ESPN ranks the Detroit Pistons as the 4th best team in the Eastern Conference, and the 9th best NBA team overall. Detroit took the league by storm winning 44 games, and finishing 6th in the Eastern Conference. They would go on to push the New York nearly to their limits in the first round of the playoffs, falling short by way of a 4-2 series loss.

Brian Windhorst on the Pistons getting more national televised games this season

“ Detroit is a team to watch this year for several reasons. We’ll see when the schedule comes out, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they have some made-for-tv matchups and get more attention this… pic.twitter.com/egVSjKca6Q

— Pistons Talk (@Pistons__Talk) August 12, 2025

Gong into 2025 the Pistons have an established superstar in Cade Cunningham, veteran role players including Tobias Harris, Caris Levert, and Duncan Robinson. As well as young talent that has yet to plateau including Jalen Duren, Ron Holland, and Ausar Thompson. Detroit will be a deep team with minimal weak points. If some of their young talent can take a step forward theres no reason Detroit can’t be a top team in the East.

With Indiana, Boston, and Milwaukee likely taking steps back, the stage is set for Detroit to step up and advance to the next level. Orlando and Atlanta made significant moves in the offseason to make that same push, and New York and Cleveland made smaller ones to bolster their roster with the hopes of maintaining their positions atop the East.

The Pistons will have much more lofty expectations to live up to going into 2025. They are no longer a game on the schedule that you can mark off as a off-night. In fact, Detroit will play 16 nationally televised games this season. The Pistons were a few key injuries away from truly being a threat in the playoffs this past season. The team is now a year more polished, and experienced in how to close games better and not beat themselves. The veteran sharpshooter Malik Beasley is still confident he will be coming back to the league as a Detroit Piston. Reports are that Detroit’s 15th roster spot is being held for him in the event his name is cleared of the allegations. Regardless of whether Beasley returns, the reintroduction of Jaden Ivey to the team will be highly anticipated. The electric guard will be taking back over the role of secondary playmaker to Cade, and may have to shoulder the scoring void left by Malik. Ivey is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and from what we know there is mutual interest to come to an extension beyond next year.