Pistons’ Breakthrough Season Leaves Fans Wondering: What If?
The Detroit Pistons finally gave their fans something to cheer about last season, finishing with a 44-38 record – their best in over a decade.
They tripled their win total from the previous year.
And they locked up a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference.
It marked Detroit’s first playoff appearance since 2018-19, ending a painful postseason drought. But their return to the playoffs came with a major asterisk: they were missing shooting guard Jaden Ivey, who was sidelined with a broken left fibula.
Ivey underwent surgery in January and couldn’t make it back in time for the team’s first-round matchup against the New York Knicks.
Now, someone inside the organization is saying what many fans were thinking.
“Look, if we have Jaden last year, we win our first playoff series in forever. We believe that 100%,” an anonymous Pistons executive told reporter Keith Smith.
That’s a bold claim, but it’s not without merit.
The Pistons pushed the Knicks to six games even without their explosive young guard. They were tantalizingly close to advancing before ultimately falling 4-2 in the series.
The Injury That Changed Everything
Ivey’s season took a devastating turn on New Year’s Day when he collided with Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony. The impact broke Ivey’s left fibula, requiring surgery the very next day.
The injury cost him 55 straight games, including Detroit’s entire playoff run.
Before getting hurt, Ivey was having a breakout third season. He started 30 games and averaged 17.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.0 assists.
His most impressive improvement? Three-point shooting, where he was connecting at a 40.9% clip – a massive jump from his previous seasons.
That kind of outside shooting was exactly what the Pistons lacked against New York’s tough defense.
The good news for Detroit fans is that Ivey will be 100% ready for the upcoming season.
Looking to the Future
The Pistons clearly see Ivey as a cornerstone piece. According to Smith, the team is eager to sign him to a long-term extension.
Ivey is entering the final year of his rookie contract – a four-year, $32.9 million deal he signed after being drafted fifth overall in 2022. All signs point to him staying in Detroit for the foreseeable future.
While the Pistons kept their starting five intact this offseason, they’ve added some serious firepower off the bench.
They signed veteran guard Caris LeVert to a two-year, $29 million contract. LeVert brings scoring punch and playmaking as a sixth man.
They also added sharpshooter Duncan Robinson on a three-year, $48 million deal. Robinson is one of the league’s premier catch-and-shoot specialists from beyond the arc.
With these additions and a healthy Ivey, Detroit is banking on taking another big step forward next season.
Could this finally be the year the Pistons not only make the playoffs, but make some real noise when they get there?
