Last year, the Detroit Pistons were the feel-good story of the NBA and awards ballots reflected that with a lot of finalists coming from Detroit. However, the Pistons did not actually end up winning any major awards despite being top three in three different categories. This upcoming season, the Pistons hope to continue their momentum and be more rewarded at the awards ballot.
Way too early awards predictions for the Detroit Pistons
Cade Cunningham was third last year in Most Improved voting, but will have his eyes set on higher prizes this season. He should be aiming to solidify himself as a top-ten player in the league and competing for an All-NBA spot and MVP votes. No Pistons player has ever won an MVP.
Jaden Ivey was in the midst of a breakout season last year before suffering a season-ending injury on a freak play. Still, he should be able to put together a strong candidacy for Most Improved Player if he continues his trajectory. We have seen players make strong cases for Most Improved in consecutive seasons (especially when injuries come into play), such as Jalen Johnson of the Hawks being a frontrunner in each of the last two seasons before suffering season-ending injuries.
Ausar Thompson could also be a strong contender for Most Improved Player. He already impacted winning for the Pistons tremendously in the second half of last season, but his box score stats were not enough to attract the attention of casual fans. With some improvement there and his continued impact on the court, he could garner serious attention for his upcoming leap. He also has the goal of winning Defensive Player of the Year, a lofty goal for any non-big but actually achievable for someone with Ausar’s talent and skills.
Just like with MVP, no Pistons player has ever been named Most Improved, a drought they could end next season with multiple candidates.
Caris LeVert might be eyeing the Sixth Man of the Year trophy as he looks to have a prominent bench role. Cleveland fans might remember his 2023-24 campaign when he had similar counting stats to 6MOY winner Naz Reid but did not receive any votes for the award despite being eligible. LeVert has also credited JB Bickerstaff with reinvigorating his defense in his years in Cleveland, so a reunion between the two could yield award-winning results this time around. The Pistons have won this award once when Corliss Williamson took it home in 2002.
Finally, coach JB Bickerstaff may be rewarded if the Pistons are able to take the next step and become a solid contender in the East. Last year, he finished second in Coach of the Year voting despite leading a historic turnaround due to the success of Kenny Atkinson with the Cavaliers. If the Pistons continue to improve, we could see Bickerstaff finally capture that elusive award.