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The Detroit Pistons were the best team in the Eastern Conference during the 2025-26 regular season, but Cade Cunninghamdoes not feel like the rest of the league has caught up to that reality.
Detroit went 60-22 last season and claimed the No. 1 seed in the East, completing a stunning rise for a franchise that had been stuck near the bottom of the standings only a few years earlier. Yet heading into the new campaign, the Pistons have drawn far less buzz than several of their conference rivals, and their star guard has noticed.
“I still feel like we’re a little slept on, man. I still feel like people don’t really give us the credit that maybe we’ve earned,” Cunningham told reporters. “But again, that’s the beauty of it. I think that’s part of being in Detroit.”
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Cade Cunningham on the Pistons:
“I still feel like we’re a little slept on, man. I still feel like people don’t really give us the credit that maybe we’ve earned. But again, that’s the beauty of it. I think that’s part of being in Detroit.” pic.twitter.com/JcHdXKB8Nh
— Hunter Patterson (@HunterPatterson) October 15, 2026
It is easy to see why Detroit might fly under the radar. The East got a major shake-up this offseason, with Giannis Antetokounmpo landing with the Miami Heat and Kawhi Leonard returning to the Toronto Raptors in a blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. Those moves have grabbed most of the headlines, leaving the Pistons as something of an afterthought in the championship conversation.
Their playoff exit may also play a part. Despite holding the top seed, Detroit needed seven games to get past the Orlando Magic in the first round before falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a seven-game East Semifinals series.
Still, the Pistons bring back a talented young core that has proven it can win at a high level. Cunningham established himself as an MVP-caliber star last season, while Jalen Duren broke out with his first All-Star and All-NBA selections.
Detroit has also shown plenty of promise this preseason. Duren dominated in his preseason debut on Wednesday as the Pistons routed the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-106 at Target Center.
For Cunningham, the lack of respect is simply part of the identity in Detroit. The city has long embraced an underdog mentality, and the 2021 No. 1 overall pick appears more than comfortable carrying that chip on his shoulder into the season.
The Pistons will get their first chance to make a statement when they open the regular season against the Boston Celtics on Oct. 20.
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