Growing up in Detroit, you learn real quick that loyalty runs deep — especially when it comes to our sports teams. We don’t jump ship when things get rough. We ride it out. That’s what being a Detroiter is all about: sticking with it, even when it’s hard. So, when I look at the Detroit Pistons this season, and I start seeing signs of a turnaround — even just the smallest sparks — I can’t help but feel proud, hopeful and honestly, emotional.
Let’s be real: the last few seasons haven’t been easy. We’ve watched our team struggle — from coaching changes and draft picks that didn’t pan out to injuries and long losing streaks that had the whole league clowning us. It’s been frustrating, no doubt. But through all that noise, we stayed. We kept watching, kept pulling up to Little Caesars Arena and kept believing.
This season, it ain’t just about talent anymore — it’s about energy, culture and finally having the right pieces start to click. You can see it in how the team is moving, the effort on both ends of the floor and the chemistry building between the young core. Cade Cunningham is starting to look like the franchise leader we always hoped for. Jaden Ivey’s got that fire in him. Jalen Duren is holding it down in the paint. And even the bench guys? They’re showing up and hooping like they’ve got something to prove — because they do.
Watching these guys develop in real time is wild. It’s like watching yourself grow up. They’re making mistakes, learning from them and coming back stronger, just like the city they rep. That’s what makes this turnaround feel so real — it’s not about flashy wins or hype headlines; it’s about building something that lasts.
And man, Detroit needs this. We’ve been through a lot — job loss, school closures, gentrification, people writing us off time and time again. But what they never understand is that Detroiters don’t quit. We rebuild. We hustle. We evolve. When the Pistons win, it ain’t just about basketball — it’s about hope, pride and resilience.
The thing is, we don’t ask for perfection. We ask for effort, accountability and heart. That’s why this season hits different. It’s not about chasing a championship tomorrow. It’s about watching our team fight again. Compete again. Show the rest of the league — and the world — that we’re still here.
For me, as a 21-year-old Black man from this city, it feels personal. I remember watching the ’04 squad as a kid and thinking, “That’s what greatness looks like.” It wasn’t just the wins — it was the identity. Tough. Fearless. Unified. And now, I’m starting to feel like we’re getting back to that energy, piece by piece.
So yeah, maybe we’re still early in the rebuild. Maybe there’s more work to do. But if this season’s any indication, the Pistons are finally on the right path. And when this team fully turns the corner — when Detroit basketball is truly back — just know we never stopped believing.
Because this is Detroit. And that’s what we do.
