Latest news with #Pistons'
New York Times
15-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson ready to lead promising young Pistons
LAS VEGAS — Ron Holland II's improved 3-point shooting has garnered a decent portion of the buzz around the Detroit Pistons' first two NBA Summer League games, and for good reason. While Holland's growth is one of the primary talking points of the Pistons' Las Vegas performance, other aspects of Detroit's first two outings also need light shed on them. Advertisement Duncan Robinson spoke with the media for the first time since officially signing with Detroit. J.B. Bickerstaff joined Grind City Media to discuss Cade Cunningham's leadership style and the Pistons' 'we're going to beat your ass' mentality. Chaz Lanier's shooting, off-ball movement and ability to create for himself with minimal dribbles indicate his skill set is transferable from the NCAA to the NBA. Daniss Jenkins and Tolu Smith III have each grown their games since making their NBA debuts. Let's unpack Detroit's first week in Las Vegas. Holland is 6 of 11 from 3-point range thus far, with four coming in his first game. Yes, this is a summer league, and yes, it's a small sample size. However, his willingness to seek out 3s, both off the dribble and off the catch, has been equally as impressive as his efficiency. There were times last season when Holland would hesitate to attempt open looks from long range, and he sometimes took more difficult shots as a result. Now he's breaking down defenders to step back into 3-pointers, and when coming off screens, he's looking to drain long-range jumpers when opponents are in drop coverage. Holland is averaging 21.5 points on 54.2 percent from the field and 54.5 percent from distance, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 2.5 assists. 'I feel like I've grown a lot,' Holland said after Sunday's 98-83 win over the Houston Rockets. 'I took the summer day by day. I was in the gym every single day working on my shot, watching film and learning the pace of the game. Studying Cade's game, studying what he sees on the floor and everything. I feel like that's definitely been helping.' Holland's form looks fluid, and the 20-year-old has consistently balanced himself before lifting off to launch, two areas he works on with Pistons shooting coach Fred Vinson. Advertisement These are all encouraging signs for a player who didn't have the opportunity to explore his offense in his rookie season, the way other No. 5 picks have. Factor in the flashes of playmaking with Holland's development as a leader in Las Vegas, and he could be in for a promising second season. Robinson took time Sunday, during halftime of Detroit's win, to discuss his offseason, what he can bring to the team and how he expects to mesh with his new teammates. 'First and foremost, trying to bring some leadership,' Robinson said. 'I've been a part of some really good teams and I've played a lot of different roles. So, just embracing whatever is asked of me as an older guy. … Playing the right way, getting other guys involved. Using how defenses guard me to create opportunities for other guys. And just competing, trying to move the needle to help us win.' Robinson has spent his entire career alongside All-Star center Bam Adebayo in Miami. Adebayo is similar in stature to Jalen Duren, albeit with a more extensive and polished skill set. Robinson's connection with Adebayo in dribble-handoff actions could serve as a blueprint for Bickerstaff on sets involving Robinson and Duren. Asked Duncan Robinson how he sees himself playing off of Jalen Duren next season: 'JD is a special talent, man. I feel like he's even gotten bigger and stronger since the season. … Even Stew as well. Just the way they set screens, create opportunities for guys.' — Hunter Patterson (@HunterPatterson) July 13, 2025 Robinson spoke directly about the impact he can have, not only with Duren, but also with Isaiah Stewart. '(Duren) is a special talent, man,' Robinson said. 'I feel like he's even gotten bigger and stronger since the season when we played against them. The sky is the absolute limit in terms of his abilities, so I'm excited to play with him. (Isaiah Stewart) as well. Just the way they set screens, create opportunities for guys. Advertisement 'Both of them are lob threats. (I'll have) the opportunity to get the ball back to them after hopefully drawing two (defenders). Their versatility is special, to be able to be more dynamic with the ball in their hands as bigger players. So, I'm excited to grow that chemistry, and it'll be fun.' Robinson has already spent some time around his new teammates in Las Vegas and seemed eager to impart the wisdom he's learned in his seven-season career, while also learning from his younger counterparts. Bickerstaff joined Grind City Media, a Memphis Grizzlies-centered media platform, on Monday afternoon for roughly 15 minutes. Former Grizzlies player Tony Allen, who served as an associate head coach from 2016 to 2018 under Bickerstaff in Memphis, was a co-host on the podcast. Allen and Bickerstaff joked over stories from their time together with the Grizzlies before eventually dissecting Bickerstaff's first season at the helm in Detroit. 