Detroit Pistons 1997-98 Roster and Statistics

Last Updated on September 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

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The Detroit Pistons 1997–98 relied on Grant Hill as the centerpiece of the offense, combining elite scoring, playmaking, and rebounding while driving nearly every aspect of the team’s attack. Jerry Stackhouse provided a significant secondary scoring threat, with Theo Ratliff anchoring the defense through rebounding and shot blocking. Detroit’s statistical profile points to a balanced team that generated offense through its stars, defended the paint effectively, but received more modest offensive production from the supporting cast.

Roster

NO.	PLAYER NAME	POS	HT	WT	DATE OF BIRTH	COLLEGE
00	Eric Montross	C	7-0	270	September 23, 1971	UNC
1	Lindsey Hunter	PG	6-2	170	December 3, 1970	Alcorn State, Jackson State University
4	Joe Dumars	SG	6-3	190	May 24, 1963	McNeese State University
5	Charles O’Bannon	SG	6-5	209	February 22, 1975	UCLA
8	Bison Dele	C	6-11	260	April 6, 1969	Maryland, Arizona
12	Steve Henson	PG	5-11	177	February 2, 1968	Kansas State
13	Jerome Williams	PF	6-9	206	May 10, 1973	Georgetown
14	Malik Sealy	SF	6-8	190	February 1, 1970	St. John’s
23	Aaron McKie	SF	6-5	209	October 2, 1972	Temple
31	Scot Pollard	C	6-11	265	February 12, 1975	Kansas
33	Grant Hill	SF	6-8	225	October 5, 1972	Duke
42	Theo Ratliff	C	6-10	225	April 17, 1973	Wyoming
42	Jerry Stackhouse	SG	6-6	218	November 5, 1974	UNC
43	Grant Long	PF	6-8	225	March 12, 1966	Eastern Michigan
44	Rick Mahorn	C	6-10	240	September 21, 1958	Hampton
52	Don Reid	PF	6-8	250	December 30, 1973	Georgetown

Regular Season Per Game

Player	Pos	Age	GP	GS	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TOV	FGA	FGM	FG%	3PA	3PM	3P%	FTA	FTM	FT%
Grant Hill	SF	25	81	81	40.7	21.1	7.7	6.8	1.8	0.7	3.5	16.8	7.6	.452	0.3	0.0	.143	8.0	5.9	.740
Bison Dele	C	28	78	78	33.6	16.2	8.9	1.2	0.9	0.7	2.3	13.3	6.8	.511	0.0	0.0	.333	3.6	2.5	.707
Joe Dumars	SG	34	72	72	32.3	13.1	1.4	3.5	0.6	0.0	1.2	11.0	4.6	.416	5.9	2.2	.371	2.1	1.8	.825
Jerry Stackhouse	SG	23	57	15	31.5	15.7	3.3	3.1	1.0	0.7	2.6	12.1	5.2	.428	2.6	0.5	.208	6.1	4.8	.782
Lindsey Hunter	PG	27	71	67	35.3	12.1	3.5	3.2	1.7	0.1	1.5	11.6	4.5	.383	3.7	1.2	.321	2.8	2.0	.740
Malik Sealy	SF	27	77	10	21.3	7.7	2.8	1.3	0.8	0.3	1.0	6.6	2.8	.428	0.5	0.1	.220	2.4	1.9	.824
Jerome Williams	PF	24	77	3	16.9	5.3	4.9	0.6	0.7	0.1	0.8	3.7	2.0	.524	0.0	0.0	.000	2.2	1.4	.651
Don Reid	PF	24	68	44	14.6	3.5	2.6	0.4	0.4	0.8	0.4	2.6	1.4	.534	0.0	0.0		1.0	0.7	.704
Theo Ratliff	C	24	24	12	24.4	6.5	5.0	0.6	0.5	2.3	1.4	4.6	2.4	.514	0.0	0.0		2.6	1.8	.683
Rick Mahorn	C	39	59	0	12.0	2.4	3.3	0.3	0.2	0.1	0.6	2.2	1.0	.457	0.0	0.0		0.6	0.4	.676
Grant Long	PF	31	40	17	18.5	3.5	3.8	0.6	0.7	0.3	0.6	2.9	1.3	.427	0.1	0.0	.000	1.4	1.0	.719
Aaron McKie	SF	25	24	1	19.7	4.5	2.8	1.6	1.0	0.0	1.0	4.3	1.8	.413	0.7	0.1	.176	1.0	0.8	.870
Scot Pollard	C	22	33	0	9.6	2.7	2.2	0.3	0.2	0.3	0.4	2.1	1.1	.500	0.0	0.0		0.7	0.6	.826
Eric Montross	C	26	28	10	12.6	2.5	3.8	0.1	0.2	0.5	0.5	2.4	1.1	.456	0.0	0.0		0.8	0.3	.429
Charles O’Bannon	SG	22	30	0	7.8	2.1	1.1	0.6	0.3	0.0	0.3	2.3	0.9	.377	0.1	0.0	.000	0.5	0.4	.800
Steve Henson	PG	29	23	0	2.8	1.6	0.1	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.3	1.1	0.6	.500	0.3	0.1	.375	0.3	0.3	1.000
Team Totals			82	82	243.4	94.2	41.2	19.5	8.3	4.2	14.6	77.7	34.9	.449	11.4	3.6	.312	27.9	20.8	.745

