Two months into the 2025-26 NBA season, the Detroit Pistons are turning heads-and not just because they’re sitting atop the Eastern Conference with a 21-5 record. This isn’t a fluke.
This is a team that’s been built with intention, coached with clarity, and playing with a level of cohesion and confidence we haven’t seen in Detroit in years. So what’s fueling this unexpected surge?
Let’s break it down.
Trajan Langdon’s Roster Moves Are Paying Off
When Trajan Langdon took over as general manager, he didn’t waste time reshaping the Pistons’ identity. Last offseason, he brought in head coach J.B.
Bickerstaff and added key veterans like Duncan Robinson, Javonte Green, and Caris LeVert. None of those moves made major headlines at the time, but they’re proving to be exactly what this young core needed.
Robinson’s shooting has opened up the floor, Green brings defensive grit and energy, and LeVert has become a stabilizing force off the bench. More importantly, these additions complement the Pistons’ emerging stars instead of stifling them.
The result? A roster that fits together like puzzle pieces-no awkward edges, no forced roles.
Just basketball that flows.
Defense Is the Foundation
If there’s one thing this Pistons team hangs its hat on, it’s defense. They’re not just getting stops-they’re dictating games with their intensity.
Detroit ranks second in the league in blocks per game (5.9), fourth in steals (9.7), and second in total rebounds (46.2). Their defensive rating of 111.8 trails only the Oklahoma City Thunder, and they’re holding opponents to just 113.5 points per game-fifth-best in the NBA.
This isn’t about one or two elite defenders carrying the load. It’s a team-wide commitment.
From the starters to the second unit, everyone buys in. They rotate with purpose, crash the glass, and swarm passing lanes.
It’s the kind of defense that travels well and wears opponents down over four quarters.
Depth That’s Built to Last
Calling the Pistons the deepest team in the league isn’t hyperbole-it might just be reality. Bickerstaff has a 12-man rotation he can trust, and that depth was on full display in a recent 142-115 win over the Atlanta Hawks. In that game, seven players scored in double figures, and 12 players recorded at least seven points, tying an NBA record.
That kind of balance is rare. Most teams rely heavily on their top six or seven guys, but Detroit’s bench is a real weapon.
Veterans like Isaiah Stewart and Green anchor the defense, while LeVert and Jaden Ivey bring scoring punch and energy. It’s a group that can maintain leads-or even stretch them-while the starters rest.
And that’s a massive advantage over an 82-game grind.
Cade Cunningham Has Arrived
Every good team needs a closer. The Pistons have one in Cade Cunningham.
The former No. 1 overall pick has taken a leap this season, averaging 27.1 points, 9.2 assists, and 6.0 rebounds per game. But it’s what he’s doing in crunch time that’s setting him apart.
Cunningham is averaging 9.2 points in the fourth quarter-fourth-best in the league, per StatMuse. He’s calm, calculated, and unshakable when the game is on the line.
Need a bucket to erase a deficit, take the lead, or put a game away? Cunningham has delivered.
Just ask the Boston Celtics. In a tight 112-105 win earlier this week, he took over down the stretch, slicing through one of the league’s best defenses and putting the game on ice.
His ability to control pace and create his own shot makes him a nightmare to defend late in games. And perhaps most impressively, he’s doing it without forcing the issue. He plays with a poise and maturity that belies his age.
What Comes Next?
It’s still early, and the NBA season is a marathon, not a sprint. The Pistons are young, and there’s no guarantee this hot start will translate into postseason success. But at 21-5, they’ve already proven they’re not just a feel-good story-they’re a legitimate contender.
Bickerstaff has this group believing, and more importantly, playing the right way. Defense, depth, and a rising star in Cunningham-that’s a formula that wins games now and builds something sustainable for the future.
The rest of the league? They’re officially on notice. The Pistons aren’t just back-they’re here to stay.