Pistons' Media Day, StockX, and the Los Angeles Chargers | The Weekly Drive
NBA Media Day has come and gone, but there is plenty to talk about when it comes to the Detroit Pistons. Plus a new jersey sponsor, Lamar Stevens, and an investment in the Los Angeles Chargers.
Good Tuesday morning Pistons fans, and thanks for checking in on this edition of the Weekly Drive. Yesterday was NBA Media Day across the league, which marks the official start of the basketball season. We were on-site at Little Caesars Arena and have a ton to talk about, so let’s get into it.
Media Day Frenzy
New Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations, Trajan Langdon, kicked things off at media day, recapping a hectic summer that saw major organizational changes. He emphasized that this upcoming season is not about wins and losses, but to establish an identity. If you have been a longtime listener of the Palace of Pistons Podcast, you would know that an identity has been sorely lacking from the organization for quite some time.
Langdon also said that everyone on the roster is healthy and will be practicing aside from Ausar Thompson, who had a blood clot scare last season that ended his rookie year prematurely. Thompson is still in the medical process with both the league and the NBA Players Association, he said during his presser that he feels fine.
New Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff spoke next, and he provided some statements that should be a breath of fresh air for Pistons fans:
Bickerstaff’s comments align with what Langdon said: he wants to build a foundation with the talented players already on the roster. Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren are two of those cornerstone pieces. Langdon said he is “really intrigued” to see how his new head coach will use Ivey’s skillset. Bickerstaff added that he and his staff have been looking at ways to get Duren the ball early in the shot clock to increase his involvement in the offense. It’s helpful that Duren echoed that sentiment in his press conference, too.
But the star of the show is freshly-paid franchise superstar Cade Cunningham. The fourth-year point guard said he believes in the work done by the organization this offseason. “I’m confident in the work that we’ve put in as a group, the work I’ve put in individually, and a fresh start,” Cunningham told the gallery.
With how electric the football and baseball teams in Detroit have been, Cunningham wants fans to bring the same energy to the basketball team too.
The Pistons will go as far as Cunningham can take them, and new teammate Tim Hardaway Jr. said he even exudes a bit of Luke Doncic with his bigger frame and magnetic pull on offense.
Simone Fontecchio says he is healthy and happy to be back in Detroit, while Marcus Sasser said he has been working on his point guard skills. Fontecchio being healthy is very helpful for lineup building, but Sasser focusing on being a point guard as opposed to a microwave shooter is a necessary development. The Pistons lack a true backup point guard, and Sasser taking on that role is perhaps his best hope of sticking with the organization beyond this season.
One of the biggest question marks of the team is Jaden Ivey, now on this third coach in as many seasons. During his time with the media, he said that he has been working on his three-point shot and wants to be on the ball more when Cunningham is with him on the court. Ivey also said he has been trying to absorb as much as possible from the veterans and acknowledged their winning mentality being important on a young roster.
You can follow along with my co-host Aaron Johnson on X for all of Pistons’ Media Day coverage, but the incoming veteran big man Paul Reed may have endeared himself the most during his time at the microphone:
“My goal for the season is to make the playoffs.”
News and Notes
Pistons Owner Tom Gores purchased a 27% stake in the Los Angeles Chargers, according to NBC.
Detroit signed wing Lamar Stevens, per his agency. Stevens was previously coached by Bickerstaff during his time in Cleveland.
StockX is the new jersey sponsor for the Pistons, per Complex. StockX is a Detroit-based resale marketplace for sneakers and clothing. The previous sponsor was United Wholesale Mortgage.
Do you have any questions about Detroit’s Media Day extravaganza? What stood out to you as we headed into training camp and the preseason? Be sure to let us know in the comments or reach on social media and we will look to answer your questions on the next podcast. Thanks for checking in and see you next week.
Mike