The Detroit Pistons had the worst record in the league this season, continuing a run of futility that stretches back four seasons.
It’s been four years since the Detroit Pistons made the playoffs, a drought that is second-worst in the NBA behind the Charlotte Hornets, who haven’t been to the playoffs in seven years and counting.
The Sacramento Kings held the record before they made the playoffs this season and their 16-year drought was the longest in all of the four major North American sports.
The Kings got a win in game 1 against the Golden State Warriors, which not only ended their playoff drought but their streak of not having won a playoff game, which was the longest in modern NBA history.
It’s a title that has now been passed to the Detroit Pistons, who are hoping that they are the next team to break a lengthy streak of failing to get a win in the playoffs.
Detroit Pistons’ playoff drought is longest in the NBA
The Detroit Pistons haven’t won a playoff game since 2008, which seems almost impossible given that they were once one of the most successful teams in the NBA and a regular feature of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
It has now been 15 years since the Pistons won a playoff game, the longest active streak in the NBA.
The Pistons have made the playoffs 41 times in their 74 years of existence, winning three titles, but they’ve only been to the playoffs twice in the last 10 years and got swept both times.
It’s also been 15 years since they won a playoff series (vs. Orlando) which is tied for 4th-worst behind Charlotte, Sacramento and Minnesota, who haven’t won a playoff series in 19 years.
In other words, the Detroit Pistons went from one of the premier franchises in the 2000’s, to one a list with three teams that have historically been among the worst in the NBA.
Troy Weaver is hoping to change this soon, and he’ll have his work cut out for him, as the Pistons’ roster needs an overhaul and they are still looking for a new head coach.