'The things they went through (during 2023-24) gave me an opportunity to coach them in a way where they were open to everything,' Bickerstaff said. 'Because they didn't want to go through the things they went through the year before. They bought in; they were sponges. The talent was there; they just needed the belief that they could. And they'll find a way to do it differently from everyone else. 'That's the thing. We're going to beat your ass. Every single night you come to play us, you're going to be in for a dog fight. There's some teams, whether it's the first quarter or the fourth quarter, they just don't want to do it enough. … Win or lose, we won the fight. That gave us an edge, that gave us confidence that we could. They embraced it and they love that mentality.' "win or lose, we won the fight" 🙌 Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff joins the @ChrisVernonShow: — Grind City Media (@grindcitymedia) July 14, 2025 Bickerstaff said Cunningham's growth as a leader simplified life for the head coach. 'The thing that made my job easier is, as good of a basketball player as Cade Cunningham is, he's a better leader and person,' Bickerstaff said of his franchise cornerstone. 'I would relay messages to him about how we wanted to move every day, how we wanted to be positive. … 'When he does that, for me, now my job is easy.' Advertisement Lanier is only two games into his professional career and the rookie guard is already showing signs of his skill set transferring to the next level. He's shot 6 of 18 from long range, which may not jump off the page in terms of his efficiency, but Lanier's off-ball movement to get the shots he likes, combined with the infrequency with which he needs to dribble to get to those shots, has been impressive. Shooting on the move and not needing to pound the ball to get to his spots was a skill of Lanier's at the University of Tennessee. Lanier has shown the same patience and certainty in his movements against summer league competition that he showed earlier this year in the SEC — an encouraging sign for a team in need of more 3-point shooting. The shot is pure. 👌@Swaggychaz — Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) July 13, 2025 'I feel super comfortable moving without the ball, my teammates set great screens for me,' Lanier said. 'I just do my part by freeing myself up and creating a little bit of space. I don't need much to get my shot off, so I feel super comfortable moving without the ball.' Lanier's efficiency is still a work in progress, but his approach to the shots he takes and patience in finding them gives him a solid foundation to build on. Robinson, another prolific 3-point shooter who doesn't need much space or many dribbles, could serve as a veteran example for Lanier. Both Smith and Jenkins are just as responsible for anchoring Detroit's summer-league team to this point as Holland. Jenkins has been the head of the snake, averaging 20.5 points on 66.7 percent from the field, 4.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals as a combined plus-44 through his first two games. Smith has added 15.5 points on 50 percent shooting, 11.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 blocks per game as a combined plus-38. 'A year ago, I had no expectations for myself,' Jenkins said Sunday. 'I was just trying to come out and compete. This year, I feel more comfortable, I know what I'm doing, I know what I'm looking for and I know what they expect of me. Everything is kind of set in place, set in stone for me. Now I've just got to go out and attack those things and get it done.' growth, belief, and a whole lot of hard work👏 @Djenkinss5 is ready for year two! — Motor City Cruise (@MotorCityCruise) July 14, 2025 The duo played the bulk of last season with the Pistons' G League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise, and the on-court familiarity between the two was evident. Jenkins, in particular, is making a case for more minutes this coming season, whether in Detroit or elsewhere. (Photo of Pistons: David Dow / NBAE via Getty Images)
Malaysian Reserve
02-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
New Partnership is a Slam Dunk: Knight Watch Secures Henry Ford Pistons Performance Center
KALAMAZOO, Mich., July 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Knight Watch is thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership with the Detroit Pistons, officially launching on July 1, 2025. The collaboration centers around securing the Pistons' state-of-the-art Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center, ensuring players, coaches, and staff are protected by some of the most advanced security technology in the industry. As a Michigan-based leader in security integration, Knight Watch brings cutting-edge solutions, real-time monitoring, and expert support to the table—making this partnership a slam dunk. The Pistons' Performance Center isn't just where champions train—it's where precision, performance, and preparation come together. And now, with Knight Watch on board, it's where protection, peace of mind, and a safer environment go hand in hand. 