Pistons Lead NBA Post-All-Star
The Detroit Pistons enter the post-All-Star schedule atop the NBA standings, driven by a defense-first culture and rising star Cade Cunningham. The Oklahoma City Thunder also sit among the league leaders as the NBA resumes play Thursday following the break. Detroit's turnaround represents one of the fastest franchise reversals in recent NBA history.
- The Pistons' success is built on a league-leading defense, which currently holds the second-best defensive rating in the NBA at 109.4. - Cade Cunningham is putting up All-Star numbers, averaging 25.3 points and 9.8 assists per game, with his assist numbers ranking among the top in the league. - The team's dramatic improvement follows a 2023-24 season where they won only 14 games and set a single-season record for consecutive losses. - Key offseason additions who have contributed to the turnaround include shooter Duncan Robinson, acquired in a sign-and-trade, and veteran playmaker Caris LeVert. - Center Jalen Duren has been a force on the interior, averaging 10.6 rebounds per game. - The core of the team has been assembled through recent high draft picks, including Ausar Thompson (2023, No. 5) and Ron Holland II (2024, No. 5), alongside Cunningham (2021, No. 1). - The Oklahoma City Thunder, also mentioned among the league's best, are the defending NBA champions with a 42-14 record and the top-rated defense in the league.