Regular Season Per 36 Mins

Player	Pos	Age	GP	GS	MP	PTS	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	FGA	FGM	FG%	3PA	3PM	3P%	FTA	FTM	FT%
Grant Hill	SF	25	81	81	3294	18.7	6.8	6.0	1.6	0.6	3.1	14.9	6.7	.452	0.2	0.0	.143	7.1	5.2	.740
Bison Dele	C	28	78	78	2619	17.3	9.6	1.3	0.9	0.8	2.5	14.3	7.3	.511	0.0	0.0	.333	3.8	2.7	.707
Jerry Stackhouse	SG	23	57	15	1797	17.9	3.8	3.5	1.2	0.8	3.0	13.9	5.9	.428	3.0	0.6	.208	7.0	5.5	.782
Joe Dumars	SG	34	72	72	2326	14.6	1.6	3.9	0.7	0.0	1.3	12.2	5.1	.416	6.6	2.4	.371	2.4	2.0	.825
Malik Sealy	SF	27	77	10	1641	13.0	4.8	2.2	1.4	0.4	1.7	11.1	4.7	.428	0.9	0.2	.220	4.0	3.3	.824
Lindsey Hunter	PG	27	71	67	2505	12.4	3.5	3.2	1.8	0.1	1.6	11.9	4.5	.383	3.8	1.2	.321	2.8	2.1	.740
Jerome Williams	PF	24	77	3	1305	11.3	10.5	1.3	1.4	0.3	1.7	7.9	4.2	.524	0.0	0.0	.000	4.6	3.0	.651
Scot Pollard	C	22	33	0	317	10.1	8.4	1.0	0.9	1.1	1.4	7.9	4.0	.500	0.0	0.0		2.6	2.2	.826
Charles O’Bannon	SG	22	30	0	234	9.8	5.1	2.6	1.4	0.2	1.4	10.6	4.0	.377	0.5	0.0	.000	2.3	1.8	.800
Theo Ratliff	C	24	24	12	586	9.6	7.4	0.9	0.7	3.4	2.1	6.8	3.5	.514	0.0	0.0		3.9	2.6	.683
Don Reid	PF	24	68	44	994	8.6	6.3	0.9	0.9	2.0	1.0	6.4	3.4	.534	0.0	0.0		2.6	1.8	.704
Aaron McKie	SF	25	24	1	472	8.3	5.2	2.9	1.8	0.1	1.8	7.9	3.3	.413	1.3	0.2	.176	1.8	1.5	.870
Rick Mahorn	C	39	59	0	707	7.2	9.9	0.8	0.7	0.4	1.9	6.6	3.0	.457	0.0	0.0		1.7	1.2	.676
Eric Montross	C	26	28	10	354	7.2	10.9	0.4	0.6	1.5	1.4	6.9	3.2	.456	0.0	0.0		2.1	0.9	.429
Grant Long	PF	31	40	17	739	6.9	7.3	1.2	1.4	0.6	1.1	5.7	2.4	.427	0.2	0.0	.000	2.8	2.0	.719
Steve Henson	PG	29	23	0	65	19.9	1.1	2.2	0.6	0.0	3.3	14.4	7.2	.500	4.4	1.7	.375	3.9	3.9	1.000

