The Detroit Pistons have broken plenty of records the last few seasons but none of them are positive ones.
They set the franchise record for fewest wins last season, set the NBA record for longest losing streak in a single season and have notched the fewest wins of any Pistons team over the last five-year span. Woo hoo!
The Pistons may not fare much better in the win column next season, but they do have a chance to set some positive team records. Here are four all-time Pistons’ records that are ready to be broken next season, in no particular order.
Highest FG percentage in a season: Jalen Duren
Current record: 64.8%, Jalen Duren 2022-23
Jalen Duren holds the current Pistons’ record for highest field goal percentage in a season, which came in his rookie year and he has a chance to break his own record in year three.
He took a slight dip last season, but was still over 61 percent, and that number is primed to go back up. That may seem counterintuitive, as some believe Duren should expand his offensive game and even add a jumper.
Rubbish.
I think he’ll go the opposite way as JB Bickerstaff tries to get him to focus on defense and reduces his responsibilities on the other end. That means mostly Dunks for Duren, and he should get plenty of them with more spacing in the offense.
He is going to be trouble in the pick-and-roll and get most of his points off dunks and putbacks. Forget about a jumper, focus on defense and scoring at the rim.
Most steals in a game: Ausar Thompson
Current record: 9, by Ron Lee and Earl Tatum
Ok, so this one is a bit ridiculous as nine steals in a game seems like a fluke, though it has happened twice in Pistons’ history.
But this seems like a record Ausar Thompson will break, as he is going to be playing defense all over the place next season, defending 1-5 and should get plenty of chances to flash into passing lanes for steals.
He put up some wild box scores last year and it just feels like he’ll have one of those games where he has like 4 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 10 steals. If anyone can threaten to get a quadruple-double, it’s Ausar.
This one is flukey and I wouldn't bet big on it, but Ish Smith once had seven steals for the Pistons and I have a feeling Ausar Thompson will have one of those games.