'We're honored to team up with such an iconic organization,' said Ben Tappenden, Vice President of Sales at Knight Watch. 'This partnership reflects our shared commitment to innovation, excellence, and investing in our home state. We're proud to help keep the Pistons' facility as sharp and secure as their team.' Stay tuned for more updates, behind-the-scenes highlights, and what's next as Knight Watch and the Detroit Pistons take security and teamwork to the next level. For more information on how Knight Watch can help protect and optimize your business, visit or contact us at 833-381-2100. About Knight Watch Inc.:Knight Watch is a security integration company headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, making buildings safer, comfortable, and efficient. They are driven to provide solutions that better the lives of their customers and employees. Knight Watch takes complete ownership of the customer experience from start to finish, offering a comprehensive range of services, including physical security, fire protection, HVAC controls, building automation, weapons detection, software development, and more. Contact Information:Knight Watch NivenDirector of Marketing and Sales Management(269) 381-2100pniven@
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is Malik Beasley's girlfriend? Everything about Detroit Pistons' shooting guard's love life
Malik Beasley (Image via) Malik Beasley is one of the finest NBA players who plays for the Detroit Pistons. He is one of the strongest personalities in the world of the NBA. Although his dating life has been a subject of controversy in the past, Malik Beasley happens to manage it all. He did not let that hamper his NBA career. Beasley is officially dating Natalia Garibotto, who is a Brazilian model and influencer. His divorce was finalized with his ex-wife, Montana Helena Klein Yao, in March 2025. After his divorce, he moved on quickly and started dating Natalia Garibotto in late March 2025. Malik Beasley is reportedly dating Brazilian-American model Natalia Garibotto post-divorce Detroit Pistons forward Malik Beasley is indeed in his honeymoon phase right after finalizing his divorce from Montana Yao. His relationship with Natalia Garibotto grabbed the spotlight instantly after the 6-foot-4 Pistons' shooting guard posted pictures with her on his social media last Easter. He captioned it as, 'i found my bunny 🐰 @nataagataa Happy Easter 🐣'. This immediately sparked fans' excitement and caught the eyes of the media. The couple made sure to leave no doubt, flaunting each other on social media and posting intimate photos. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Malik Beasley and Natalia Garibotto made their relationship public in late March 2025 when the couple was seen holding hands in Miami following the Pistons' marvelous victory. In a certain Instagram post, Beasley's girlfriend confirmed by saying that the two had already met in college, however, they didn't get together until last year. 'Fun fact: we met while I as at UM and he was at FSU a decade ago,' said Natalia Garibotto. Posting and reposting a series of tweets on X, the couple became the center of attraction in front of their fans and the media. Garibotto has been quite supportive of her boyfriend. She has been to many of his important matches, showing her deep affection and love for him. But this isn't his first high-profile romance. In the year 2020, Montana Yao and Beasley parted ways because of his scandalous involvement with Scottie Pippen's ex-wife, Larsa Pippen. However, the couple reportedly reconciled months later and welcomed their first child in 2022. Their divorce was finalized in March 2025. While Malik Beasley has had his share of ups and downs when it comes to his personal life, the Detroit Pistons star seems to have a notable career in the NBA. He had 16.2 points per game in over 70 games, showing his skills and consistency. With a strong grip on his basketball career as well as his dating life, Malik Beasley brilliantly mastered life's challenges with confidence and never-ending determination. Also read: Malik Beasley Faces $42 Million Loss and Possible NBA Ban Amid Federal Gambling Probe Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
New York Post
14-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff rips Knicks for firing Tom Thibodeau
Tom Thibodeau's Knicks sent J.B. Bickerstaff into offseason mode earlier than he wanted, yet the Pistons' coach is still sticking up for his former colleague. Bickerstaff joined the growing list of those criticizing the Knicks for moving on from Thibodeau after five seasons following their ouster in the Eastern Conference finals. While Bickerstaff did not specifically mention the franchise, his remarks came after being asked how the Knicks firing Thibodeau and seeking permission to talk to employed coaches is resonating across the NBA. 'I don't want to call it the cherry on top, but it's the final straw, I think, of what has happened this season and the level of respect that we feel coaches deserve versus what they are getting,' Bickerstaff said on ESPN Radio's 'Joe & Q' on Friday. 