Detroit Pistons roundtable: How we became Pistons fans

The Detroit Pistons have a solid history with three NBA championships to boast about. For many Pistons fans, that’s how they became fans. Here’s our story.

Labor Day was a great time to reflect on why the Detroit Pistons are a great organization, and some would say the ultimate Labor Day team.

From the Bad Boys era and the Goin’ to Work Pistons, there’s been a lot of hard work, grit, muscle and Detroit mentality that goes in to being a great Piston. With winning comes new fans, which is seen across all sports and all cities.

The most obvious cases of fandom come from living in, or near the city or because of family rooting interests. But everyone has a unique story of how or why they became a fan.

Here is why the Piston Powered team became Pistons fans.

Aaron Kellerstrass: I’m old. I became a Pistons fan in 1986 and still have a hat from that year. I loved playing/watching point guards when I was a kid, so was drawn in by Isiah Thomas. I also hated the Lakers and Celtics, the Pistons’ primary enemies.

Related Story. How the Bad Boys came to represent the city of Detroit. light

Spyros Papadakos: I live in Greece but I have some family in Detroit and I was there for the 2005 Finals when I was 12 years old. I was just getting into basketball so I was hooked.

Soccer is the popular sport here but the Greek National Basketball Team was doing so well that a lot of kids turned to basketball at the time. That coincided with my trip to the US so my new love for basketball was quickly directed to the Pistons.

When I went to college I started watching a lot more NBA games and became even more of a fan despite the team’s difficult times.

Jon Young: I became a Pistons fan because I’m from Michigan and my entire family backs Detroit sports. I became a huge fan when Grant Hill was at his peak. I had a Grant Hill t-shirt, jersey, poster and book. I was obsessed. My fandom was re-sparked in the early 2000’s when the Pistons were competitive again. My fandom hasn’t waned since.

Eli Bashi: I became a Piston fan in 2005 when my dad took me to a game and I instantly fell in love with the Goin to Work team.

Eric Black: I became a Pistons fan during the “Going to Work” Era like most Millienials.

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Steven Bryant: I specifically remember watching the Goin to Work Pistons team when staying the night at my grandparent’s up in Gaylord. I just remember thinking about how awesome Richard Hamilton is and how he was the best basketball player ever. I was also like 8 or 9 years old, but he still is the best basketball player ever. He had a wet mid-range shot. That and I did my senior high school presentation talking 35 minutes about the Pistons franchise history.

Richard Davisson: I became a Pistons fan around the 1999-2000 season because I lived in Michigan and my dad was a Detroit sports fan. I remember learning and being excited about Grant Hill just to see him traded, but by the time I was 11 years old, I was drawing pictures of Ben Wallace dunking during english class.

Youssef ElMinyawi: I started watching the pistons in the 2003-04 season as I was visiting family in Michigan. At the time I still lived in Egypt, so I would wake up at 3 am local time to watch the Lakers finals games and since then loved this team.

Ash Vanclay: I started getting into the NBA in 2003 and just fell in love with the Pistons. I loved the fact they didn’t have a superstar and it was about the sum of the parts. Then I went to a shopping outlet for Adidas (jersey sponsors at the time) and the only jerseys they had left were Chauncey Billups ones. It was meant to be!

Be sure to check out other Piston Powered roundtable discussions, including what contract the Pistons should offer Andre Drummond and whether or not the Pistons should trade Drummond.

dark. Next. What made the Goin to Work Pistons enjoyable

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