Detroit Pistons show early improvement in 2024-25 season behind Cade Cunningham

The Detroit Pistons have posted a middling start to the 2024-25 NBA season after finishing 14-68 in 2023-24, a campaign marred by a 28-game losing streak that set a league record.[1][2]

Point guard Cade Cunningham, selected first overall by Detroit in the 2021 NBA draft out of Oklahoma State University, continues to anchor the young roster.[3]

The 23-year-old guard earned All-Star selection for the 2023-24 season and is averaging 25.7 points, 9.0 assists and 5.2 rebounds in 26 games during the current campaign.[4][5]

Cunningham's career averages through four seasons stand at 22.6 points, 7.6 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game across 177 regular-season appearances.[4][5]

Hired in May 2024, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has guided the Pistons to a 10-15 record as of December 9, 2024, placing the team 12th in the Eastern Conference standings.[6]

The Pistons fired Monty Williams after his lone season in 2023-24, despite his reported six-year, $78 million contract that was the richest coaching deal in NBA history at signing.[7][8]

Home games are played at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.[9] The NBA playoffs begin April 19, 2025.[10]

Sources

1. Basketball-Reference.com
   2023-24 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats
   Accessed December 10, 2024
   https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/2024.html
2. NBA.com
   Pistons lose 28th straight game, longest losing streak in NBA history
   January 19, 2024
   https://www.nba.com/news/pistons-lose-28th-straight-game-historic-mark
3. NBA.com
   Cade Cunningham Player Profile
   Accessed December 10, 2024
   https://www.nba.com/player/1631106/cade-cunningham
4. NBA.com
   Cade Cunningham Stats
   Accessed December 10, 2024
   https://www.nba.com/player/1631106/cade-cunningham#stats
5. Basketball-Reference.com
   Cade Cunningham Stats
   Accessed December 10, 2024
   https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/cunnica01.html
6. NBA.com
   Standings
   Accessed December 10, 2024
   https://www.nba.com/standings
7. ESPN
   Detroit Pistons, Monty Williams agree on 6-year, $78M deal: Sources
   June 13, 2023
   https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/37652315/detroit-pistons-monty-williams-6-years-78-million-sources-say
8. NBA.com
   Pistons fire coach Monty Williams after one season
   April 17, 2024
   https://www.nba.com/news/pistons-fire-monty-williams
9. NBA.com
   Detroit Pistons Team Page
   Accessed December 10, 2024
   https://www.nba.com/team/1610612765/pistons
10. NBA.com
    2025 NBA Playoffs key dates announced
    October 17, 2024
    https://www.nba.com/news/2025-nba-playoffs-key-dates