2004 NBA Finals
On the 6th of June 2004, the Los Angeles Lakers walked onto the court at The Palace of Auburn Hills to face a Detroit Pistons team that most observers had written off before the series began. The Lakers entered the Finals with four future Hall of Famers in their starting lineup: Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, and Gary Payton. They had won three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002 and were considered the heavy favorites to win again. The Pistons, by contrast, had not won a title since 1990 and were viewed as an underdog squad built on defense rather than star power. Fans and media alike described the matchup as a classic David versus Goliath battle, expecting the Lakers' offensive firepower to overwhelm Detroit's defensive scheme. Yet the narrative would soon flip when the Pistons managed to hold every Laker except Bryant and O'Neal to just 16 points in Game 1.
General manager Joe Dumars transformed the Pistons through a series of bold moves between 2000 and 2004. He traded established stars like Lindsey Hunter and Chucky Atkins for defensive stalwart Ben Wallace and guard Richard Hamilton. In a three-team trade involving the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks, he acquired Rasheed Wallace and Mike James at the deadline. These additions created a formidable bench duo known as "The Pit Bulls" with Lindsey Hunter. The team finished the regular season with a 54, 28 record and became the first franchise in NBA history to hold five consecutive opponents under 70 points. Coach Larry Brown replaced Rick Carlisle despite Carlisle having won the NBA Coach of the Year Award in 2002. This strategic overhaul turned a fading franchise into a championship contender by 2003.
Game 1 ended with a 87, 75 victory for Detroit after Chauncey Billups recorded 22 points, four assists, and three steals. The Pistons trailed 41, 40 at halftime but outscored the Lakers 47, 34 in the second half. Game 2 went to overtime where Kobe Bryant hit a three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left in regulation to force extra time. The Pistons scored only one two-point field goal in overtime while Los Angeles scored ten. On the bus ride back to the airport, Billups told his teammates: "We're not coming back to L.A." In Game 3, Tayshaun Prince held Bryant to just 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting. The Lakers scored only 68 points, setting a franchise playoff record for fewest points in a game. Game 4 saw Karl Malone play his final Finals appearance before a knee injury sidelined him for Game 5. The series concluded in Game 5 when the Pistons won 100, 87, scoring triple digits for the first and only time in the series.
Phil Jackson abruptly resigned as head coach of the Lakers immediately following the series loss. Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat within days, where he would win another championship in 2006. Gary Payton was dealt to the Boston Celtics while Karl Malone remained unsigned and retired after the 2004, 05 season began. The Lakers finished the next season with just 34 wins and missed the playoffs entirely. Jackson returned the following offseason but published a book titled The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul, in which he criticized Kobe Bryant as uncoachable. Despite their public feud, Jackson and Bryant reconciled quickly and went on to reach three more NBA Finals between 2008 and 2010, winning two titles.
This victory marked the Pistons' fifth overall franchise championship including two NBL titles from 1944 and 1945 as the Fort Wayne Pistons. It was also their first title since back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990. Owner William Davidson became the first owner in American sports history to win two championships in one calendar year when his Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Calgary Flames eight days earlier for the Stanley Cup. The Pistons won 54 games the following season and returned to the Finals before losing to San Antonio in seven games. They continued Eastern Conference dominance through 2007 before management broke up the core group following a painful loss to Boston in 2008.
ABC broadcast the series with Al Michaels and Doc Rivers calling play-by-play and color commentary respectively. This was Michaels' second assignment covering an NBA Finals while better known as the voice of Monday Night Football. Rivers left the booth after the series to become head coach of the Boston Celtics and did not return until January 2024. ESPN Radio featured Brent Musburger and Jack Ramsay broadcasting nationally. Sky Sports aired the games in the United Kingdom and Ireland while Azteca 13 covered Mexico. Local ABC stations WXYZ-TV in Detroit and KABC-TV in Los Angeles provided regional coverage. The NBA promoted the series using The Black Eyed Peas song "Let's Get It Started" throughout the playoffs.
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Common questions
Who won the 2004 NBA Finals and when did the series conclude?
The Detroit Pistons won the 2004 NBA Finals by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 on the 6th of June 2004. The final score was 100 to 87, marking the first time the Pistons scored triple digits during the series.
What specific roster changes did Joe Dumars make to build the 2004 Detroit Pistons team?
General manager Joe Dumars acquired Ben Wallace, Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, and Mike James through trades between 2000 and 2004. These moves replaced established stars like Lindsey Hunter and Chucky Atkins to create a defense-first squad that finished with a 54-28 record.
How many points did Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant score combined in Game 1 of the 2004 NBA Finals?
Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant were the only two players from the Los Angeles Lakers to score more than 16 points in Game 1. All other Lakers players combined for just 16 points while the Pistons won 87 to 75.
Why did Phil Jackson resign as head coach after the 2004 NBA Finals loss?
Phil Jackson abruptly resigned immediately following the series loss and published a book titled The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul. In this publication he criticized Kobe Bryant as uncoachable before eventually reconciling with him.
Which owner became the first in American sports history to win two championships in one calendar year during 2004?
William Davidson became the first owner in American sports history to win two championships in one calendar year when his Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Calgary Flames eight days earlier for the Stanley Cup. This achievement occurred alongside the Detroit Pistons winning their fifth overall franchise championship.