Detroit PistonsDetroit want to open up the game around Cunningham
After 60 wins, the Pistons are looking for ways to go further in the playoffs. The new shooters must open up the floor around Cunningham.
Listen to this story
Synthetic English voice · 3 min 47 s
The Detroit Pistons finished the 2025–2026 season with 60 wins and 22 defeats, 1st place in the East and an exit against Cleveland in the conference semi-final.
Building on the 60 wins
Under J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit took top spot in the East in the regular season before losing the seventh game of its series against Cleveland. This start to the season raises a concrete question: how to preserve the group's strength while giving it more solutions when defences shrink the space in the playoffs?
per game
per game
per game
Shooting is the first change
John Collins, Isaiah Joe and Taurean Prince have joined Detroit, while Tobias Harris, Isaiah Stewart and Caris LeVert have left. The new arrivals change what is possible around Cunningham. Joe can offer an outside threat and Collins a new pairing in the paint. The tactical aim is to force the defence to cover more ground, leaving more lanes open for the ball handler.
- →John CollinsJohn Collins · joins the squad
- →Isaiah JoeIsaiah Joe · joins the squad
- →Taurean PrinceTaurean Prince · joins the squad
- ←Tobias Harris · leaves the squad
- ←Isaiah Stewart · leaves the squad
- ←Caris LeVert · leaves the squad
Six offensive reference points in the current squad
Points per game, 2025–26 regular season, all teams combined. Six selected players, not an exhaustive ranking.
Cade Cunningham, at the heart of the play
Cade Cunningham remains the reference point with the ball. Jalen Duren offers an interior target and Ausar Thompson a presence on the wings. Together they sketch a team able to attack close to the rim. Our projection keeps them in central roles; it makes no assumption about Bickerstaff's starting five or about player availability on opening night.
20 % of the team's scoring average
36 % of the team's assists average
Ratios of per-game averages, 2025–26; the player and the team have not necessarily played the same number of games. SNA orders of magnitude, not official shares of the totals.
A bench with several outside options
Duncan Robinson and Kevin Huerter are on the official roster. Alongside Joe, they offer several types of shooter, while Ronald Holland II and Javonte Green can contribute on the wings. Paul Reed is an interior option behind Duren. Daniss Jenkins and Ebuka Okorie are further options for creating. This breakdown describes possible roles; it does not turn the camp list into a settled rotation.
Creation
Shooting
Wings and frontcourt
SNA season projection, not an official starting five or a guaranteed opening-night line-up. Availability as of 15 October: preseason estimates, not confirmation for the opener.
Three-point shooting, player by player
2025–26 regular season, all teams combined. Red line: club average, 35.6%. Selected players with at least one attempt per game.
Availability: the dated update
As of 14 October, Cunningham and Duren were listed as day-to-day. This preseason status does not allow any conclusion about their availability on 20 October.
The squad: 20 players
Official preparation list consulted on 14 October. It includes the players in camp and guarantees neither a final contract nor a place in the rotation. The positions below use the club's categories, which are broader than the roles envisaged on the floor.
| Player | Status | Pts | Reb | Ast | 3PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centres and bigs | |||||
| Jalen Duren | 19.5 | 10.5 | 2 | – | |
| John Collins | Newcomer | 13.6 | 5.3 | 1 | 40.6 % |
| Ugonna Onyenso | – | – | – | – | |
| Guards | |||||
| Cade Cunningham | 23.9 | 5.5 | 9.9 | 34.2 % | |
| Chaz Lanier | – | – | – | – | |
| Elijah Harkless | – | – | – | – | |
| Isaiah Joe | Newcomer | 11.1 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 42.3 % |
| Ebuka Okorie | – | – | – | – | |
| Daniss Jenkins | – | – | – | – | |
| Javonte Green | – | – | – | – | |
| Forwards · versatile positions | |||||
| Isaac Jones | – | – | – | – | |
| Ronald Holland II | – | – | – | – | |
| Paul Reed | – | – | – | – | |
| Ausar Thompson | 9.9 | 5.7 | 3.1 | – | |
| Taurean Prince | Newcomer | – | – | – | – |
| Kevin Huerter | – | – | – | – | |
| Tolu Smith | – | – | – | – | |
| Duncan Robinson | 12.2 | 2.7 | 2.1 | 41 % | |
| Brice Williams | – | – | – | – | |
No SNA profile available: John Ukomadu (forward). These names complete the 19 players in the table. 2025–26 averages, all teams combined, for the six documented players; they were not all recorded with the current club. "–": unverified data or three-point volume below one attempt per game. Availability as of 15 October: preseason estimates, not confirmation for the opener. The camp list guarantees neither a final contract nor playing time.
Keeping the physical base without cramping the attack
Presence near the rim and the group's ability to defend are anchors. The danger would be to gain shooting options while losing the balance that carried Detroit. Three-point production from last season remains a work in progress.
Key weapons
- Cunningham with the ball in his hands.
- A physical foundation built around Duren and Thompson.
Areas to work on
- Spacing around the ball handler.
- Maintaining defensive balance with the new signings.
Expectations have changed
After finishing first in the East, a simple rise in the win total cannot be the only goal. Detroit must look to maintain a consistent level while developing answers for the decisive games. The first games will show whether the new shooters stay involved in the ball movement and whether Cunningham finds partners without Duren and Thompson losing their place in the attack.
After finishing first in the East, a simple increase in the number of wins cannot be the only objective.
Benchmark: assess combinations over several weeks, without turning the pre-season into an established pecking order.
First regular-season game against Boston, at home, on 20 October at 20:00 Brazzaville time (19:00 UTC). Time checked on 14 October, subject to change.
Find the Detroit Pistons profile and the page for the opening game.
Tuesday 20 October 2026 at 20:00 Brazzaville time · match centre
- The team’s live schedule appears here.
Countdown to tip-off.