Regular Season Totals

Player	Pos	Age	GP	GS	MP	PTS	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	FGA	FGM	FG%	3PA	3PM	3P%	FTA	FTM	FT%
Grant Hill	SF	25	81	81	3294	1712	623	551	143	53	285	1361	615	.452	21	3	.143	647	479	.740
Bison Dele	C	28	78	78	2619	1261	695	94	67	55	181	1040	531	.511	3	1	.333	280	198	.707
Joe Dumars	SG	34	72	72	2326	943	104	253	44	2	84	791	329	.416	426	158	.371	154	127	.825
Jerry Stackhouse	SG	23	57	15	1797	896	190	174	58	38	150	692	296	.428	149	31	.208	349	273	.782
Lindsey Hunter	PG	27	71	67	2505	862	247	224	123	10	110	826	316	.383	265	85	.321	196	145	.740
Malik Sealy	SF	27	77	10	1641	591	219	100	65	20	79	505	216	.428	41	9	.220	182	150	.824
Jerome Williams	PF	24	77	3	1305	410	379	48	51	10	60	288	151	.524	1	0	.000	166	108	.651
Don Reid	PF	24	68	44	994	238	175	26	25	55	28	176	94	.534	0	0		71	50	.704
Theo Ratliff	C	24	24	12	586	157	121	15	12	55	34	111	57	.514	0	0		63	43	.683
Grant Long	PF	31	40	17	739	141	150	25	29	12	22	117	50	.427	4	0	.000	57	41	.719
Rick Mahorn	C	39	59	0	707	141	195	15	14	7	37	129	59	.457	0	0		34	23	.676
Aaron McKie	SF	25	24	1	472	109	68	38	23	1	24	104	43	.413	17	3	.176	23	20	.870
Scot Pollard	C	22	33	0	317	89	74	9	8	10	12	70	35	.500	0	0		23	19	.826
Eric Montross	C	26	28	10	354	71	107	4	6	15	14	68	31	.456	0	0		21	9	.429
Charles O’Bannon	SG	22	30	0	234	64	33	17	9	1	9	69	26	.377	3	0	.000	15	12	.800
Steve Henson	PG	29	23	0	65	36	2	4	1	0	6	26	13	.500	8	3	.375	7	7	1.000
Team Totals			82	82	19955	7721	3382	1597	678	344	1135	6373	2862	.449	938	293	.312	2288	1704	.745

