Unlike some of the other Detroit sports teams, the Pistons gave fans a lot to cheer about this season. Just two years after posting a record-tying 28-game losing streak, the Pistons continue to find themselves in the record books. And in celebration of being the only Detroit team to make the playoffs this year (so far), here are some highlights from the Pistons’ 2025-26 season.
J.B. Bickerstaff Racks Up the Coaching Accolades
Being named an Hour Detroiter might not have been the biggest honor the Pistons coach received this season (but that’s up for debate). During the same month as Cunningham, Bickerstaff was named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for October and November. The Pistons boasted a franchise-tying 13-game win streak during this period, and the second best start in Pistons’ history. This was the third time he was honored with this title, and the second since he joined Detroit in 2024.
During this period, he was also named head coach of the Eastern Conference All-Star team. Manning the sidelines for the Team USA Stars, he led them to a win against the Western Conference’s Team West.
There was no time to rest on his laurels though. Announced today (April 17), Bickerstaff was recognized with the Michael H. Goldberg NBCA Coach of the Year Award. Named in honor of the longtime NBCA Executive Director, the award is voted on by his fellow coaches from all 30 NBA teams. The man behind the No. 1 record in the Eastern Conference and the second best in the NBA, Bickerstaff was more than deserving of this award. There’s no bias here, but this award was one season overdue in Hour Detroit’s opinion.
The Pistons Win 60 Games for the Third Time Ever
The last time the Pistons won this many games was the 2005-06 season. Their 133-121 victory against the Indianapolis Pacers on April 12 put them in the record books again. Achieving this feat came with no shortage of setbacks, including the loss of Cade Cunningham late in the season due to a punctured lung.
Cade Cunningham, Two-time Eastern Conference Player of the Month
For the first time in his career, the star guard received the honor for his play in October and November. He led the team to a 16-4 record, while putting up 28.8 points-per-game. He scored a career-high 46 points in the Pistons overtime win against the Washington Wizards on Nov. 10. Fast forward to March, where Cunningham was once again crowned king of the East.
In February, Cunningham and the Pistons posted an impressive 9-2 record. This included a dominant 126-111 victory against the Knicks, who bested the Pistons in the first round of playoffs last season.
Despite his injury, which sidelined him for 12 games, Cunningham was granted special permission to be eligible for end-of-season awards. This puts him back in the running for MVP, amongst other awards.
Jalen Duren and Cunningham Are NBA All-Stars
Out of eight players rostered on the elite USA Stars team, two of those spots were taken by Pistons players. Both Jalen Duren and Cunningham suited up for the All-Star games, where they defeated the USA Stripes in the championship game.
Named a reserve for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, Cunningham was a lock for this year’s team. When Hour spoke with coach Bickerstaff about the star earlier this year, he seemed to echo this sentiment.
“When your best player has the character that Cade has, it makes everybody else’s job easier,” Bickerstaff said. “He is capable of being a superstar, but he doesn’t see himself any differently than another one of the guys on the team. Cade can continue to grow while not taking anything away from the people around him.”
Without Cunningham, Duren stepped up big for the Pistons, taking on an important leadership role. Adopting the Lions’ “next man up” approach, Duren and the rest of the team continued finding success. In Cunningham’s almost month-long absence, they managed to go 13-4. Duren’s first All-Star nomination was well-earned, and his play continues to cement his status as one of the most improved players in the league.
Pistons’ Playoff Path
As the first seed in the Eastern Conference, the Pistons will face off against the yet undetermined eighth seed on Sun., April 19. Unlike last season, the Pistons will have home-court advantage for the first two games of round one. They also have a healthy roster, with key players like Isaiah Stewart, Marcus Sasser, and Cunningham back in the lineup. It’s been almost 20 years since the Pistons were legitimate championship contenders, but there’s no doubt they look the part this year.
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