'Some of the decisions made down the stretch with firing coaches, it just shows that there are some places that don't value what coaching is and what it can bring. When you are a coach, you feel like there is a job that you have been told to do. And when you go out and do that job well, you should carry it over to the next year. If you have had past successes, that should envision future successes. You can't guess what the future is going to look like with somebody new.' 3 J.B. Bickerstaff coaching against the Knicks in the playoffs. JASON SZENES/ NY POST The Knicks' parting ways with Thibodeau has been a hotly debated topic, although there have been some notable names recently saying the Knicks made a mistake. Charles Barkley said the Knicks are the 'stupidest damn people,' Dick Vitale called the situation 'embarrassing' and suggested they actually re-hire Thibodeau and ESPN analyst and former NBA coach P.J. Carlesimo said the Knicks are their own worst enemy and believe they're smarter than everyone else. 3 Tom Thibodeau is out as Knicks coach. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post The timing of this firing has confused some since the Knicks axed the veteran coach after the franchise's first conference finals run in 25 years and following a fourth playoff berth in five years. Bickerstaff, whose Pistons fell to the Knicks in six games in the first round, said coaches don't like seeing their brethren dismissed following a successful campaign. 'That's the difficult part from a coach's standing,' Bickerstaff said. 'We understand it and we know the job we signed up for is a dangerous job. But, from a coach's standpoint, it is our responsibility to be honest and tell the truth. Our job is extremely difficult. To win in the NBA is extremely difficult. To build teams in the NBA is extremely difficult. To lead guys, who have the superstar power in the NBA, is extremely difficult. So when a guy does a great job at it, from the outside looking in, we want to see that guy get rewarded. And it seems to be cases now where guys that do a great job aren't even being rewarded with a next year.' The Knicks felt they needed to make a change to improve their chances of winning a title, The Post previously reported, and some players did not love Thibodeau's approach. The team's search is off to a bumpy start with five teams — the Rockets (Ime Udoka), Timberwolves (Chris Finch), Hawks (Quin Snyder), Mavericks (Jason Kidd) and Bulls (Billy Donovan) — denying permission to talk to their respective coaches. 3 J.B. Bickerstaff congratulates Jalen Brunson after his shot eliminated the Pistons in Game 6. Getty Images The Knicks instead have now set up interviews with a pair of coaches who were dismissed during the season in Taylor Jenkins, formerly of the Grizzlies, and Mike Brown, who led the Kings.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'We built that:' Behind the Pistons' drastic turnaround that has been years in the making
'We built that:' Behind the Pistons' drastic turnaround that has been years in the making The boos were audible. The patience from a necessary rebuild had dissipated, replaced by frustration and a feeling: not again. It was only the Pistons' first preseason game of the season and the Milwaukee Bucks had gotten off to a quick 12-0 start, prompting a timeout from new coach J.B. Bickerstaff and those boos from a fan base that had grown tired of being the NBA's underbelly. It was like the home team was a bad act at the Apollo. New coach, new front office — same nonsense ... or so the fans thought. They had no idea the Pistons were about to embark on one of the most drastic turnarounds in NBA history. No idea they'd go on an eight-game winning streak in February, including a beatdown of the champion Boston Celtics. No idea they'd win a playoff game for the first time in 17 years, setting the stage for what will certainly be a raucous atmosphere at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday night for Game 3 of the Pistons' first-round series against the New York Knicks. There was no reason to believe something special was brewing. The franchise hadn't won a playoff game since the 2008 Eastern Conference finals, and so many years had been lost in between. It has been an unexpected development. But the roots of the revival were beginning to blossom even during the franchise depression. 'Nobody celebrates when you build a big, beautiful building, when you pour in the concrete,' former Pistons head coach Dwane Casey, who's now in the front office, told Yahoo Sports. 