The 2008âÂÂ09 Detroit Pistons season was the 68th season of the franchise, the 61st in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the 52nd in the Detroit area. The season was the first under new head coach Michael Curry, who took over for Flip Saunders who was fired at the conclusion of the 2007âÂÂ08 season.
In the playoffs, the Pistons were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games in the first round.
During the season, the Pistons traded Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Allen Iverson. McDyess was waived by the Nuggets and was re-signed by the Pistons. It was their first losing season since 2000âÂÂ01, and the first time they did not reach the Eastern Conference finals since 2001âÂÂ02. The 2008âÂÂ09 season was also the last time the Pistons qualified for the playoffs, until 2015âÂÂ16 where they were also swept by the Cavaliers and again in the first round. Following the season, Rasheed Wallace signed as a free agent with the Boston Celtics, Iverson left to sign with the Memphis Grizzlies, McDyess signed with the San Antonio Spurs, and Curry was fired.
On the day of the draft, the Pistons traded D. J. White to the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for the rights to Seattle's number 32 and number 46 picks. The picks were used to select Walter Sharpe from AlabamaâÂÂBirmingham and Trent Plaisted from Brigham Young, respectively.
|- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 1 | October 29 | Indiana | | Tayshaun Prince (19) | Rasheed Wallace (7) | Chauncey Billups (7) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 1âÂÂ0
|- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 2 | November 1 | Washington | | Richard Hamilton (24) | Rasheed Wallace (12) | Chauncey Billups (8) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 2âÂÂ0 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 3 | November 3 | @ Charlotte | | Richard Hamilton (19) | Kwame Brown (9) | Richard Hamilton (5) | Time Warner Cable Arena<br />11,023 | 3âÂÂ0 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 4 | November 5 | @ Toronto | | Tayshaun Prince (27) | Rasheed Wallace (12) | Richard Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey (5) | Air Canada Centre<br />18,602 | 4âÂÂ0 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | November 7 | @ New Jersey | | Allen Iverson (24) | Tayshaun Prince (11) | Allen Iverson, Rodney Stuckey (6) | Izod Center<br />17,767 | 4âÂÂ1 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | November 9 | Boston | | Tayshaun Prince (23) | Rasheed Wallace (11) | Allen Iverson (4) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 4âÂÂ2 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 7 | November 11 | @ Sacramento | | Allen Iverson (30) | Tayshaun Prince (11) | Allen Iverson (9) | ARCO Arena<br />11,423 | 5âÂÂ2 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 8 | November 13 | @ Golden State | | Richard Hamilton (24) | Tayshaun Prince (16) | Allen Iverson (9) | Oracle Arena<br />18,477 | 6âÂÂ2 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 9 | November 14 | @ L.A. Lakers | | Allen Iverson, Rasheed Wallace (25) | Rasheed Wallace (13) | Tayshaun Prince (6) | Staples Center<br />18,997 | 7âÂÂ2 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 10 | November 16 | @ Phoenix | | Richard Hamilton (19) | Rasheed Wallace (9) | Allen Iverson (7) | US Airways Center<br />18,422 | 7âÂÂ3 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 11 | November 19 | Cleveland | | Allen Iverson (23) | Rasheed Wallace (15) | Richard Hamilton (5) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 8âÂÂ3 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 12 | November 20 | @ Boston | | Allen Iverson (16) | Kwame Brown, Tayshaun Prince (7) | Allen Iverson (4) | TD Banknorth Garden<br />18,624 | 8âÂÂ4 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 13 | November 23 | Minnesota | | Tayshaun Prince (20) | Rasheed Wallace (10) | Will Bynum, Richard Hamilton (6) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 8âÂÂ5 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 14 | November 26 | New York | | Richard Hamilton (17) | Amir Johnson (13) | Rodney Stuckey (11) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 9âÂÂ5 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 15 | November 28 | Milwaukee | | Allen Iverson (17) | Jason Maxiell (8) | Allen Iverson (7) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 10âÂÂ5 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 16 | November 30 | Portland | | Richard Hamilton (18) | Amir Johnson (8) | Rodney Stuckey (5) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 10âÂÂ6
|- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 17 | December 2 | @ San Antonio | | Allen Iverson, Rasheed Wallace (19) | Tayshaun Prince (12) | Rodney Stuckey (7) | AT&T Center<br />17,582 | 11âÂÂ6 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 18 | December 5 | Philadelphia | | Richard Hamilton (19) | Rasheed Wallace, Kwame Brown (8) | Allen Iverson (7) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 11âÂÂ7 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 19 | December 7 | @ New York | | Tayshaun Prince (23) | Tayshaun Prince (10) | Allen Iverson (7) | Madison Square Garden<br />19,763 | 11âÂÂ8 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 20 | December 9 | @ Washington | | Richard Hamilton (29) | Tayshaun Prince (11) | Rodney Stuckey (11) | Verizon Center<br />14,707 | 11âÂÂ9 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 21 | December 12 | Indiana | | Richard Hamilton (28) | Rasheed Wallace (6) | Allen Iverson (12) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 12âÂÂ9 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 22 | December 13 | @ Charlotte | | Allen Iverson (20) | Tayshaun Prince, Antonio McDyess (6) | Rodney Stuckey (10) | Time Warner Cable Arena<br />17,373 | 13âÂÂ9 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 23 | December 17 | Washington | | Allen Iverson (28) | Tayshaun Prince (10) | Rodney Stuckey (11) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 14âÂÂ9 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 24 | December 19 | Utah | | Allen Iverson (38) | Rasheed Wallace (8) | Allen Iverson (7) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 14âÂÂ10 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 25 | December 21 | @ Atlanta | | Rasheed Wallace, Rodney Stuckey (20) | Rodney Stuckey (9) | Allen Iverson (6) | Philips Arena<br />15,233 | 14âÂÂ11 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 26 | December 23 | Chicago | | Rodney Stuckey (40) | Tayshaun Prince, Antonio McDyess (11) | Allen Iverson (8) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 15âÂÂ11 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 27 | December 26 | Oklahoma City | | Allen Iverson (22) | Tayshaun Prince (11) | Rodney Stuckey, Richard Hamilton (4) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 16âÂÂ11 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 28 | December 27 | @ Milwaukee | | Tayshaun Prince (19) | Rasheed Wallace (12) | Rodney Stuckey, Allen Iverson (6) | Bradley Center<br />17,086 | 17âÂÂ11 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 29 | December 29 | Orlando | | Rodney Stuckey (19) | Antonio McDyess (8) | Antonio McDyess (5) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 18âÂÂ11 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 30 | December 31 | New Jersey | | Allen Iverson (19) | Jason Maxiell (9) | Tayshaun Prince (5) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 19âÂÂ11
|- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 31 | January 2 | Sacramento | | Rodney Stuckey (38) | Amir Johnson (14) | Rodney Stuckey (7) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 20âÂÂ11 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 32 | January 4 | @ L.A. Clippers | | Rodney Stuckey (24) | Antonio McDyess (15) | Allen Iverson (10) | Staples Center<br />17,968 | 21âÂÂ11 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 33 | January 7 | @ Portland | | Tayshaun Prince (26) | Antonio McDyess (13) | Allen Iverson, Rodney Stuckey (7) | Rose Garden<br />20,644 | 21âÂÂ12 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 34 | January 9 | @ Denver | | Allen Iverson (23) | Antonio McDyess (12) | Tayshaun Prince (4) | Pepsi Center<br />19,682 | 22âÂÂ12 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 35 | January 10 | @ Utah | | Rodney Stuckey (19) | Antonio McDyess (9) | Allen Iverson (5) | EnergySolutions Arena<br />19,911 | 22âÂÂ13 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 36 | January 13 | Charlotte | | Rodney Stuckey (22) | Tayshaun Prince, Antonio McDyess (9) | Rodney Stuckey, Allen Iverson, Tayshaun Prince (5) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 22âÂÂ14 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 37 | January 14 | @ Indiana | | Rodney Stuckey (30) | Rasheed Wallace (15) | Allen Iverson (7) | Conseco Fieldhouse<br />11,964 | 22âÂÂ15 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 38 | January 16 | @ Oklahoma City | | Tayshaun Prince, Richard Hamilton (18) | Rasheed Wallace (8) | Richard Hamilton (5) | Ford Center<br />19,136 | 22âÂÂ16 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 39 | January 17 | New Orleans | | Richard Hamilton (19) | Antonio McDyess (12) | Rodney Stuckey (6) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 22âÂÂ17 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 40 | January 19 | @ Memphis | | Allen