Cade Cunningham isn’t exactly buying into the idea that Detroit has already been properly appreciated after last season’s run.
The Pistons surged to a 60-22 record in the 2025-26 regular season and finished with the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, but Cunningham says the attention hasn’t matched the results.
“I still feel like we’re a little slept on, man. I still feel like people don’t really give us the credit that maybe we’ve earned,” Cunningham told reporters.
Cade Cunningham on the Pistons:
— Hunter Patterson (@HunterPatterson) October 15, 2026
“I still feel like we’re a little slept on, man. I still feel like people don’t really give us the credit that maybe we’ve earned. But again, that’s the beauty of it. I think that’s part of being in Detroit.” pic.twitter.com/JcHdXKB8Nh
“But again, that’s the beauty of it. I think that’s part of being in Detroit.”
That feeling makes some sense considering how much of the offseason conversation has revolved around the East’s headline-grabbing shake-up. Giannis Antetokounmpo is now with the Miami Heat, and Kawhi Leonard’s return to the Toronto Raptors in a blockbuster deal with the Los Angeles Clippers has dominated plenty of the buzz. Detroit, meanwhile, has been cast a little more to the side.
The Pistons’ postseason exit probably hasn’t helped shift that perception. Even as the top seed, they were pushed to seven games by the Orlando Magic in the opening round and then lost a seven-game East Semifinals series to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Still, this is not some feel-good fluke roster. Detroit returns a young core that has already shown it can win at a high level. Cunningham took another step into MVP-caliber territory last season, and Jalen Duren put together a breakout year that earned him his first All-Star and All-NBA selections.
There’s also been a promising start to the preseason. Duren was a force in Wednesday’s preseason debut, helping power a 128-106 Pistons win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center.
For Cunningham, though, the bigger point is the one tied to the city itself. Being overlooked, he suggested, comes with the territory in Detroit, and he sounds more than ready to carry that attitude into the new season.
The Pistons open the regular season against the Boston Celtics on Oct. 20.
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John Collins has already taken notice of what Duren brings, and the two figures to be one of the more interesting frontcourt pairings to watch as the preseason winds down. With the Pistons set to close out exhibition play against the Toronto Raptors, the blend of Collins enthusiasm and Durens production gives Detroit another subplot worth following before opening night arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons May Have Found The Offensive Pairing Cade Needed
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Duren, meanwhile, turned that chemistry into production, putting up 24 points in a half on just nine shots and doing it efficiently. For a team still exploring secondary options beyond Cunningham, the early connection between Huerter and Duren is at least a promising sign, even if the real test will come once the games start counting for something. [Read more 🡒]