Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Detroit Pistons are the talk of the NBA early in the 2025-26 campaign. Cade Cunningham and Co. sit atop the Eastern Conference at 15-2, and Monday’s win over the Indiana Pacers marked their 13th straight victory. That tied a franchise record set by the 1990 and 2004 teams — both of which went on to win NBA titles.
After years buried in the East standings, the Pistons have finally arrived. Last season’s first-round exit to the New York Knicks was far from ideal, but it also showed Detroit what postseason basketball feels like again. It was their first taste of meaningful playoff reps in years, and the experience this franchise needed to elevate itself into true contention.
JB Bickerstaff’s squad has taken down several quality opponents during this run, including the Milwaukee Bucks, Pacers, and Philadelphia 76ers. The Pistons are a top-10 team on both ends of the floor, and their depth is real. Cunningham is having a career year and remains the franchise cornerstone, but this roster is filled with players who contribute every single night.
Detroit plays as a collective, and with the East dealing with significant injuries across multiple contenders, there may not be a better window for a Finals breakthrough.
East Is Wide Open
In recent seasons, the East has rivaled the West in competitiveness. The Bucks, Celtics, Sixers, and more recently the Pacers, have all been legitimate threats to win the conference. But this year is shaping up differently.
Milwaukee moved on from Damian Lillard and added Myles Turner alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, which doesn’t exactly push them into a new tier. Boston is without Jayson Tatum after his Achilles tear last spring, and they also parted ways with Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. Philadelphia looks dangerous, but Joel Embiid hasn’t been the same dominant force to start the season. The Pacers are without Tyrese Haliburton, who also ruptured his Achilles in the Finals against OKC.
Can Detroit remain in the East’s upper tier long-term? Absolutely. But 2025-26 presents a clear opportunity to establish themselves as the frontrunner while the Celtics and Pacers navigate life without their franchise players. The Knicks still have upside, but they’re off to a slow start under a new coach.
Bickerstaff is now in his third year in Detroit, and he’s built trust throughout the roster. Continuity matters. The core of Cunningham, Jalen Duren, and Jaden Ivey has grown under the same system, and it shows — chemistry and cohesion are everything in this league.
Three-Point Shooting and Toughness
This past offseason, the Pistons made it a priority to improve their floor spacing, bringing in two proven shooters in Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert. Robinson, who reached the Finals with the Miami Heat, is knocking down 41.9% of his threes. LeVert is also shooting 41% from deep on selective volume. Both have been important pieces around Cunningham, adding much-needed versatility to Detroit’s offense.
Like the ’90 and ’04 groups, this roster is tough. Cunningham is a physical guard who isn’t afraid to attack downhill. Duren is having a breakout season and looks like one of the most imposing bigs in the NBA with a strong, punishing frame — the ideal co-star next to Cunningham. Ausar Thompson, Isaiah Stewart, Paul Reed, and Javonte Green, among others, bring the same edge and energy. This team plays hard.
The Pistons don’t overwhelm you in one specific category. What they do have is grit — and an unwillingness to back down from anyone. Cunningham sets that tone. Meanwhile, the Knicks and Cavaliers simply haven’t lived up to expectations.
Maybe the schedule hasn’t been grueling, but 13 straight wins is no fluke. You still have to show up every night, and even on off evenings, Detroit finds a way. That’s what happens when 12 players are averaging at least 7.7 points per game. Production is coming from everywhere.
It’s early, but the Pistons deserve to be viewed as a legitimate threat to come out of the Eastern Conference. All signs point to the OKC Thunder making a return to the Finals, and if Detroit gets there, this relentless group might just give them a real fight, too.