1999–2000 Detroit Pistons Season

The 1999–2000 NBA season was the 52nd season for the Detroit Pistons in the National Basketball Association, and their 43rd season in Detroit, Michigan. During the off-season, the team re-signed free agents, and former Pistons players Terry Mills, and Michael Curry.

After the retirements of All-Star guard Joe Dumars and Bison Dele, the Pistons struggled losing their first four games of the regular season, but then won 18 of their next 28 games, and held a 25–23 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, Don Reid was released to free agency, and later on signed with the Washington Wizards, while head coach Alvin Gentry was fired after a 28–30 start, and was replaced with assistant George Irvine. The Pistons won 14 of their next 24 games, and finished in fourth place in the Central Division with a 42–40 record, earning the #7 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Grant Hill averaged 25.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, while Jerry Stackhouse averaged 23.6 points and 1.3 steals per game, and Lindsey Hunter provided the team with 12.7 points, 4.0 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and also led them with 168 three-point field goals. In addition, Christian Laettner provided with 12.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, while Jerome Williams played a sixth man role off the bench, averaging 8.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, Mills contributed 6.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, and Curry contributed 6.2 points per game off the bench.

Hill and Stackhouse were both selected for the 2000 NBA All-Star Game in Oakland, California. Hill also finished in eighth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Stackhouse finished in third place in Most Improved Player voting, and Williams finished in fifth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.

However, Hill suffered a devastating ankle injury in April, then re-injured his ankle during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference First Round of the 2000 NBA playoffs against the Miami Heat; without Hill, the Pistons lost Game 3 at The Palace of Auburn Hills to the Heat, 91–72, thus losing the series in three straight games.

Following the season, Hill was traded to the Orlando Magic after six seasons in Detroit, while Hunter was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, and Laettner and Mills were both dealt to the Dallas Mavericks, while Loy Vaught was traded to the Mavericks in a separate trade. However, Mills was released by the Mavericks, and signed as a free agent with the Indiana Pacers.

For the season, the Pistons added new dark red alternate road uniforms with black side panels, which remained in use until 2001.

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

:z - clinched division title
:y - clinched division title
:x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

Playoffs

, - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
, 1
, April 22
, @ Miami

L 85–95
, Jerry Stackhouse (23)
, Hill, Williams (9)
, Grant Hill (5)
, American Airlines Arena
16,500
, 0–1
, - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
, 2
, April 25
, @ Miami

L 82–84
, Jerry Stackhouse (26)
, Stackhouse, Williams (7)
, Grant Hill (4)
, American Airlines Arena
16,500
, 0–2
, - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
, 3
, April 29
, Miami

L 72–91
, Jerry Stackhouse (25)
, Christian Laettner (7)
, Jerry Stackhouse (3)
, The Palace of Auburn Hills
14,507
, 0–3
, -

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Player Statistics Citation:

Awards and records

*Grant Hill, All-NBA Second Team

Transactions

References

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Detroit Pistons seasons
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