'Nobody's out there with pom-poms and confetti. That's boring.' What might feel like a one-year breakthrough is anything but. In a way, the Pistons, save for a disastrous one-year detour that had the franchise dancing with ignominy, are right on schedule. The offseason additions of Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley — and, later, Dennis Schröder — have yielded positive results, the necessary veteran presence to aid a young team in desperate need of it. But the true reason for this reversal starts with the draft decisions made during the ugly rebuild. (Amy Monks/Yahoo Sports illustration) Cade Cunningham, Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey are the cornerstones of this turnaround. The Pistons' draft picks from 2020-22 were all around when the team bottomed out last season, winning only 14 games and losing 28 straight. If the years of losing had broken them, the Pistons wouldn't be here with as much optimism and real hope as there's been in 20 years, when Detroit began a dominant run as an Eastern Conference power. Their basketball character led the Pistons out of the darkness and to the doorstep of prosperity — or if nothing else, respectability. The Pistons went 60-176 from the 2020-21 season to '22-23. Casey wore the losses when the necessary decision was made to pivot away from the Blake Griffin-Andre Drummond core. Griffin had dragged around his left leg during the end of the 2019 season and into the playoffs, and the Pistons were swept by the Bucks in Round 1 — not far from the best-case scenario at that time. Troy Weaver was brought in as the team's general manager during the pandemic to lead the rebuild. He'd long been acknowledged as one of the league's best talent evaluators from his days in Oklahoma City alongside Sam Presti, and he began the deconstruction of the roster. Two of his first three acquisitions on draft night were Stewart and Saddiq Bey via trade — and Killian Hayes with the seventh pick. Hayes was a disaster, but Stewart and Bey were tough ones. They battled Griffin and the other vets in practice daily. For all the protocols that were restrictive on the outside, the inside was all about ball. Cade Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart endured tough times in Detroit. (Photo by) 'We used to battle about, you know, who can get to the gym first? That's how competitive it was,' Stewart said. If you got there at 8 a.m., you were probably late. 'You ain't showing up and you saw another person's car there before you,' Stewart said. 'It all boils down to that. And obviously, that rubs off on any young player that's around, because you don't want to get looked at as like the oddball who was not working.' It's the circle of NBA life. Before proving yourself on the outside, the inside is where battles are won, real estate gained. The wins weren't coming, because they weren't supposed to. Veteran guard Derrick Rose was traded to the Knicks at the deadline and not long after, Griffin was waived and bought out. The Pistons were going lottery hunting and, for the first time, luck smiled on them. In 2021, they wound up with the first pick. They needed a star, and got one: Cade Cunningham. Upon Cunningham's arrival in Detroit, Stewart immediately saw something special about him — a magnetism, a charisma that was easy to follow. And more importantly, a maturity that belied his age, along with a want-to, a desire to do it in Detroit even as a Dallas native. 'Cade … he has a voice, and that voice takes the locker room when he speaks, and he's been doing that since a rookie,' Stewart said. 'I mean, you coming in and you're able to even voice stuff out to vets. I'm like, yeah, he's special.' 'I've never tried to impose myself on anybody, like, 'I'm your leader.' I'm not trying to force it,' Cunningham told Yahoo Sports earlier this season. 'I'm gonna be myself. I want the best for everybody in here, the best for my teammates. I think guys respect that.' But you can't add water and produce a contender. Cunningham had a solid rookie year, but surgery on his left shin ended Year 2 after just 12 games, putting a rookie Ivey in a position to play more point guard than he was ready for. Stewart, playing alongside Duren, tried to become a stretch 4 (and to be fair, shot 38 percent on nearly four 3-point attempts per game a year later in '23-24). Duren showed promise as a powerful finisher at the rim, but battled ankle injuries. 'As a young player in this league, it was kind of like, when (are) the wins gonna come? You know, everybody was talking about, 'Just be patient, man. You guys working hard,'' Stewart said. 'You know wins are gonna come, but we didn't know when it was gonna come, and we didn't know how we were supposed to feel.' Casey said he had 'contentious' moments while coaching the Pistons' youth, but insisted it was never personal. He still loved on them, just like his teams in Toronto that he took to the doorstep of glory before being fired for Nick Nurse in 2018. 'I'm sure I had moments with Cade. I was sure I had moments with Ivey, Stew and all these guys,' Casey said. But it's impossible to know what culture is being built, if a culture is being built. The turnaround was predicted to happen last year. Pistons owner Tom Gores pressed the fast forward button to hire Monty Williams after he was fired from the Phoenix Suns. It came with a record price tag, $78.5 million over six years, almost a stimulus package for all coaches who've benefited since, and Gores viewed it as a coup, considering Williams had taken the Suns to the NBA Finals in 2021. But what ensued was a disaster. The roster was ill-fitting. Weaver filled the open spots with wild cards like James Wiseman and Marvin Bagley — former No. 2 picks hoping to recapture pedigree. He kept Hayes around. He didn't see much in free agency, so he traded for