The new Detroit Pistons played home games at Olympia Stadium, home of the Detroit Red Wings, and struggled to find a footing in their new hometown.
[1] Team owner Fred Zollner provided the team with their own aircraft to travel for road games, but the NBA responded with a difficult travel schedule, especially during the winter, as the Pistons could avoid commercial air delays.
The Pistons went 33–39 (.458) during the season, tied for second in the Western Division, with the Cincinnati Royals, eight games behind the St. Louis Hawks, but were awarded the second seed on tie-breakers.
[2] The Pistons defeated the Royals in two straight games in the West Semifinal series, but lost the West Finals to the Hawks 4–1.
[3] The team was led by forward George Yardley (27.8 ppg, 10.7 rpg, NBA All-Star) and guards Gene Shue (15.6 ppg, NBA All-Star) and Dick McGuire (8.1 ppg, 6.6 apg, NBA All-Star).