Players & Coaches
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Other Detroit Pistons All-Time Greats
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Top Current Players
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Andre Drummond
Josh Smith
Autographs
Detroit Pistons Autograph Guide
When shopping for autographed items, it is highly recommended to only purchased signed pieces that have been authenticated by a reputable company. Top options include PSA, JSA, Mounted Memories, UDA, Panini Authentic and Tristar.
Click on the images or listings to shop on eBay.
Signed Detroit Pistons Photographs
Signed Detroit Pistons Jerseys
Signed Detroit Pistons Basketballs
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Tickets
Detroit Pistons Game Tickets
If you are looking for tickets to see the Detroit Pistons play, it might be an overwhelming experience. Luckily for fans, NBA teams play a ton of games, all over the country. After selecting a specific game, the first thing to decide is how much you want to spend and where you want to sit in the arena.
From there, it can get messy given all the choices for purchasing tickets. With that in mind, we have complied the best options for buying tickets. Simply follow the link to each ticket source for any available Detroit Pistons tickets. Be aware that the NBA regular season basically runs from November to April and the playoffs continue until mid-June.
Hot List
Detroit Pistons Hot List
Check out the most watched Detroit Pistons cards, gear and memorabilia on eBay. The guide is constantly updated with real-time information, so bookmark this page for future reference.
More Info
View basic information and detailed stats on the Detroit Pistons here:
