The Detroit Pistons’ Remarkable 2024-25 Season: A Turnaround for the Ages
The 2024-25 NBA season was a historic one for the Detroit Pistons, a franchise that transformed from the league’s basement to a playoff contender in a single year. After a dismal 14-68 record in 2023-24—the worst in franchise history—the Pistons, under new leadership and a revitalized roster, defied expectations to finish the regular season at 44-38, clinch a playoff berth, and secure their first postseason victory since 2008. This article explores the key factors behind Detroit’s turnaround, their on-court achievements, and what this season means for the franchise’s future.
A New Era Under J.B. Bickerstaff and Trajan Langdon
The Pistons entered the 2024-25 season with fresh faces in the front office and on the sidelines. On May 31, 2024, Trajan Langdon was hired as President of Basketball Operations, replacing Troy Weaver, who stepped down the following day. Langdon, tasked with rebuilding a team that had missed the playoffs for five consecutive seasons, made strategic moves to bolster the roster with veterans and young talent. On July 3, 2024, the Pistons parted ways with head coach Monty Williams after just one season and hired J.B. Bickerstaff, known for his defensive-minded approach and player development skills from his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Bickerstaff’s hiring proved to be a turning point. His system emphasized toughness, ball movement, and defensive intensity, which aligned perfectly with the Pistons’ young core and new acquisitions. Langdon’s offseason additions, including veterans Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Malik Beasley, provided spacing and experience to complement emerging stars like Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, and Jalen Duren.
The Pistons’ 2024-25 regular season was nothing short of remarkable. Finishing with a 44-38 record, they secured the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, a dramatic improvement from their 15th-place finish the previous year. On January 1, 2025, a win over the Orlando Magic pushed Detroit past their previous season’s win total of 14, signaling early that this team was different. By March 28, the Pistons clinched their first winning season since 2016, and on April 4, they secured a playoff spot with a 117-105 victory over the Toronto Raptors—their first postseason appearance since 2019.
Detroit’s turnaround was historic: they became only the second team in NBA history to triple their win total from the previous season, joining the 2012-13 Charlotte Bobcats, and the first to do so from a full 82-game season. Social media buzzed with excitement, with fans like
noting that the Pistons “overachieved by every metric” and were just one win away from matching their 2023-24 win total after only 30 games.
Cade Cunningham emerged as the cornerstone of the franchise, earning All-NBA Third Team honors for the first time. His breakout season—averaging near 23 points, 8 assists, and 4 rebounds per game—solidified his status as a foundational star. Young players like Ivey and Duren also showed growth, while rookie Ron Holland II, selected fifth overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, added athleticism and defensive tenacity. Veterans Harris, Hardaway, and Beasley provided crucial shooting and leadership, addressing the offensive inefficiencies that plagued Detroit in prior years.
The Pistons’ return to the playoffs was a milestone for a franchise that had not tasted postseason basketball since 2019. Matched up against the New York Knicks in the first round, Detroit faced a tough challenge but showed they belonged. On April 21, 20