2011–12 Detroit Pistons season

The 2011–12 Detroit Pistons season was the 71st season of the franchise, the 64th in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the 55th in the Detroit area. In their first season under head coach Lawrence Frank the team finished with a 25–41 record and in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. In February, center Ben Wallace announced his retirement after 16 seasons, 9 of them spent with the Pistons.

Richard Hamilton was not on the roster for the first time since the 2001-02 season, as he signed with the Chicago Bulls in December.

Pre-season

 * - bgcolor=#fcc
 * 1
 * December 16
 * Cleveland
 * Austin Daye (18)
 * Greg Monroe (13)
 * Brandon Knight (4)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 7,927
 * 0–1
 * - bgcolor=#cfc
 * 2
 * December 20
 * @ Cleveland
 * Austin Daye (19)
 * Greg Monroe Jonas Jerebko (7)
 * Brandon Knight (6)
 * Quicken Loans Arena 9,853
 * 1–1
 * Quicken Loans Arena 9,853
 * 1–1

Game log

 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 1
 * December 26
 * @ Indiana
 * Rodney Stuckey (17)
 * Three players (7)
 * Rodney Stuckey (6)
 * Bankers Life Fieldhouse 18,165
 * 0–1
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 2
 * December 28
 * Cleveland
 * Ben Gordon (25)
 * Greg Monroe (7)
 * Brandon Knight (6)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
 * 0–2
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 3
 * December 30
 * @ Boston
 * Greg Monroe (22)
 * Greg Monroe (9)
 * Rodney Stuckey (7)
 * TD Garden 18,624
 * 0–3
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 4
 * December 31
 * Indiana
 * Jonas Jerebko (20)
 * Jonas Jerebko (12)
 * Brandon Knight (6)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 8,824
 * 1–3
 * Jonas Jerebko (12)
 * Brandon Knight (6)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 8,824
 * 1–3


 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 5
 * January 2
 * Orlando
 * Ben Gordon (26)
 * Jonas Jerebko (11)
 * Ben Gordon (6)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 8,120
 * 2–3
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 6
 * January 4
 * Chicago
 * Greg Monroe (19)
 * Greg Monroe (13)
 * Greg Monroe (5)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 9,125
 * 2–4
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 7
 * January 6
 * @ Philadelphia
 * Greg Monroe (22)
 * Jonas Jerebko Brandon Knight (9)
 * Brandon Knight (4)
 * Wells Fargo Center 19,408
 * 2–5
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 8
 * January 7
 * New York
 * Brandon Knight (19)
 * Three players (6)
 * Brandon Knight (6)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 12,044
 * 2–6
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 9
 * January 9
 * @ Chicago
 * Greg Monroe (14)
 * Greg Monroe (10)
 * Greg Monroe (6)
 * United Center 21,530
 * 2–7
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 10
 * January 10
 * Dallas
 * Will Bynum (20)
 * Greg Monroe (7)
 * Austin Daye (4)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 10,073
 * 2–8
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 11
 * January 12
 * @ Milwaukee
 * Greg Monroe (32)
 * Greg Monroe (16)
 * Three players (4)
 * Bradley Center 11,465
 * 2–9
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 12
 * January 13
 * @ Charlotte
 * Jonas Jerebko (22)
 * Brandon Knight (10)
 * Two players (5)
 * Time Warner Cable Arena 18,043
 * 3–9
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 13
 * January 15
 * Golden State
 * Greg Monroe (25)
 * Greg Monroe (8)
 * Two players (6)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 11,774
 * 3–10
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 14
 * January 17
 * @ Houston
 * Tayshaun Prince (20)
 * Greg Monroe (11)
 * Greg Monroe (6)
 * Toyota Center 9,318
 * 3–11
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 15
 * January 18
 * @ Minnesota
 * Tayshaun Prince (29)
 * Greg Monroe (12)
 * Brandon Knight (6)
 * Target Center 15,598
 * 3–12
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 16
 * January 20
 * Memphis
 * Brandon Knight (22)
 * Greg Monroe (13)
 * Greg Monroe (4)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 10,255
 * 3–13
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 17
 * January 21
 * Portland
 * Rodney Stuckey (28)
 * Greg Monroe (8)
 * Rodney Stuckey (5)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 14,456
 * 4–13
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 18
 * January 23
 * @ Oklahoma City
 * Brandon Knight (13)
 * Two players (7)
 * Two players (3)
 * Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,023
 * 4–14
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 19
 * January 25
 * Miami
 * Austin Daye (28)
 * Greg Monroe (10)
 * Rodney Stuckey (6)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 18,058
 * 4–15
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 20
 * January 27
 * Atlanta
 * Greg Monroe (22)
 * Greg Monroe (11)
 * Brandon Knight (8)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 14,010
 * 4–16
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 21
 * January 28
 * @ Philadelphia
 * Greg Monroe (16)
 * Greg Monroe (10)
 * Walker Russel (5)
 * Wells Fargo Center 18,710
 * 4–17
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 22
 * January 30
 * @ Milwaukee
 * Rodney Stuckey (19)
 * Greg Monroe (10)
 * Two players (6)
 * Bradley Center 13,103
 * 4–18
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 23
 * January 31
 * @ New York
 * Jonas Jerebko (15)
 * Greg Monroe (12)
 * Two players (3)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,763
 * 4–19
 * 22
 * January 30
 * @ Milwaukee
 * Rodney Stuckey (19)
 * Greg Monroe (10)
 * Two players (6)
 * Bradley Center 13,103
 * 4–18
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 23
 * January 31
 * @ New York
 * Jonas Jerebko (15)
 * Greg Monroe (12)
 * Two players (3)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,763
 * 4–19
 * Madison Square Garden 19,763
 * 4–19


