Several young Detroit Pistons are expected to take their game to another level this season.
Over the last week, Detroit Pistons star point guard publicly lauded the impactful work of President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon while on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and that’s a sentiment growing with popularity across the Motor City.
Last year, the Pistons were able to complete a 30-win turnaround from the season prior and jumped into the playoffs as a result, perhaps a bit ahead of schedule for the projected rebuild. Langdon has pulled double duty as the team’s General Manager de facto during that time, and his roster construction has set Detroit up for what looks to be a promising future.
Though last season ended with a first round exit at the hands of the New York Knicks, the Pistons gained a lot of valuable experience in the postseason, and they’re looking to use that encounter to aid its young core moving forward.
During his end of season press conference after the Knicks series loss, Langdon mentioned that last season’s improvement was “gratifying” while also stressing that the expectations for the Pistons have shifted moving forward. Ultimately, that is part of Detroit’s long-term goal, so Langdon was candid in discussing the 2024-25 season’s positives while keeping a patient, steadfast resolve around the team’s development.
“I think we have to learn more about our players,” Langdon said. “Ausar [Thompson] played in his second season and obviously a shortened first season, and he had a shortened second season because it didn’t start on time. [He] really didn't have a summer either because of his blood clot last summer, so that’s exciting for him, for us, that he’s going to have a full summer to actually train as a pro that he really hasn’t had yet. And for him to have the season he had without a summer, and without really a training camp, without the first month, it’s incredible.”
Last season, Thompson started 48 regular season games and averaged over 10 points to go along with 5 rebounds per game, but those stats fail to acknowledge the immense defensive presence that Thompson provided with his ability to guard multiple positions effectively. Thompson’s defensive flexibility is a big asset for the Pistons moving forward, and it will be intriguing to see if his offensive game continues to develop in a similar fashion.
Continuing to focus on the paint, Langdon praised center Jalen Duren for his determined, progressive mentality that allowed for the Pistons big man to build steam over the course of the 2024-25 campaign.
“JD took a huge step after the first 25 games,” Langdon said. “He was a different player the last 50, 60 games of the season. He got off to a slow start. We’re going to push him this summer as well, and I think he’s willing to take that up to another level.”
Pistons Star Cade Cunningham Praises Detroit’s Passion On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
With The Tonight Show filming in Detroit, Cade Cunningham was a featured guest
Simply put, the Pistons are expecting major contributions out of Duren and Thompson this season, and the pair will have a full offseason to ramp up for an expectation-filled season ahead. However, Duren and Thompson are not the only Detroit players riding an upward trajectory.
“Ron [Holland] is 19 and didn’t have a true summer either,” Langdon said. “He’s going to have the whole summer with us in this building and in different places. He’ll have a Summer League to train. Stew will get healthy. All these guys will come back, and there will be a continuity with not only this roster but with this coaching staff and his philosophy that this group has really never had before, so I think that will be a positive through the summer and into next season as well.”
As Langdon calmly laid out, the Pistons have generated a lot of buzz after completing such a stark franchise turnaround last season, and Detroit is eager to keep raising its level in pursuit of a second consecutive playoff berth.
The Detroit Pistons will open up the regular season on Wednesday, Oct. 22 on the road against the Chicago Bulls.
For more information on the latest Detroit Pistons team or player news, follow @EricJRutter on X for continued basketball coverage.