This year’s NBA postseason hasn’t been short on delivering the unpredictable. Neither of the top 2 seeds reached the conference finals in the east while in the west, the 2nd and 3rd best teams weren’t even able to make it beyond round 1. So, it’s only fitting that we’re now guaranteed a title winner who either hasn’t won an NBA championship (Thunder, Timberwolves, Pacers) or one that hasn’t lifetd the trophy since 1973 (Knicks).

Current Detroit Pistons assistant coach Luke Walton was a guest on the latest episode of Throwbacks with Matt Leinart and Jerry Ferrara and made his prediction for who he believes will be the last team standing. “I think OKC. I just think they’re so deep,” said the former 10-year pro. “I know they’re young and they haven’t been there yet, but none of these teams that are left have been there. So, I just feel like with what they can do, and as long as they stay healthy, obviously, I just see them being too much for the other teams.”

Oklahoma City were tops in the league this year becoming just the 7th side in NBA history to reach 68 or more regular season wins. Walton was previously an assistant coach on the team that set the record for regular season wins, the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors with 73. He identified some of the similarities between that historic team and this Oklahoma City one.

“[The Warriors] were just so smart and they were so selfless and all about the team. I mean, that’s the only way you can win championships is when you have those type of players and role players and togetherness and you compete on both ends of the court. And I think you see a lot of that with that OKC team right now.”

Walton also reflected on what was a bounce back season for his Pistons team. After having missed the playoffs in each of the past 5 seasons and not having had a winning record since the 2015-2016 season, Detroit finished the year with a 44-38 record and the number 6 seed in the playoffs.

“One of the beautiful things about sports is when a team really comes together and that’s what we had here in Detroit this year,” Walton told Leinart and Ferrara. “It was honestly one of the most fun coaching years I’ve had, and I’ve been on, you know, a lot of fun teams that that have had a lot of success. But it was awesome to be part of this ride this year.”

That ride was due largely in part to the rise of former number 1 overall pick, Cade Cunningham, who made his first all-star team this season. It’s Walton’s belief that Cunningham has the tools to become one of the league’s next great stars.

“He is the real deal and you can one hundred percent build an organization around him,” Walton said of the 4th year pro. “His leadership ability for his age is just, it’s unbelievable. I mean, he cares not only about winning and, you know, doing the right thing, but he cares about his teammates.”

Step 1 for the Pistons was climbing back into relevance. They appear to have achieved that. The next step will be passing those above them and playing meaningful basketball into late May and beyond.

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