The Detroit Pistons’ meteoric rise has been one of the NBA’s biggest storylines this 2024-25 season.
For the past couple of years, the Motor City saw itself becoming a basketball graveyard. Last 2023-24 season served as the lowest point of their mediocrity as they won only 17 games, while making national headlines for their 28-game losing skid.
But after six years of being the league’s laughing stock, the Detroit Pistons have enjoyed a remarkable emergence, earning lofty praise amongst fans and pundits.
They are now the No. 5 seed of the Eastern Conference (42-32) and strongly positioned to enter the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2019.
The sudden success and revival of Pistons basketball this year has plenty of significant factors.
It all started in the 2024 offseason when the new front office brass led by Trajan Lagdon orchestrated the hiring of J.B. Bickerstaff shortly after dismissing Monty Williams from his head coaching post. The team went onto sign and acquire several veterans along the way from the likes of Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley, and Tim Hardaway Jr.
Cade Cunningham has embraced becoming the franchise’s centerpiece, finally transforming into the bona fide star that Detroit aspires him to be. Behind him are several other Pistons talents showcasing their wonders from Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey, Isaiah Stewart, Ausar Thompson, and exciting rookie Ron Holland.
From an incredible mixture of standout coaching, veteran presence, and blossoming young core, the Pistons have become a force this season. And former star Rasheed Wallace is ecstatic about the situation.
“They’re fifth seed. They’re doing [good]. They’re playing well. J.B. [Bickerstaff] got them balling right now. I ain’t even want to hold you, real talk,” the Pistons legend said in his recent appearance on The Ringer’s Real Ones podcast.
“Them cats, man. They’re playing good. [Cade Cunningham] is playing well, Jalen Duren is playing well. I think he’s top five in the league with double-doubles or something like that.
“The guys are playing well. [Bickerstaff] got them, got that foot to the gas, and they are moving.”
The last time that the Pistons were relevant in the NBA, Wallace was still there in their lineup. The former NBA star served as an instrumental piece in Detroit’s reign from mid-2000s, making it to six consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearance from 2003 to 2008, highlighted by their epic 2004 NBA championship victory.
With the ticket to the postseason stage in the bank, the Pistons appear set for a potential seven-game showdown with their old rivals.
Amid the Milwaukee Bucks struggles amid the absence of Damian Lillard, the Pistons have ascended to the number five spot. Should the Playoffs starts today, they would face the No. 4 Indiana Pacers.
The Pistons and the Pacers have a shared intense rivalry back in the day, with the infamous Malice At The Palace. This 2024-25, both teams have infamously locked horns in one of their regular season matches.
While he identifies his support to his Pistons squad, Wallace admits the Pacers hold an upper hand from an experience standpoint.
“I think that’ll be a good matchup,” Wallace said. “That’ll be a pretty good series right there. You got [Tyrese] Haliburton. Haliburton’s good. That’ll be a good match-up with him and [Cunningham], you know?
“You got Myles Turner. He’s a solid big man down there for Indy. He does what he’s supposed to do, get them double-doubles. That’ll be a good match-up with him and Jalen Duren.
“I think overall, I really, I really would have to favor just a little bit — the needle was pointing just a little bit towards Indiana with that series because they’ve been there, you know?
“They’ve been in the Playoffs, and the Pistons are trying to get to where they want. Even though Indiana didn’t get too far, but they still got farther than the Pistons. And that’s what they’re trying to do.”
Regardless of how the season will end for them, the Pistons should feel proud for themselves for the historic leap they have taken, which has Draymond Green predicting another championship is ahead in the near future.