 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 24
 * February 1
 * @ New Jersey
 * Two players (21)
 * Greg Monroe (8)
 * Three players (4)
 * Prudential Center 10,504
 * 4–20
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 25
 * February 3
 * Milwaukee
 * Brandon Knight (26)
 * Jason Maxiell (12)
 * Brandon Knight (7)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 13,181
 * 5–20
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 26
 * February 4
 * New Orleans
 * Greg Monroe (24)
 * Greg Monroe (16)
 * Tayshaun Prince (5)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 13,174
 * 6–20
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 27
 * February 8
 * @ New Jersey
 * Greg Monroe (20)
 * Greg Monroe (12)
 * Rodney Stuckey (6)
 * Prudential Center 10,145
 * 7–20
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 28
 * February 10
 * New Jersey
 * Jonas Jerebko (20)
 * Greg Monroe (11)
 * Three players (5)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 14,320
 * 8–20
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 29
 * February 12
 * Washington
 * Greg Monroe (27)
 * Ben Wallace (7)
 * Walker Russell (4)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 12,654
 * 8–21
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 30
 * February 14
 * San Antonio
 * Rodney Stuckey (23)
 * Jason Maxiell (9)
 * Rodney Stuckey (8)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 11,533
 * 8–22
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 31
 * February 15
 * @ Boston
 * Rodney Stuckey (25)
 * Ben Wallace (11)
 * Rodney Stuckey (4)
 * TD Garden 18,624
 * 9–22
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 32
 * February 17
 * Sacramento
 * Rodney Stuckey (36)
 * Tayshaun Prince (10)
 * Brandon Knight (10)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 14,686
 * 10–22
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 33
 * February 19
 * Boston
 * Greg Monroe (17)
 * Two players (10)
 * Three players (3)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
 * 11–22
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 34
 * February 21
 * @ Cleveland
 * Brandon Knight (24)
 * Greg Monroe (11)
 * Greg Monroe (7)
 * Quicken Loans Arena 13,459
 * 11–23
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 35
 * February 22
 * @ Toronto
 * Greg Monroe (30)
 * Greg Monroe (14)
 * Walker Russell (4)
 * Air Canada Centre 17,125
 * 11–24
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 36
 * February 28
 * Philadelphia
 * Greg Monroe (20)
 * Two players (8)
 * Greg Monroe (3)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 11,916
 * 11–25
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 37
 * February 29
 * Charlotte
 * Rodney Stuckey (29)
 * Greg Monroe (20)
 * Brandon Knight (5)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 14,534
 * 12–25
 * Two players (8)
 * Greg Monroe (3)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 11,916
 * 11–25
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 37
 * February 29
 * Charlotte
 * Rodney Stuckey (29)
 * Greg Monroe (20)
 * Brandon Knight (5)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 14,534
 * 12–25
 * 12–25


