TheDetroit Pistons began their history in 1937 as the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, a semi-professional company basketball team based inFort Wayne,Indiana.[1] They would turn professional in 1941 when they joined theNational Basketball League (NBL).[2] In 1948, the team was renamed the Fort Wayne Pistons and joined theBasketball Association of America (BAA), merging with the NBL to form the NBA one year later.[2] After nine seasons in Fort Wayne, the team relocated toDetroit in 1957 to compete financially with other big city teams.[3]
To help the Pistons acquire local players,territorial picks were instituted from1949 until1965. Territorial picks were used as a type of special draft choice used in theNBA draft. Prior to the league's draft, a team could forfeit its first round draft pick and select a player from within 50 miles (80 km). Territorial picks were then eliminated when the draft was revamped in1966.[4] Before the1989 NBA draft, the draft had more than two rounds. After 1989, the NBA agreed with the National Basketball Players' Association to limit drafts to two rounds.[4] Teams can also trade their picks, so some years a team could have more than or less than two picks.
| Abbreviation | Meaning | Abbreviation | Meaning |
| T | Territorial pick | G | Guard |
| PG | Point guard | SG | Shooting guard |
| F | Forward | SF | Small forward |
| PF | Power forward | C | Center |
| Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer | (#) | Retired Pistons' Number | |
| Selected for an NBA All-Star Game | |||
| First overall NBA draft pick |
