Last Updated on September 17, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

League Search Page > NBA > Detroit Pistons > Roster & Statistics

The 1965–66 Detroit Pistons were led by Dave DeBusschere, whose scoring, rebounding, and all-around play made him the team’s central figure on both ends of the floor. Eddie Miles supplied consistent backcourt scoring, while Ray Scott provided additional frontcourt production and rebounding. Detroit’s statistical profile reflected a balanced attack with multiple offensive contributors and solid work on the glass, but inconsistent defensive performance limited the team’s overall effectiveness.

Roster

NO. PLAYER NAME POS HT WT DOB COLLEGE
5 Tom Van Arsdale SG 6-5 202 February 22, 1943 Indiana
10 Rod Thorn SG 6-4 195 May 23, 1941 West Virginia
10 Chico Vaughn PG 6-2 190 February 19, 1940 Southern Illinois
12 Ray Scott PF 6-9 215 July 12, 1938 New York City College of Technology, University of Portland
14 Eddie Miles PG 6-4 195 July 5, 1940 Seattle University
16 Don Kojis SF 6-5 215 July 15, 1939 Marquette
16 Joe Strawder C 6-10 235 September 21, 1940 Bradley
17 Bill Buntin C 6-7 250 May 5, 1942 Michigan
18 Bob Warlick SG 6-5 200 March 20, 1941 University of Southern Colorado, Pepperdine
20 Ron Reed PF 6-5 205 November 2, 1942 Notre Dame
21 John Barnhill PG 6-1 180 March 20, 1938 Tennessee State
21 Joe Caldwell SF 6-5 195 November 1, 1941 Arizona State
22 Dave DeBusschere SF 6-6 220 October 16, 1940 Detroit Mercy
23 John Tresvant PF 6-7 215 November 6, 1939 Seattle University
24 Donnie Butcher PG 6-2 200 February 8, 1936 Pikeville College

Regular Season Per Game

PLR POS AGE GP GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Eddie Miles PG 25 80   34.9 19.6 3.8 2.8       17.7 7.9 .447       5.0 3.7 .741
Ray Scott PF 27 79   33.6 17.9 9.6 3.0       16.6 6.9 .416       5.5 4.1 .743
Dave DeBusschere SF 25 79   34.1 16.4 11.6 2.6       16.3 6.6 .408       4.8 3.2 .659
Rod Thorn SG 24 27   30.2 13.9 3.7 2.4       12.7 5.3 .417       4.6 3.3 .732
Tom Van Arsdale SG 22 79   25.8 10.5 3.9 2.6       10.6 3.9 .374       3.7 2.6 .721
Joe Caldwell SF 24 33   21.7 10.5 5.8 2.0       10.2 4.3 .423       2.7 1.8 .682
Joe Strawder C 25 79   27.6 8.6 10.4 1.0       7.8 3.2 .408       3.2 2.2 .688
John Tresvant PF 26 46   16.4 8.3 6.1 1.3       7.0 2.9 .416       3.4 2.5 .728
Bill Buntin C 23 42   17.0 7.7 6.0 0.9       7.1 2.8 .395       3.4 2.1 .615
Chico Vaughn PG 25 37   20.9 7.6 1.7 2.8       7.6 3.0 .390       2.2 1.6 .732
John Barnhill PG 27 45   20.6 7.5 2.5 2.5       8.1 3.1 .383       2.2 1.3 .602
Ron Reed PF 23 57   17.5 7.5 5.9 1.6       9.2 3.3 .355       1.8 0.9 .540
Don Kojis SF 27 60   13.1 7.3 4.3 0.7       7.3 3.0 .415       2.4 1.3 .539
Donnie Butcher PG 29 15   19.0 7.2 2.2 2.0       6.4 3.0 .469       2.3 1.2 .529
Bob Warlick SG 24 10   7.8 2.4 1.6 1.0       3.8 1.1 .289       0.6 0.2 .333
TEAM TOTALS **  **  80 **  240.0 110.3 67.8 19.6 **  **  **  106.3 43.4 .409 **  **  **  34.2 23.5 .687

