Pistons Complete Stunning Turnaround, Earn No. 1 Seed

Cade Cunningham and Detroit's roster overhaul led to a 60-win season after back-to-back 60-loss campaigns.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:04pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a Pistons basketball game, with overlapping geometric shapes and planes in bold, contrasting colors representing the team's multifaceted approach to the game.The Pistons' stunning turnaround has been fueled by a commitment to team-first basketball and a roster built to complement star Cade Cunningham.Today in Detroit

The Detroit Pistons have completed one of the most remarkable turnarounds in NBA history, going from a 65-loss team in 2024 to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference this season. Led by star Cade Cunningham and a roster overhaul engineered by new President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon, the Pistons amassed 60 wins, more than they had in Cunningham's first three seasons combined.

Why it matters

The Pistons' stunning resurgence has been fueled by a commitment to building the right supporting cast around Cunningham, establishing a winning culture under coach J.B. Bickerstaff, and Cunningham's own unwavering belief in the franchise despite enduring a historically bad stretch. Their success has defied expectations and set them up as a legitimate title contender.

The details

Langdon's key moves included hiring Bickerstaff as head coach and surrounding Cunningham with veteran leadership like Tobias Harris, as well as 3-and-D players like Tim Hardaway Jr. and Duncan Robinson. The team also thrived with Cunningham sidelined for 11 games due to a collapsed lung, going 8-3 behind strong play from Jalen Duren and Daniss Jenkins. Detroit's two-way excellence, ranking top-10 in both offense and defense, has been a major factor in their turnaround.

  • In 2024, the Pistons lost 65 games and Cunningham expressed frustration with the team's struggles.
  • In the summer of 2024, the Pistons hired Trajan Langdon as President of Basketball Operations.
  • Langdon brought in J.B. Bickerstaff as head coach prior to the 2024-25 season.
  • On March 17, 2023, Cunningham suffered a collapsed lung and missed 11 games.
  • The Pistons secured the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2023 playoffs.

The players

Cade Cunningham

The Pistons' star player, who has emerged as an MVP candidate and All-Star this season, averaging 23.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 9.9 assists per game.

Trajan Langdon

The Pistons' President of Basketball Operations, who overhauled the roster and coaching staff to turn the franchise around.

J.B. Bickerstaff

The Pistons' head coach, who has established a winning culture and defensive identity with the team.

Jalen Duren

The Pistons' young center who stepped up in Cunningham's absence, averaging a double-double.

Tobias Harris

The veteran forward who provided leadership and experience to the Pistons' young core.

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What they’re saying

“'(He) has established a culture. He established an expectation for how he wanted us to play, and what he wanted the team to look like... When he came in as a proven coach, he fit the characteristics of the guys in the locker room, first and foremost. And from there it just kind of took off.'”

— Jalen Duren, Pistons player

“'For one, I mean, he's just a class act more than anything. The way he carries himself. His professionalism. The way he takes care of his body, goes about his work, is an inspiration to all the young guys.'”

— Cade Cunningham

What’s next

The Pistons will host the winner of the play-in tournament's eighth seed in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs on April 19.

The takeaway

The Pistons' remarkable turnaround from back-to-back 60-loss seasons to the No. 1 seed in the East is a testament to the power of smart roster-building, establishing a winning culture, and a star player's unwavering belief in the franchise's future. They've proven they're ready to compete for an NBA championship.