By George Eichorn
What a difference a year makes. The Detroit Pistons open the 2025-26 NBA season October 22 at the Chicago Bulls. The home opener is October 26 against the Boston Celtics, 3:30 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena.
The Pistons are the second team in league history to triple their win total from the previous season, joining the Charlotte Bobcats 2012-13; the first to do so from the previous full season. Detroit had its worst season in franchise history at 14-68 in 2023-24 and made a remarkable turnaround in 2024-25 at 44-38; their best record in nine seasons.
Under Pistons first-season head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon, the Pistons completed their seventh season at LCA with a stirring six-game playoff series loss to the New York Knicks. They broke a record 15-game losing streak (dating to 2008) when they defeated the Knicks in Game 2, 100-94, in Madison Square Garden. Detroit also won Game 5 at MSG.
Turning a losing culture into a winning one is not easy – just look at the Lions, Tigers and Red Wings. Yet superb player acquisition, development and coaching has put the Pistons back into contention in the NBA.
Led by all-star guard Cade Cunningham and his career high 26.1 points per game, the Pistons play an exciting offense and much-improved defense; something lacking in the league. Cunningham starts his 5th year in Detroit. The core nucleus returns for Bickerstaff with tweaking of the reserves.
Gone from last year: Sixth Man of the Year award runner-up Malik Beasley (16.3 ppg) who is unsigned, Tim Hardaway Jr. (11.0), Dennis Schroder (10.8) and Simone Fontecchio (5.9). In their place, Langdon signed a pair of Michigan Wolverines: 6-7 small forward Duncan Robinson and shooting guard Caris LaVert. Detroit also signed their only 2025 draft pick, shooting guard Chaz Lanier.
Guard Jaden Ivey (17.6 ppg) is out at least four weeks after missing more than 50 games with a broken leg injury. Also expected to start are forwards Tobias Harris (13.7) and Ausar Thompson (10.1) and center Jalen Duren (11.8 ppg and 10.3 rebounds per game). Backup center Isaiah Stewart (6 ppg and 5.5 rpg) needs to improve his stats. Forwards Marcus Sasser, Ronald Holland III and Bobi Klintman; center Paul Reed and guards Daniss Jenkins and Chaz Lanier competed for minutes in Detroit’s pre-season where they finished 2-2.
Coming off their first winning season since 2016, the Pistons have added to their fan base in downtown Detroit. Combined with theme nights and giveaway nights, the club is enjoying a renaissance at the turnstiles. They put on an excellent show on and off the court.
George Blaha, who received the prestigious Curt Gowdy Award in September from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, returns for his 50th season of Pistons TV alongside analyst Greg Kelser for FanDuel Sports Network. Mark Campion and Rick Mahorn are back on WXYT-FM 97.1 The Ticket.
Prediction: Pistons go 50-32, reach the playoffs and advance to the second round where they lose to Boston 4 games to 2.
(ITALICS-) Reach George Eichorn at geichorn@yahoo.com or X/Twitter at Sandgsports99.