Regular Season Totals

PLAYER POS AGE GP GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Eddie Miles PG 25 80   2788 1566 302 221       1418 634 .447       402 298 .741
Ray Scott PF 27 79   2652 1411 755 238       1309 544 .416       435 323 .743
Dave DeBusschere SF 25 79   2696 1297 916 209       1284 524 .408       378 249 .659
Tom Van Arsdale SG 22 79   2041 833 309 205       834 312 .374       290 209 .721
Joe Strawder C 25 79   2180 676 820 78       613 250 .408       256 176 .688
Don Kojis SF 27 60   783 440 260 42       439 182 .415       141 76 .539
Ron Reed PF 23 57   997 426 339 92       524 186 .355       100 54 .540
John Tresvant PF 26 46   756 383 279 62       322 134 .416       158 115 .728
Rod Thorn SG 24 27   815 376 101 64       343 143 .417       123 90 .732
Joe Caldwell SF 24 33   716 346 190 65       338 143 .423       88 60 .682
John Barnhill PG 27 45   926 337 112 113       363 139 .383       98 59 .602
Bill Buntin C 23 42   713 324 252 36       299 118 .395       143 88 .615
Chico Vaughn PG 25 37   774 280 63 104       282 110 .390       82 60 .732
Donnie Butcher PG 29 15   285 108 33 30       96 45 .469       34 18 .529
Bob Warlick SG 24 10   78 24 16 10       38 11 .289       6 2 .333
TEAM TOTALS **  **  80 **  19200 8827 4747 1569 **  **  **  8502 3475 .409 ** **  **  2734 1877 .687

HeatingUp Impact Index: Team Impact Spotlight

Player Name Role Tier MPG Usage Tier PPG RPG APG STK (SPG+BPG) Impact Index* Notes Awards
Eddie Miles Primary Scoring Guard / Offensive Focal Point 34.9 High 19.6 3.8 2.8 n/a (pre-tracking) 13.1 Led team scoring despite Detroit struggling — “a young scorer … had a career year … on a club that went 22-58.”  AS (All-Star) 
Dave DeBusschere Two-Way Anchor / Rebounding & Inside Presence 34.1 High-Moderate 16.4 11.6 2.6 n/a (pre-tracking) 15.3 Despite poor team results, remained the rebounding and defensive “backbone” — top rebounder on a thin roster.  AS (All-Star) 
Ray Scott Secondary Big / Front-Court Workhorse 33.6 High-Moderate 17.9 9.6 3.0 n/a (pre-tracking) 15.2 Gave the Pistons needed interior scoring, rebounding, and occasionally playmaking — provided much-needed front-court stability.   
Rod Thorn Supporting Wing / Scoring Spurts 30.2 Moderate 13.9 3.7 2.4 n/a (pre-tracking) 10.0 In limited games, he provided a scoring punch and wing depth — decent efficiency on limited usage.   
Tom Van Arsdale Young Role Player / Swing Guard-Forward 25.8 Moderate-Low 10.5 3.9 2.6 n/a (pre-tracking) 8.5 As a rookie or younger rotation piece, provided periodic offense and versatility; a modest but useful contributor amid a weak supporting cast.  NBA All-Rookie Team 1st — as noted on roster context. 
Joe Strawder Backup/Spot Big / Rebounding Depth 27.6 Low 8.6 10.4 1.0 n/a (pre-tracking) 10.0 Offered solid front-court rebounding and interior minutes off the bench — one of the more reliable “big man” reserves in a thin big-man rotation.   
Joe Caldwell Reserve Forward / Bench Swingman 21.7 Low–Moderate 10.5 5.8 2.0 n/a (pre-tracking) 9.1 Provided occasional scoring and front-court minutes; a bench asset when starters needed rest or in foul trouble.   
John Tresvant Rotational Forward / Depth Piece 16.4 Low 8.3 6.1 1.3 n/a (pre-tracking) 7.9 Gave modest front-court depth, filling in sporadically and contributing on boards and defense when called upon.   
Bill Buntin Rookie/Young Big — Development Project 17.0 Low 7.7 6.0 0.9 n/a (pre-tracking) 7.3 As a rookie, showed flashes of rebound and interior aptitude — a developmental center/fourth-big option on a struggling club.   
Ron Reed Depth Forward / Spot Minutes 17.5 Low 7.5 5.9 1.6 n/a (pre-tracking) 7.5 Offered occasional front-court minutes and rebounding/defensive support, but with limited role and impact.   
Don Kojis Occasional Forward / Role-Player 13.1 Low 7.3 4.3 0.7 n/a (pre-tracking) 6.1 Had limited playing time, contributing modest scoring and front-court depth — more of a complementary piece than core rotation.   
Chico Vaughn Backup Guard / Bench Depth 20.9 Low 7.6 1.7 2.8 n/a (pre-tracking) 6.0 Served as secondary guard depth — provided occasional ball-handling or back-up minutes, but never a major contributor on this roster.   
John Barnhill Short-Term Guard Depth 20.6 Low 7.5 2.5 2.5 n/a (pre-tracking) 6.3 Played a limited bench role; contributed sporadic guard minutes and backup playmaking.   
Donnie Butcher Fringe Guard / Spot Minutes 19.0 Very Low 7.2 2.2 2.0 n/a (pre-tracking) 5.7 Saw very limited action — more of a roster filler than a meaningful rotation piece.   
Bob Warlick Fringe / Very Occasional Contributor 7.8 Very Low 2.4 1.6 1.0 n/a (pre-tracking) 2.5 Barely featured; negligible impact over extremely limited minutes.