Detroit Pistons · Franchise era 7 of 7
Building around Cade: the Detroit Pistons story
Franchise era
2021–22—present
Building around Cade
Detroit Pistons
The story in one sentence
Cunningham became the organizing talent for a young roster trying to reconnect Detroit's patience with its defensive tradition.
01
A young lead guard anchors the next attempt
02
Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson gave the era its recognizable core.
03
Its final meaning is still being written.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 2021–22
What came before
Detroit reached the playoffs only twice as a series of veteran bets failed to create a sustainable core.
2025
Eastern Conference First Round: Detroit Pistons vs New York Knicks
2026
Eastern Conference First Round: Detroit Pistons vs Orlando Magic
2026
Eastern Conference Semifinals: Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Still unfolding
Where the story stands
This chapter remains active, so its final place in franchise history is still being written.
The core