1992–93 Detroit Pistons season

The 1992–93 NBA season was the 45th season for the Detroit Pistons in the National Basketball Association, and their 36th season in Detroit, Michigan. During the off-season, the Pistons signed free agent Terry Mills, and acquired Olden Polynice from the Los Angeles Clippers. Under new head coach Ron Rothstein, the Pistons years of battle would catch up with them, as they lost nine of their first eleven games of the regular season. However, they would win ten of their next eleven games to climb back into playoff connection, but then slip below .500 holding a 21–29 record at the All-Star break.

At mid-season, the team traded Orlando Woolridge to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for All-Star guard Alvin Robertson. After posting many winning and losing streaks throughout the entire season, the Pistons missed the NBA playoffs for the first time in ten years, finishing in sixth place in the Central Division with a 40–42 record.

Joe Dumars averaged 23.5 points and 4.0 assists per game, led the Pistons with 112 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, while Isiah Thomas averaged 17.6 points, 8.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game, and Mills provided the team with 14.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. In addition, Mark Aguirre contributed 9.9 points per game off the bench, but only played 51 games due to injuries and weight problems, while Bill Laimbeer averaged 8.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, Polynice provided with 7.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, and Dennis Rodman contributed 7.5 points, and led the league with 18.3 rebounds per game.

Dumars and Thomas were both selected for the 1993 NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, Utah, which would be Thomas's final All-Star appearance, and Dumars and Rodman were both named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team; Dumars also finished tied in tenth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Mills finished tied in eleventh place in Most Improved Player voting, and Rodman finished in fourth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

However, Rodman's bizarre behavior off the court was a great concern as he was involved in several off-the-court incidents, including a suicide attempt. Following the season, he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs after seven seasons in Detroit, while Aguirre signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Clippers, and Rothstein was fired as head coach after just one season with the Pistons.