Earlier today, Pistons President of Basketball of Operations Trajan Langdon made an appearance on Sirius XM’s The Starting Lineup, a show hosted by former NBA player Brian Scalibrine and Frank Isola. Right now, the Pistons are 1-2 in the preseason and will begin the 2025-26 regular season slate in one week, so Langdon has a lot on his plate at the moment. 

During the conversation, Langdon was asked about his introduction to the Pistons organization and how the state or the franchise has changed so dramatically in such a short timespan since his arrival before he broke into more specific facets of Detroit’s team. 

“When we came in last year, obviously I took the job after a 14 win season and didn't have, you know, the turnout was slow at the beginning of the season,” Langdon said on Wednesday. “We started off 0-4, but then as the season picked up, and especially post All-Star, you can really feel the momentum in the city. And then, the year that the Lions had last year, the year that the Tigers had last year, then flowing into this year as well it's just a good time to be a Detroit sports fan. So, we're trying to ride the wave and hopefully take another step this season.”

If the Pistons are able to take that elusive next step this season, the squad will need another massive effort from star point guard Cade Cunningham. Last year, Cunningham earned All-NBA third-team honors for his work on the court, but Langdon sees Cunningham as one of the focal points in the Pistons’ overall culture change lately. 

“When you spend time with the young man, he's very introspective,” Langdon said. “It's not just about basketball. It's about the one thing that we talked about early on when I took the job– I challenged him to lead, and he said that that's already what I want to do. That's part of something I want to take a next step in getting better as a basketball player and as a leader, not only leading the organization on the floor but also off the floor. His teammates love him. He's got a great voice in the locker room, between the lines if guys aren't bringing it. He had several times in shoot-around last year, he could feel the guys weren't bringing it. [He] spoke up, guys focused. We went out and had a good practice and ultimately a good game that evening. So, those are the things he wants to do. He’s great in the community, but yeah, one hell of a basketball player who had a tremendous year last year.”

During the preseason, Cunningham is scoring 23 points per game in less than a half of basketball each night out, so the fifth-year guard is already geared up for the ensuing season. 

“He likes to have fun, but there is an approach to him when he steps in between those lines,” Langdon said. “He is competitive, he's driven, and his teammates feel it, so he does it through actions. But again, at times, he has no problem being vocal, and he does have a great voice in the locker room.”

As the clear leader in Detroit, Cunningham sets the tone for his teammates, but he’s going to benefit from having one of his top running mates back in the lineup this year. Now that guard Jaden Ivey has recovered from his broken leg, the speedy Purdue product is back in action to help flank Cunningham this year. 

“We're excited,” Langdon said. “He's worked his butt off all year, and obviously the first two months of the season last year he was electric, scoring the ball and the playmaking that he did. He had a couple game-winners at home and in Sacramento as well. So, obviously, a traumatic event when he broke his leg last year, but we're excited to have him back and he's going to be a huge piece with his team this season. I think it's the hope of every team that their guys stay healthy, but that's going to be really important for us and our key pieces.”

The Detroit Pistons will play in their preseason finale at home against the Washington Wizards on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7 pm.

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