veteran shooter Joe Harris, with Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks set to be the leading vets. As a young player in this league, it was kind of like, when (are) the wins gonna come?Isaiah Stewart Snake eyes were rolled on every single move. Williams believed Hayes could be redeemed, and it came at Ivey's expense. Ivey was energetic, but still in need of seasoning as a playmaker. He fell into Williams' doghouse and never got out. The 28-game losing streak wore on everyone — Williams didn't seem long for the job, and he wasn't given a roster that fit his strengths. He tried things, like hockey shift changes — all five players being substituted at once — and nothing worked. Still, perhaps shockingly, the confidence of the team's young core wasn't shaken. Cunningham and Stewart had optimistic yet tough conversations that seem clairvoyant now but appeared downright delusional in real time. 'I remember me and him, just talking in that moment, and we're just saying, 'Tables are going to turn,'' Stewart said. 'You know, that's what me and him always said to each other, 'Stay with it.'' To have a steeled approach when getting your head beat in every night says a lot about that group's togetherness amid chaos. This embedded content is not available in your region. Duren could see something forming, too. He called the culture 'something you can believe in, a symbol of togetherness. And we built that.' 'We were gym rats,' Duren said. 'We had the same mentality of wanting to get better individually that to me was something. I haven't been here long, but you've seen guys go through the motions of the NBA. But our young core was always working, bumping with each other, playing with each other.' Still, the 2023-24 season raised questions about the core four Weaver had drafted. Could Cunningham really be the guy? Could Stewart and Duren work together in a league that calls for small? Was Ivey broken, a tweener without a real position? When last season mercifully ended, it was clear change was needed. Weaver was fired, and Williams was bought out — meaning Gores had to cut some big checks. And Gores had to make sure there weren't as many conflicting voices inside the front office — something that led to tacit finger-pointing, blame and not a lot of responsibility being owned. 'I think we needed to get better, be more organized,' Gores told Yahoo Sports in October. 'We've done the things necessary. Everybody's clear on their jobs. It's part of being a good team. I do feel like we've tightened things up.' In stepped Trajan Langdon as president of basketball operations and then Bickerstaff as head coach. Cunningham was a no-brainer to stick around, fortified by a max contract the franchise didn't hesitate to give him. But the other young players, Langdon had no ties to them — he could very well have taken the wrecking ball from Day 1. 'To be honest, I didn't know much about the team itself the previous year because they were not a very good team, and I didn't see them as much,' Langdon told Yahoo Sports. 'But you start prepping for the job, and you're like, tweak this, tweak that in terms of roster, trying to put Cade in a better position.' He identified turnovers, defense and shooting as the biggest issues, thinking he could make moves around the fringes and was open to seeing how things could develop. 'We had a preseason camp out West, and the vets come in and the players are working out together and they're talking playoffs — back in September,' Langdon said. 'Who am I to say (they're wrong)? So do it. 'It's been fun to watch this group come together. They knew they had to be competitive. I think the one thing that they figured out pretty early on is we got to take our compete level and our care factor up to another level, because it wasn't good enough last year.' The Pistons finished 11th in defense this season and became a middle-of-the-pack 3-point shooting team with the new additions. Cunningham has become an All-NBA player. Stewart has evolved into one of the league's best interior defenders, as well as the anchor of their competitive, take-no-prisoners culture reminiscent of the franchise's championship past. Ausar Thompson, the team's 2023 lottery pick, has developed into a do-it-all wing who's on track to be one of the best defenders in the NBA — and many around the league believe he's the player who should be untradeable outside of Cunningham. Summer looms, when Duren is up for an extension, and so is Ivey, who's been out since Jan. 1 with a broken fibula and just began basketball activities. Their improved play will make for some hard decisions financially. But make no mistake, the future is bright. 'There were a lot of people who talked about the character of the players, great young men and they care," Langdon said. "Until you meet them and get to know them, you see them around their teammates, and they do care. 'There wasn't a sense of defeat.' Their character has continued to show throughout this season — even after their heartbreaking Game 1 loss against the Knicks. They wouldn't be broken, because they weren't broken through the toughest times they'd ever experienced. It's only up from here.
