Pistons Primary Logo
The Detroit Pistons logo has undergone several changes throughout the team's history. The original logo, used from 1941-1957, featured a red and blue circular logo with the word "Pistons" written in red. From 1957-1971, the logo featured a red and blue circular logo with a red and blue piston in the center, and the word "Pistons" written in blue. From 1971-1996, the logo featured a red, white and blue circular logo with a red and white piston in the center and the word "Pistons" written in blue. From 1996-2005, the logo featured a red, white and blue circular logo with a red and white piston in the center and the word "Detroit" written in blue above the piston and the word "Pistons" written in blue below the piston. From 2005-2017, the logo featured a blue, red, white and black circular logo with a red and blue piston in the center and the word "Detroit" written in red above the piston and the word "Pistons" written in blue below the piston. From 2017-2021, The logo featured a modernized blue, red and white circular logo with the letter "D" in the middle with a basketball graphic on the right side of the letter. In 2021, the team announced a new logo that is a stylized letter "D" with the city's skyline in the background.
2017 - Present
In 2017 the Pistons return to the 80’s and 90’s logo. Pistons changed the basketball to a solid red with white outline. The wordmark “DETROIT PISTONS” in white and in the center of the basketball. The red basketball is enclosed with a blue ring.
The logo modifies the text-over-red-basketball scheme the team has used for the last 12 seasons, reducing the font size significantly and altering the look of the ball. It closely resembles the team’s logo from 1979–1996, which notably includes the Bad Boys era.
“The bold red, white and blue color scheme and basketball icon have withstood the test of time through the evolution of the franchise and the city,” the team said. “And now that a new chapter is being written, that evolution continues with a new identity built on the Pistons championship tradition and promising future.”
Detroit’s 2005-2017 logo was starting to look a bit outdated, and the cleaner retro look is a big upgrade.
The chrome outline on the new logo pays tribute to Detroit muscle cars, the team said.
2006 - 2017
The current logo consists of a red basketball and ties in the colors of America. The current configuration of the red ball with the blue-and-white accents and the customized font with “DETROIT” is a bit more understated than “PISTONS” inside the ball.
2002 - 2005
In 2002 the logo stayed the same with only color changes. The colors blue, red, and navy blue now dominate the logo.
1997 - 2001
In keeping up with the latest fashion trends, the Pistons changed their team colors to teal, black, yellow, and red during the summer of 1996. The new logo features a horse’s head and flaming mane, representing “horsepower,” holding consistent with Detroit’s automotive theme. A wordmark “PISTONS” in white with black and teal trim and “DETROIT” in white at the bottom.
1979 - 1996
The following design of the basketball logo for the Pistons changed the basketball to a solid red with a white outline—the wordmark “DETROIT PISTONS” in white and in the center of the basketball. The red basketball is enclosed with a blue ring.
1976 - 1978
The Pistons altered the basketball logo in 1976, the outline of the basketball is now a thicker blue outline, and the font or lettering is solid red. The wordmark “DETROIT PISTONS” and “NBA” are below in red.
1972 - 1975
Wordmark “DETROIT PISTONS” in the red outline on a white ball with a blue outline.
1969 - 1975
A wordmark “DETROIT PISTONS” in red lettering with a red rectangle below containing “BASKETBALL CLUB and NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSN.” in white, all placed upon a blue and white basketball.
1958 - 1968
A wordmark “DETROIT PISTONS” in red lettering with a blue rectangle below containing “BASKETBALL CLUB and NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSN.” in white, all placed upon a blue and white basketball.
1948 - 1957
A new redesign of the animated piston basketball player dribbling a brown basketball. The grey basketball player has “Z” on his chest in red.
1941 - 1947
The Piston’s first logo was an animated character running and going up for a layup, built entirely from the automotive components or pistons all in the color red.