The 2008–09 Detroit Pistons season was the 68th season of the franchise, the 61st in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the 52nd in the Detroit area. The season was the first under new head coach Michael Curry, who took over for Flip Saunders who was fired at the conclusion of the 2007–08 season. In the playoffs, the Pistons were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games in the first round. During the season, the Pistons traded Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Allen Iverson. McDyess was waived by the Nuggets and was re-signed by the Pistons. It was their first losing season since 2000–01, and the first time they didn't reach the Eastern Conference finals since 2001–02. The 2008–09 season was also the last time the Pistons qualified for the playoffs, until 2015–16 where they were also swept by the Cavaliers and again in the first round. Following the season, Rasheed Wallace signed as a free agent with the Boston Celtics, Iverson left to sign with the Memphis Grizzlies, McDyess signed with the San Antonio Spurs, and Curry was fired.

Draft picks

On the day of the draft, the Pistons traded D. J. White to the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for the rights to Seattle's number 32 and number 46 picks. The picks were used to select Walter Sharpe from Alabama–Birmingham and Trent Plaisted from Brigham Young, respectively.

Roster

Regular season

Standings

Game log

22,076 22,076 11,023 18,602 17,767 22,076 11,423 18,477 18,997 18,422 22,076 18,624 22,076 22,076 22,076 22,076 17,582 22,076 19,763 14,707 22,076 17,373 22,076 22,076 15,233 22,076 22,076 17,086 22,076 22,076 22,076 17,968 20,644 19,682 19,911 22,076 11,964 19,136 22,076 17,483 22,076 22,076 22,076 14,232 22,076 22,076 21,720 17,297 22,076 21,896 20,124 20,217 22,076 20,562 19,600 17,215 17,461 18,624 22,076 22,076 19,101 20,039 20,135 19,800 22,076 20,427 18,275 22,076 22,076 20,502 22,076 20,173 22,076 20,562 15,105 19,832 22,076 19,763 22,076 17,116 22,076 19,600

Playoffs

Game log

20,562 20,562 22,076 22,076

Trades

Free agents

Additions

Subtractions

Player statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Pistons only.