[1] The team played at Cobo Arena in Detroit.
Expansion in the NBA, with new teams in San Diego and Seattle, forced the league to move to the deeper Eastern Conference.
Still, Detroit improved significantly, finishing 40-42 (.488), 4th in the Eastern Division.
The team advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 1963, losing in the division semi-finals to the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics 4–2.
Detroit was led on the season by guard Dave Bing (27.1 ppg, 6.4 apg, NBA All-Star) and forward Dave DeBusschere (17.9 ppg, 13.5 rpg, NBA All-Star).