For the last few years, the Detroit Pistons have donned a black jersey with red and blue stripes as their “Statement” jerseys. Most of the jerseys in the Pistons’ lineup are beloved by fans but these ones have long been ridiculed as “Pepsi” jerseys. An interesting statistic shows that the jerseys are not only despised for their aesthetic choices, but also have negative connotations on the court.
Detroit Pistons' statement jerseys: A history of losing
Last season, the Pistons found some measure of success in most of their jersey configurations as they finished with a winning record for the first time in years. However, the one notable exception was the Statement jersey. The Pistons finished a paltry 5-10 (just 33 percent winning percentage) in these jerseys. Not exactly the Statement you want to send to the rest of the league or your fans.
The Statement jersey design has seen some rough times since its inception. They were introduced prior to the 2022-23 season; the cover athletes for their announcement were Cade Cunningham and Saddiq Bey. In the first two seasons after their inception, the Pistons went a combined 31-133 (19 percent winning percentage). Throughout this time, the roster, coaching staff and front office all experienced a great deal of turnover. But the jerseys remained.
To be fair, they were originally a welcome reprieve from the previous Statement jerseys, which were an uninspiring gray with blue lettering. But they have worn out their welcome at this point and the franchise should look into getting a replacement.
The Pistons can look into their own history, recent or older, to find a new Statement jersey which the fans would love and which might inspire the players more on the court. The Pistons’ current uniform lineup for next season lacks a primarily red jersey, which has long been included on alternate jerseys throughout the team’s history.
Additionally, the team can even go back to recent City or Throwback edition jerseys, which have all been hits in the fanbase. Whether it’s paying homage to a Detroit landmark or an iconic era of team history, these jerseys hit the mark with fans’ desires. The team would be wise to continue appealing to fans on the jersey front and leave the current Statements behind as the remnants of a tanking era.