After 16 years in the small town of Fort Wayne, Indiana the Pistons hit the road and ended up in Detroit. Owner Fred Zollner decided to keep the name Pistons since, Detroit is known as the automobile manufacturing capital of the world.

In their first season in Detroit the Pistons played at the old Olympia posting a 33-39 record while finishing in second place, as George Yardley led the league with 27. 8 ppg.

In the playoffs the Pistons would get past the Cincinnati Royals in two straight games to reach the Western Finals. However, in the Western Finals they would be dominated in five games by the St.

Louis Hawks, losing the final two games by a combined 78 points.