 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 38
 * March 3
 * @ Memphis
 * Rodney Stuckey (20)
 * Greg Monroe (11)
 * Two players (4)
 * FedEx Forum 17,659
 * 12–26
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 39
 * March 6
 * L. A. Lakers
 * Rodney Stuckey (34)
 * Greg Monroe (15)
 * Ben Gordon(5)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
 * 13–26
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 40
 * March 9
 * Atlanta
 * Greg Monroe (20)
 * Jason Maxiell (12)
 * Rodney Stuckey (7)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 15,503
 * 14–26
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 41
 * March 10
 * Toronto
 * Rodney Stuckey (20)
 * Ben Wallace (8)
 * Rodney Stuckey (8)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 16,090
 * 15–26
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 42
 * March 12
 * @ Utah
 * Rodney Stuckey (29)
 * Two players (5)
 * Rodney Stuckey (7)
 * EnergySolutions Arena 19,393
 * 15–27
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 43
 * March 14
 * @ Sacramento
 * Rodney Stuckey (35)
 * Greg Monroe (11)
 * Brandon Knight (11)
 * Power Balance Pavilion 12,173
 * 16–27
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 44
 * March 16
 * @ Phoenix
 * Rodney Stuckey (23)
 * Greg Monroe (9)
 * Rodney Stuckey (8)
 * US Airways Center 17,148
 * 16–28
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 45
 * March 18
 * @ L. A. Clippers
 * Greg Monroe (23)
 * Greg Monroe (15)
 * Two players (5)
 * Staples Center 19,060
 * 16–29
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 46
 * March 21
 * @ Denver
 * Ben Gordon (45)
 * Greg Monroe (11)
 * Ben Gordon (8)
 * Pepsi Center 16,681
 * 16–30
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 47
 * March 23
 * Miami
 * Brandon Knight (18)
 * Jason Maxiell (7)
 * Will Bynum (6)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
 * 16–31
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 48
 * March 24
 * @ New York
 * Ben Gordon (20)
 * Ben Wallace (7)
 * Walker Russell (4)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,763
 * 16–32
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 49
 * March 26
 * @ Washington
 * Rodney Stuckey (24)
 * Jonas Jerebko (12)
 * Brandon Knight (7)
 * Verizon Center 15,911
 * 17–32
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 50
 * March 28
 * @ Cleveland
 * Tayshaun Prince (29)
 * Greg Monroe (10)
 * Brandon Knight (5)
 * Quicken Loans Arena 14,486
 * 18–32
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 51
 * March 30
 * @ Chicago
 * Brandon Knight (16)
 * Greg Monroe (10)
 * Tayshaun Prince (6)
 * United Center 22,385
 * 18–33
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 52
 * March 31
 * Charlotte
 * Tayshaun Prince (24)
 * Two players (9)
 * Brandon Knight (6)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 17,082
 * 19–33
 * Brandon Knight (16)
 * Greg Monroe (10)
 * Tayshaun Prince (6)
 * United Center 22,385
 * 18–33
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 52
 * March 31
 * Charlotte
 * Tayshaun Prince (24)
 * Two players (9)
 * Brandon Knight (6)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 17,082
 * 19–33
 * 19–33


 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 53
 * April 3
 * Orlando
 * Greg Monroe (22)
 * Greg Monroe (11)
 * Ben Gordon (7)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 16,741
 * 20–33
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 54
 * April 5
 * Washington
 * Greg Monroe (18)
 * Jason Maxiell (11)
 * Three players (3)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 12,681
 * 21–33
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 55
 * April 6
 * @ Atlanta
 * Rodney Stuckey (27)
 * Greg Monroe (8)
 * Greg Monroe (4)
 * Philips Arena 15,143
 * 21–34
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 56
 * April 8
 * @ Miami
 * Brandon Knight (16)
 * Two players (7)
 * Ben Gordon (2)
 * American Airlines Arena 20,017
 * 21–35
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 57
 * April 9
 * @ Orlando
 * Tayshaun Prince (21)
 * Tayshaun Prince (8)
 * Will Bynum (5)
 * Amway Center 18,998
 * 21–36
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 58
 * April 12
 * @ Charlotte
 * Greg Monroe (25)
 * Greg Monroe (11)
 * Two players (7)
 * Time Warner Cable Arena 10,828
 * 22–36
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 59
 * April 13
 * Milwaukee
 * Brandon Knight (25)
 * Greg Monroe (10)
 * Brandon Knight (8)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 15,255
 * 22–37
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 60
 * April 15
 * Chicago
 * Rodney Stuckey (32)
 * Jason Maxiell (9)
 * Brandon Knight (7)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 17,450
 * 22–38
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 61
 * April 17
 * Cleveland
 * Brandon Knight (28)
 * Greg Monroe (13)
 * Brandon Knight (7)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 11,595
 * 23–38
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 62
 * April 18
 * @ Atlanta
 * Greg Monroe (17)
 * Vernon Macklin (9)
 * Two players (3)
 * Philips Arena 14,392
 * 23–39
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 63
 * April 19
 * Minnesota
 * Tayshaun Prince (18)
 * Charlie Villanueva (12)
 * Three players (3)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 12,458
 * 23–40
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 64
 * April 22
 * Toronto
 * Two players (19)
 * Greg Monroe (17)
 * Rodney Stuckey (6)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 14,370
 * 24–40
 * - bgcolor=#ffcccc
 * 65
 * April 23
 * @Indiana
 * Greg Monroe (18)
 * Greg Monroe (12)
 * Will Bynum (5)
 * Bankers Life Fieldhouse 13,584
 * 24–41
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 66
 * April 26
 * Philadelphia
 * Ben Gordon (26)
 * Ben Wallace (12)
 * Brandon Knight (7)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 15,372
 * 25–41
 * Greg Monroe (12)
 * Will Bynum (5)
 * Bankers Life Fieldhouse 13,584
 * 24–41
 * - bgcolor=#ccffcc
 * 66
 * April 26
 * Philadelphia
 * Ben Gordon (26)
 * Ben Wallace (12)
 * Brandon Knight (7)
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills 15,372
 * 25–41
 * 25–41

