The Pistons took major leaps in 2025, but their level of success is one that will surprise even hardcore fans. In the 2025 calendar year, the Pistons actually had the third-best overall record in the entire NBA. The team still has its flaws, but it's clear that their momentum is building towards something special as they enter the new year.
The Pistons are in the midst of a meteoric rise
We all know that the Pistons had a drastic turnaround last season following a franchise-worst campaign in 2023-24. And they've continued to build upon that success this season. In 2025, their defense established itself as a deadly force - second in the entire NBA in defensive rating.
The Pistons have often gotten criticism this season for facing an easy schedule to start the campaign. But it's hard to argue with a sample size spanning a whole year. In 2025, the Pistons trailed only the Thunder and Celtics in overall regular season wins. Of course, Detroit still needs to prove itself with some playoff wins before entering the upper echelon of the league.
But this trend towards better basketball should be incredibly encouraging for the Pistons organization and fans. 2025 was a year that proved the team concept could find considerable success. Not only did the Pistons themselves lean into the idea of surrounding superstar Cade Cunningham with defense and bruising size, but they also saw those trends replicated across the league.
Defensive depth and a huge front line were two of the biggest NBA trends in 2025, and the Pistons got out ahead of the field on them. For once, Detroit felt ahead of the curve rather than struggling to catch up towards the modern era. Even though they lack shooting and flashy offensive skills across their roster, the Pistons have led the charge with their throwback playstyle.
Cade himself has also been a revelation for the franchise. In 2025, he made his first All-Star and All-NBA teams. Now, he seems destined for much more. This season, he's been arguably a top-5 MVP candidate while getting it done for the Pistons on both ends. Across the entire calendar year, he averaged 27 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds per game.
But the growth of other players has been even more important. 2025 gave us our first look at a healthy Ausar Thompson in a winning environment. And boy did he deliver. Ausar's defensive brilliance is a driving force of the Pistons' success. Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart have also emerged as an interior tandem that few teams can handle.
The new year is a perfect time to reflect on the last 12 months and look ahead to the remaining season. Through that lens, it's clear the Pistons had a wildly successful year and are poised to push their success even higher in 2026.