The 1997–98 NBA season was the Pistons' 50th season in the National Basketball Association, and 41st season in the city of Detroit. Despite signing free agents Brian Williams and Malik Sealy during the offseason, the Pistons got off to a slow start with a 6–11 record as Joe Dumars missed ten games due to injury. In late December, they traded Theo Ratliff and Aaron McKie to the Philadelphia 76ers for Jerry Stackhouse and Eric Montross. At midseason, head coach Doug Collins was fired after a 21–24 start, and was replaced with Alvin Gentry. Collins would later on get a job as color analyst for the NBA on NBC. Despite another stellar season from Grant Hill, who was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game, the Pistons missed the playoffs finishing sixth in the Central Division with a 37–45 record. Following the season, Sealy signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Grant Long re-signed with the Atlanta Hawks, and Rick Mahorn re-signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.

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