The Pistons return to the top: champions of the Central Division almost two decades later

The Detroit Pistons have completed their return to the NBA elite. After years marked by losses, failed rebuilds, and constant changes, the franchise has once again conquered the Central Division after nearly two decades of waiting.

The 127-116 victory against the Toronto Raptors certified an achievement they had not reached since the 2007-08 season. Back then, the team was still riding on the momentum of the 2004 championship ring and their regular presence in the Eastern Conference finals. Today, the context is entirely different: this title symbolizes the end of a long journey in the wilderness.

"It makes you proud to understand how difficult it is to achieve these things in this league," stated coach J.B. Bickerstaff after the game. "It makes you proud to have a group of young players who have grown and have reached certain milestones. It's part of the process, but we expect more."

Detroit has not only returned to compete but has done so in a grand way. Two years after finishing with a record of 14-68 and enduring 28 consecutive losses—matching the worst record in history—the Pistons now boast a spectacular 55-21.

The leap is largely explained by the growth of their young stars. Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, both All-Stars, have led the transformation. Against Toronto, and with Cunningham sidelined due to a lung injury, Duren took the spotlight with 31 points (12 of 13 shooting) and nine rebounds.

"He's very talented," highlighted Bickerstaff. "He's a different type of center. You can have stretch bigs or post players, but when you have someone capable of doing both, it's a problem."

Alongside him emerged another story of the season: Daniss Jenkins. The point guard, who started the season with a two-way contract, scored 21 points and five assists, solidifying his role as a starter in Cunningham's absence. Since taking on that role, he averages 18.6 points and 6.9 assists.

"We knew we wanted to achieve something special this year," Jenkins affirmed. "It's great to accomplish it, but we're focused on the playoffs. We'll celebrate today and get back to work tomorrow."

Success after dark years

The current success contrasts with one of the franchise's darkest periods. After that 2007-08 season, in which they reached their sixth consecutive conference final, Detroit began a sharp decline. Chauncey Billups' departure to the Denver Nuggets and Allen Iverson's arrival marked the beginning of a directionless era.

Over the next decade, the team went through eight coaches and did not secure a single playoff victory. Then, the situation worsened even further: between 2019 and 2024, the Pistons achieved a record of 94-290, hitting rock bottom with 68 losses in the 2023-24 season.

The turnaround for the Pistons began last season when Cunningham and Duren drove a 30-win improvement. Although they fell in the first round to the New York Knicks, that step was the precursor to the current success.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los Pistons vuelven a la cima: campeones de la División Central casi dos décadas después