Iverson (27) | Antonio McDyess (16) | Richard Hamilton (6) | FedExForum<br />17,483 | 23âÂÂ17 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 41 | January 21 | Toronto | | Tayshaun Prince (25) | Jason Maxiell (11) | Rodney Stuckey (7) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 24âÂÂ17 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 42 | January 23 | Dallas | | Richard Hamilton (17) | Rasheed Wallace (9) | Will Bynum (4) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 24âÂÂ18 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 43 | January 25 | Houston | | Richard Hamilton (27) | Rasheed Wallace (11) | Rodney Stuckey, Allen Iverson (8) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 24âÂÂ19 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 44 | January 28 | @ Minnesota | | Rasheed Wallace (25) | Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess (10) | Rodney Stuckey (6) | Target Center<br />14,232 | 25âÂÂ19 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 45 | January 30 | Boston | | Allen Iverson, Rodney Stuckey (19) | Antonio McDyess (14) | Richard Hamilton (5) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 25âÂÂ20
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 46 | February 1 | Cleveland | | Allen Iverson (22) | Amir Johnson (9) | Rodney Stuckey (8) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 25âÂÂ21 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 47 | February 4 | Miami | | Rasheed Wallace, Rodney Stuckey (18) | Antonio McDyess (17) | Richard Hamilton (7) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />21,720 | 26âÂÂ21 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 48 | February 7 | @ Milwaukee | | Richard Hamilton (38) | Tayshaun Prince (13) | Allen Iverson, Tayshaun Prince (9) | Bradley Center<br />17,297 | 27âÂÂ21 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 49 | February 8 | Phoenix | | Richard Hamilton (27) | Antonio McDyess (13) | Allen Iverson (7) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 27âÂÂ22 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 50 | February 10 | @ Chicago | | Richard Hamilton (30) | Rasheed Wallace (10) | Richard Hamilton (8) | United Center<br />21,896 | 27âÂÂ23 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 51 | February 11 | Atlanta | | Allen Iverson (28) | Antonio McDyess (10) | Tayshaun Prince (8) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />20,124 | 27âÂÂ24 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 52 | February 17 | Milwaukee | | Antonio McDyess (24) | Antonio McDyess (14) | Allen Iverson, Tayshaun Prince (8) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />20,217 | 27âÂÂ25 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 53 | February 19 | San Antonio | | Allen Iverson (31) | Antonio McDyess (13) | Rodney Stuckey (8) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 27âÂÂ26 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 54 | February 22 | @ Cleveland | | Allen Iverson (14) | Jason Maxiell (9) | Richard Hamilton (6) | Quicken Loans Arena<br />20,562 | 27âÂÂ27 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 55 | February 24 | @ Miami | | Allen Iverson (22) | Tayshaun Prince (9) | Tayshaun Prince (8) | American Airlines Arena<br />19,600 | 27âÂÂ28 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 56 | February 25 | @ New Orleans | | Richard Hamilton (24) | Antonio McDyess, Jason Maxiell (9) | Richard Hamilton, Will Bynum (6) | New Orleans Arena<br />17,215 | 27âÂÂ29 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 57 | February 27 | @ Orlando | | Richard Hamilton (31) | Antonio McDyess (13) | Richard Hamilton (6) | Amway Arena<br />17,461 | 28âÂÂ29
|- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 58 | March 1 | @ Boston | | Richard Hamilton (25) | Tayshaun Prince (8) | Richard Hamilton (9) | TD Banknorth Garden<br />18,624 | 29âÂÂ29 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 59 | March 3 | Denver | | Tayshaun Prince (23) | Antonio McDyess (12) | Richard Hamilton (7) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 30âÂÂ29 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 60 | March 6 | Golden State | | Richard Hamilton (22) | Jason Maxiell (9) | Rodney Stuckey (8) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 31âÂÂ29 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 61 | March 7 | @ Atlanta | | Richard Hamilton (20) | Antonio McDyess (12) | Rodney Stuckey (6) | Philips Arena<br />19,101 | 31âÂÂ30 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 62 | March 9 | Orlando | | Richard Hamilton (29) | Antonio McDyess (18) | Richard Hamilton (14) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />20,039 | 32âÂÂ30 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 63 | March 11 | New York | | Richard Hamilton (27) | Antonio McDyess (22) | Rodney Stuckey (8) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />20,135 | 32âÂÂ31 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 64 | March 13 | @ Toronto | | Richard Hamilton (24) | Antonio McDyess (13) | Richard Hamilton (16) | Air Canada Centre<br />19,800 | 33âÂÂ31 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 65 | March 15 | Memphis | | Antonio McDyess (19) | Kwame Brown (13) | Richard Hamilton (12) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 33âÂÂ32 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 66 | March 17 | @ Dallas | | Tayshaun Prince (28) | Antonio McDyess, Jason Maxiell (9) | Rodney Stuckey (7) | American Airlines Center<br />20,427 | 33âÂÂ33 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 67 | March 18 | @ Houston | | Arron Afflalo (24) | Antonio McDyess (20) | Rodney Stuckey (10) | Toyota Center<br />18,275 | 33âÂÂ34 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 68 | March 20 | L.A. Clippers | | Antonio McDyess (24) | Antonio McDyess (17) | Tayshaun Prince (12) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 34âÂÂ34 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 69 | March 22 | Miami | | Rodney Stuckey (24) | Antonio McDyess (12) | Tayshaun Prince (5) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 34âÂÂ35 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 70 | March 24 | @ Chicago | | Will Bynum, Tayshaun Prince (20) | Kwame Brown (11) | Will Bynum (9) | United Center<br />20,502 | 34âÂÂ36 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 71 | March 26 | L.A. Lakers | | Will Bynum (25) | Antonio McDyess (12) | Will Bynum (11) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 34âÂÂ37 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 72 | March 28 | @ Washington | | Richard Hamilton (31) | Antonio McDyess, Kwame Brown (11) | Rodney Stuckey (6) | Verizon Center<br />20,173 | 35âÂÂ37 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 73 | March 29 | Philadelphia | | Tayshaun Prince (21) | Antonio McDyess (6) | Richard Hamilton (7) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 36âÂÂ37 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 74 | March 31 | @ Cleveland | | Richard Hamilton (13) | Antonio McDyess (10) | Will Bynum (3) | Quicken Loans Arena<br />20,562 | 36âÂÂ38
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 75 | April 1 | @ New Jersey | | Richard Hamilton (29) | Rodney Stuckey, Antonio McDyess (7) | Rodney Stuckey, Richard Hamilton (6) | Izod Center<br />15,105 | 36âÂÂ39 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 76 | April 4 | @ Philadelphia | | Rodney Stuckey (23) | Kwame Brown (7) | Rodney Stuckey, Richard Hamilton (4) | Wachovia Center<br />19,832 | 36âÂÂ40 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 77 | April 5 | Charlotte | | Will Bynum (32) | Antonio McDyess, Kwame Brown (9) | Will Bynum (7) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 37âÂÂ40 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 78 | April 8 | @ New York | | Richard Hamilton (22) | Antonio McDyess (16) | Richard Hamilton, Rodney Stuckey (7) | Madison Square Garden<br />19,763 | 38âÂÂ40 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 79 | April 10 | New Jersey | | Will Bynum (20) | Kwame Brown (7) | Richard Hamilton (9) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 39âÂÂ40 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 80 | April 11 | @ Indiana | | Richard Hamilton (23) | Antonio McDyess (15) | Will Bynum (6) | Conseco Fieldhouse<br />17,116 | 39âÂÂ41 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 81 | April 13 | Chicago | | Richard Hamilton (25) | Antonio McDyess (10) | Rodney Stuckey (9) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 39âÂÂ42 |-bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 82 | April 15 | @ Miami | | Kwame Brown (17) | Kwame Brown (13) | Rodney Stuckey (5) | American Airlines Arena<br />19,600 | 39âÂÂ43
|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 18 | @ Cleveland | | Rodney Stuckey (20) | Brown, Wallace (9) | Hamilton, Stuckey (4) | Quicken Loans Arena<br />20,562 | 0âÂÂ1 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | April 21 | @ Cleveland | | Richard Hamilton (17) | Antonio McDyess (11) | Rodney Stuckey (6) | Quicken Loans Arena<br />20,562 | 0âÂÂ2 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | April 24 | Cleveland | | Richard Hamilton (15) | McDyess, Hamilton (8) | Richard Hamilton (6) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 0âÂÂ3 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | April 26 | Cleveland | | Antonio McDyess (26) | Antonio McDyess (10) | Richard Hamilton (7) | The Palace of Auburn Hills<br />22,076 | 0âÂÂ4