Season

 * - align="center" bgcolor=""
 * Greg Monroe
 * style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" |66 ||style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" |66 || 31.5 || .521 || .000 || .739 ||style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" |9.7 || 2.3 ||style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" |1.3 || .7 ||style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" |15.4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="f0f0f0"
 * Rodney Stuckey
 * 55 || 48 || 29.9 || .429 || .317 || .834 || 2.6 ||style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" |3.8 || .8 || .2 || 14.8
 * - align="center" bgcolor=""
 * Brandon Knight
 * style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" |66 || 60 || 32.3 || .415 || .380 || .759 || 3.2 ||style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" |3.8 || .7 || .2 || 12.8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="f0f0f0"
 * Tayshaun Prince
 * 63 || 63 ||style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" |33.1 || .421 || .356 || .774 || 4.5 || 2.4 || .4 || .5 || 12.7
 * - align="center" bgcolor=""
 * Ben Gordon
 * 52 || 21 || 26.9 || .442 ||style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" |.429 ||style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" |.860 || 2.3 || 2.4 || .7 || .2 || 12.5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="f0f0f0"
 * Jonas Jerebko
 * 64 || 13 || 22.9 || .468 || .302 || .806 || 4.8 || .7 || .6 || .3 || 8.7
 * - align="center" bgcolor=""
 * Charlie Villanueva
 * 13 || 0 || 13.8 || .385 || .333 || .857 || 3.7 || .5 || .5 || .4 || 7.0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="f0f0f0"
 * Jason Maxiell
 * 65 || 42 || 22.6 || .478 || .000 || .547 || 5.1 || .6 || .5 ||style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" |.8 || 6.5
 * - align="center" bgcolor=""
 * Will Bynum
 * 36 || 0 || 14.3 || .381 || .241 || .766 || 1.6 || 1.8 || .6 || .1 || 5.7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="f0f0f0"
 * Austin Daye
 * 41 || 4 || 14.7 || .322 || .210 || .814 || 2.2 || .8 || .5 || .5 || 4.7
 * - align="center" bgcolor=""
 * Damien Wilkins
 * 60 || 2 || 15.4 || .394 || .304 || .630 || 1.7 || .7 || .5 || .2 || 3.2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="f0f0f0"
 * Walker Russell, Jr.
 * 28 || 0 || 12.8 || .347 || .308 || .636 || .9 || 2.1 || .6 || .0 || 3.0
 * - align="center" bgcolor=""
 * Vernon Macklin
 * 23 || 0 || 5.9 ||style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" |.543 || || .571 || 1.5 || .2 || .2 || .2 || 2.0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="f0f0f0"
 * Ben Wallace (basketball)
 * 62 || 11 || 15.8 || .395 || .250 || .340 || 4.3 || .7 || .8 ||style="background:#eb003c;color:white;" |.8 || 1.4
 * }

Disciplinary actions

 * Charlie Villanueva missed the first four games of the regular season following a suspension after a scuffle during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers with Cavs center Ryan Hollins.

Awards

 * Brandon Knight was selected for the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Free agents
Many players signed with teams from other leagues due to the 2011 NBA lockout. FIBA allows players under NBA contracts to sign and play for teams from other leagues if the contracts have opt-out clauses that allow the players to return to the NBA if the lockout ends. The Chinese Basketball Association, however, only allows its clubs to sign foreign free agents who could play for at least the entire season.