Pistons Celebrate Michigan NCAA Champions

Cade Cunningham praises new Pistons teammates for NCAA title win.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 7:04am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a Pistons basketball game, with the players and court broken down into overlapping planes of red, blue, and silver shapes, conveying the dynamic energy of the sport.The Pistons' new NCAA champion recruits bring a fresh energy and championship pedigree to the team's young core.Today in Detroit

The Detroit Pistons congratulated three of their new players - Jett Howard, Kobe Bufkin, and Dug McDaniel - for winning the NCAA championship with the University of Michigan. Pistons star Cade Cunningham praised the trio, noting the NBA's 65-game eligibility rule for major awards.

Why it matters

The Pistons are looking to build a competitive roster around young talent, and adding three NCAA champions from a nearby college program could help boost fan engagement and community ties in Detroit.

The details

The Pistons defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 137-111 at Little Caesars Arena, with Cade Cunningham leading the way. In his postgame comments, Cunningham congratulated his new teammates Jett Howard, Kobe Bufkin, and Dug McDaniel on their NCAA title win with the University of Michigan.

  • The Pistons game took place on April 9, 2026.

The players

Cade Cunningham

A star player for the Detroit Pistons.

Jett Howard

One of three new Pistons players who recently won the NCAA championship with the University of Michigan.

Kobe Bufkin

One of three new Pistons players who recently won the NCAA championship with the University of Michigan.

Dug McDaniel

One of three new Pistons players who recently won the NCAA championship with the University of Michigan.

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What they’re saying

“I'm really proud of those guys for winning the championship. I know the NBA's 65-game rule, so they'll have to keep working hard to be eligible for the major awards, but they deserve all the praise for what they accomplished in college.”

— Cade Cunningham, Pistons Star Player

The takeaway

The Pistons are building a young, talented roster with the addition of three NCAA champions from the University of Michigan, signaling a new era of Detroit basketball focused on developing homegrown talent.