Revisiting the 2021-22 Detroit Pistons

Cade Cunningham (#2), Jerami Grant (#9) and Hamidou Diallo (#6) meet on the court during a game <Image credit: Rick Osentoski/USA Today Sports>

The Detroit Pistons had a successful 2021-22 season. 

While a statement like this may appear bewildering given the team finished a measly 23-59 (a .280 winning percentage, good for sixth-worse in franchise history), it can and should be viewed as a success because of the current state of the franchise.

Despite putting out a less-than-competitive on-court product this season, Detroit managed to follow up one of the greatest tank jobs in 2020-21 with an equally as impressive one this year. 

Now, I’m typically not one to celebrate or embrace tanking. It’s simply not an enjoyable experience for the fans, usually lasts longer than expected and might not be the best for the game as a whole. However, it’s how the NBA operates right now, and for that reason, the Pistons shouldn’t be faulted for adopting it over the past few years.

If anything, their tank jobs since Troy Weaver was hired in 2020 should be celebrated.

A year after acquiring the first overall pick, the Pistons are once again tied for the highest odds to select in that position. This is the most ideal scenario for a team whose goal is to construct a core of young, talented players. 

They already have Cade Cunningham to build around, but selecting one of either Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren or Jabari Smith with the first-overall pick in this year’s draft would provide Cunningham with a nice pick-and-roll partner and rim protector, which they desperately need. 

What’s even more impressive about this season is that the Pistons were bad enough to acquire the top draft odds while also playing competitive basketball and developing their young players. 

It should be acknowledged that the season didn’t start this way, though. For a good month or so beginning in October, Detroit’s young players - most notably forward Saddiq Bey - struggled mightily. The Pistons’ team shooting percentages were historically bad, and Bey, who had set multiple rookie three-point records the year before, was a main contributor to that. 

What’s worse is that Cunningham was out with an injury for the first few weeks, and he looked notably less comfortable than he did in college when he finally returned. The Pistons were losing, which was good, but they weren’t competitive losses like the fan base was used to from the season prior. 

In just a few weeks, though, something changed - and it started with Cunningham. 

Cunningham turned his play around in what felt like just a few games. He started averaging close to 20 points per game, just as everyone expected. What was unexpected, though, was Cunningham’s ability to put the Pistons on his back. He single-handedly won games for Detroit, whether it was being the leading scorer or making clutch plays in crunch time. 

The game had finally slowed down for Cunningham, and by the new year, he was officially rolling. The Pistons, in turn, also began playing more competitively. 

They beat teams like Toronto, Miami and Boston in the latter half of the season, all the while getting major contributions from guys like Cunningham, Bey, Isaiah Stewart and mid-season acquisition Marvin Bagley III. Former top-10 pick Killian Hayes also turned a corner after coming off the bench toward the end of the year.

Despite dealing with injury issues throughout the season, leading scorer Jerami Grant also had another solid season, though it remains to be seen how long he will remain with the Pistons. 

Guards Frank Jackson and Hamidou Diallo are two injury-riddled players who likely will have a spot on the roster next season after showing flashes of potential this year. 

Even Isaiah Livers, a mid-second round pick in the 2021 draft who spent time in the G-League this season, made a notable contribution off the bench to end the year. 

Whether it was the fight between LeBron and the Lakers in November, Saddiq Bey’s 50-piece against the Magic in March or Kelly Olynyk’s buzzer-beater against the Hornets in February, this season was filled with memorable moments for Detroit fans, despite the team’s abysmal record. 

On paper, the 2021-22 season isn’t one to write home about. But in reality, it was one that will eventually contribute to the franchise’s success for years to come. With an offseason where the front office has said they’d like to be more aggressive still to come, Pistons fans can only hope that this season was one to begin a path towards greatness.