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After years sputtering at rock bottom, the resurgent Detroit Pistons have motored back to the top of the NBA’s Eastern Conference.
As the season nears its halfway stage, the Pistons are leaving their rivals in the rear view mirror, powered by a fearless core of young talent and a fan base that has rediscovered its voice.
Two years ago, the Pistons finished bottom of the Eastern Conference with a league-worst 14- 68 record, just a year after another dismal campaign where they also finished bottom, registering just 17 wins in a season where they also suffered the ignominy of a record 28-game losing streak.
But those lean years are rapidly becoming a distant memory, replaced by belief, momentum and the promise of a new winning era.
“During that 28-game losing streak, the mood was pretty grim, it was pretty dismal,” said Omari Sankofa, a journalist who covers the Pistons for the Detroit Free Press told AFP.
“It was kind of like, you’re just caught in this downward spiral.”
The mood today couldn’t be more different.
“It’s a complete 180 from, you know, these guys essentially are embarrassing to you guys are making us proud,” adds Sankofa, a Detroit native who believes the Pistons personify the city’s blue-collar roots. From the wilderness years of a few seasons ago, the Pistons’ modern Little Caesars Arena, which opened in 2017, now throbs with energy in the city’s vibrant Midtown neighborhood, a symbol of the gentrification under way in the metropolis.
“Great feeling this year,” said Damien Weekes, a 36-year-old Pistons fan accompanying his 15- year-old nephew to a recent game.
“The city’s being rejuvenated, we’re getting a sold out arena. This stadium used to be empty, and they were selling tickets for $5.
“It’s very important for young fans. We lost an entire generation – they are fans of OKC (Oklahoma City Thunder) or Boston (Celtics).” At the heart of the Detroit resurgence is a core of young players, built around the 2021 No. 1 NBA draft pick Cade Cunningham.
Successive poor seasons allowed them to select Jaden Ivey (5th, 2022), Ausar Thompson (5th, 2023), and Ron Holland (5th, 2024) high in the draft. A quick trade brought them the powerful Jalen Duren in 2022, shortly after his draft (13th).
The gifted point guard Cunningham, still only 24, is averaging 25.7 points and 9.8 assists this season and is the driving force behind the camaraderie of a group who regard themselves as “nasty dogs”.