HeatingUp Impact Index: Team Impact Spotlight

Player Name	Role Tier	MPG	Usage Tier	PPG	RPG	APG	STK	Impact Index	Notes	Awards
Grant Hill	Primary Point-Forward Engine (1.1)	40.7	High	21.1	7.7	6.8	2.5	100.58	Point-forward creator and offensive organizer, Hill essentially carried Detroit’s half-court attack while also handling major rebounding and defensive responsibilities. He led the Pistons in scoring, assists and steals, and his 65 games leading the team in assists underline how often the offense ran through him. Contemporary coverage also framed him as the player expected to take Detroit to another level after the coaching change. Basketball Network	MVP-9, All-Star (1998), All-NBA Second Team (1998)
Bison Dele	Starting Interior Scoring Hub (1.05)	33.6	High	16.2	8.9	1.2	1.6	70.31	Interior scoring hub with enough passing feel to keep the offense moving, Dele gave Detroit a genuine starting center who could shoulder possessions instead of simply finishing them. His 16.2 points and 8.9 rebounds reflected a career-best season, while reporting from the period described his talent as a major part of Detroit’s investment in the roster. Basketball Network	—
Jerry Stackhouse	Sixth Man Scoring Catalyst (1.0)	31.5	High	15.7	3.3	3.1	1.7	57.12	Sixth-man scorer whose attacking mentality gave Detroit another perimeter creator after the December trade. Stackhouse was accustomed to having the ball in his hands, but Detroit initially asked him to adjust to a reserve role alongside Grant Hill and Joe Dumars, making his 15.7 points particularly useful as an injection of offense. The Sporting News	Sixth Man of the Year voting: 5th (1998)
Lindsey Hunter	Starting Point-of-Attack Guard (1.05)	35.3	Medium	12.1	3.5	3.2	1.8	47.59	Starting point guard and perimeter pressure defender, Hunter was trusted with heavy minutes while Hill functioned as the larger offensive initiator. His defensive activity was a consistent part of the backcourt equation, and a late-January game report captured his willingness to take the decisive shot even when Hill remained Detroit’s primary creator. Washington Post	—
Joe Dumars	Veteran Two-Way Backcourt Stabilizer (1.05)	32.3	Medium	13.1	1.4	3.5	0.6	42.97	Veteran two-way stabilizer, Dumars supplied spacing, secondary creation and composure beside Hill rather than functioning as Detroit’s main offensive engine. His value was particularly evident in how he could punish defenses from outside while still making the right connective play; the 1997-98 lineup relied on his experience as the backcourt counterweight to Hill’s expanding role. Duke Basketball Report	—
Theo Ratliff	Rim-Protecting Reserve Centerpiece (1.0)	24.4	Low	6.5	5.0	0.6	2.8	29.80	Rim-protecting reserve whose defensive instincts were more consequential than his modest offensive workload. Ratliff blocked 2.3 shots per game in Detroit while remaining a limited scorer, and his eventual trade reflected Detroit’s willingness to exchange defensive upside for additional perimeter scoring through Stackhouse. Philadelphia Inquirer	—
Malik Sealy	Veteran Wing Connector (1.05)	21.3	Medium	7.7	2.8	1.3	1.1	27.09	Veteran wing connector, Sealy gave Detroit a steady secondary option who could defend, rebound and make timely plays without demanding possessions. His role was flexible rather than star-driven, and his ability to contribute across several lineups was evident in Detroit’s use of him as a trusted reserve during a turbulent season. Daily Iowan	—
Jerome Williams	Energy-Rebounding Forward (1.0)	16.9	Low	5.3	4.9	0.6	0.8	23.20	Energy-rebounding forward, Williams made his value felt through physical activity, offensive rebounding and defensive effort rather than designed offense. He could change the tone of a second unit with hustle plays, and his emergence as a dependable rotation big helped Detroit survive stretches when its frontcourt hierarchy was unsettled. Washington Post	—
Aaron McKie	Defensive Utility Wing (1.0)	19.7	Low	4.5	2.8	1.6	1.0	19.80	Defensive utility wing with enough ball-handling ability to cover multiple perimeter assignments, McKie was valued more for versatility than shot creation. Detroit ultimately moved him in the Stackhouse deal, a transaction that reflected how the Pistons were reshaping the roster around Hill’s offensive centrality. ESPN	—
Grant Long	Veteran Frontcourt Stabilizer (1.0)	18.5	Low	3.5	3.8	0.6	1.0	17.80	Veteran frontcourt stabilizer, Long brought physicality and positional toughness to a crowded Detroit rotation. His offensive role was deliberately narrow, but his experience allowed him to absorb difficult matchup minutes and provide a dependable rebounding presence when the Pistons needed another body inside. Deseret News	—
Don Reid	Defensive Energy Big (1.0)	14.6	Low	3.5	2.6	0.4	1.2	15.40	Defensive energy big whose impact came from contesting the paint and creating extra possessions rather than scoring. Reid’s four-block performance against Atlanta, including consecutive rejections of Dikembe Mutombo dunk attempts, showed the kind of disruptive activity that could swing a game despite his limited offensive responsibilities. CBS News	—
Eric Montross	Low-Post Reserve Big (1.0)	12.6	Low	2.5	3.8	0.7	14.20	14.20	Low-post reserve big, Montross was primarily used for size, screening and interior depth after arriving in the Stackhouse trade. His offensive touches were limited, but his 7-foot frame gave Detroit a different physical option behind Dele during a season when the center rotation changed considerably. ABC News	—
Rick Mahorn	Veteran Interior Enforcer (1.0)	12.0	Low	2.4	3.3	0.3	0.3	12.60	Veteran interior enforcer, Mahorn provided physical defense, rebounding and locker-room experience in short bursts. His role was situational by this stage of his career, with Detroit using him as a matchup-dependent reserve rather than a conventional starting center. Washington Post	—
Scot Pollard	Developmental Rim Runner (1.0)	9.6	Low	2.7	2.2	0.3	0.5	11.40	Developmental rim runner and interior prospect, Pollard’s rookie minutes were tightly controlled while Detroit evaluated his physical tools. Contemporary reporting noted a groin injury that interrupted his rookie season, while his eventual career trajectory suggested the defensive and rebounding traits were already evident beneath the limited workload. Spokesman-Review	—
Charles O’Bannon	Perimeter Development Reserve (1.0)	7.8	Low	2.1	1.1	0.6	0.3	8.20	Perimeter development reserve, O’Bannon was used sparingly as a rookie behind an established wing rotation featuring Hill, Dumars and Sealy. His limited minutes left little room for offensive rhythm, making this more of an acclimation season than a meaningful creator’s role. FOX Sports	—
Steve Henson	Emergency Ball-Handling Reserve (1.0)	2.8	Low	1.6	0.1	0.2	0.0	3.80	Emergency ball-handling reserve, Henson was essentially a depth piece brought in to cover the backcourt rather than a regular part of Detroit’s rotation. His late-season arrival and extremely limited minutes meant his job was primarily to preserve lineup flexibility when injuries or roster changes demanded another point guard. Kansas State Athletics	—
Team Totals	—	243.4	—	94.2	41.2	19.5	12.5	501.86	Combined player-impact score using the specified Role and Usage factors; team totals reflect the supplied 1997-98 regular-season dataset.	—