[1] The team moved to newly built Cobo Arena in the 1961–62 season.
The Pistons were led by guard Gene Shue (19.0 ppg, 5.8 apg, NBA All-Star) and forward Bailey Howell (19.9 ppg, 12.6 rpg).
The Pistons also featured rookie Ray Scott (13.3 ppg, 11.5 rpg), who would go on to a long career with the Pistons as a player and eventually coaching the team.
For the thirteenth straight season, the Pistons made the playoffs, with this being the seventh time they finished third place in the Western Division.
Detroit faced the Cincinnati Royals and star Oscar Robertson in the Western Division semifinals; the Pistons won in four games to advance to the Division Finals for the first time in four years, facing the Los Angeles Lakers.