The Detroit Pistons recently held an introductory press conference for new head coach JB Bickerstaff, who faces the daunting task of turning the team’s fortunes around after years of futility. During the media session, the 45-year-old tactician described his new challenge as a “fun” situation.
“Where we aim to go is where the development impacts winning, and how do we make them better winners. This is going to be a fun situation. I’m sure there will be ups and downs, but by the end of the season you’ll see a style of play and you’ll recognize Pistons basketball,” Bickerstaff said.
“Wins and losses are something that come on their own timeline. So we’re not going to sit here and promise you this amount of wins, but we can promise you that our guys are going to compete their tails off and play selfless basketball and do the dirty things that it takes to win basketball games and that’ll be the Pistons brand,” he added.
Before getting the Detroit Pistons job, JB Bickerstaff coached the Cleveland Cavaliers for three-and-a-half seasons, finishing with a 170-159 record. In 2023-24, he guided the Cleveland Cavaliers to win their first playoff series since the 2017-18 campaign before losing to the Boston Celtics in the second round.
JB Bickerstaff sees huge potential in Detroit Pistons’ Cade Cunningham
If the Detroit Pistons are going to take off, it’ll likely be on the back of Cade Cunningham’s superb play and leadership, and head coach JB Bickerstaff believes he can be “really special.”
“Our focus is making him one of the best two-way players in the league. In having conversations with him, he’s hungry. He has a fire, he’s a competitor and he wants to be a part of what takes the Pistons to the next level,” Bickerstaff said about Cunningham.
Cade Cunningham is coming off a robust 2023-24 campaign, averaging 22.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 7.5 assists in 62 regular season games. The 22-year-old combo guard recently agreed to a five-year, $224 maximum extension.