DETROIT — Each time Cade Cunningham steps onto the floor, his talents put him up against the best defenders the league has to offer. On a nightly basis, Cunningham focuses on maintaining his All-NBA status against numerous defenders, but he is “thankful” that he doesn’t have to account for Isaiah Stewart.

Cunningham has been teammates with Stewart since the Detroit Pistons drafted him as the No. 1 pick in 2021. Over the years, he has watched as Stewart established himself as one of the league’s premier defenders.

This season, Stewart’s defensive production has been a central part of the Pistons’ best start in 20 years. With a 19-5 record, Detroit ranks fourth in the league in defense, posting a net rating of 111.3 while holding opponents to 113.3 points per game. The Pistons’ defensive success has been a collaborative effort, but no player has been at the forefront of the team’s defense than Stewart.

“He has always been big-time. I played against him in high school, and he was always a presence down there,” Cunningham said. “We have put Stew in so many positions and made him have to figure it out, and he always does. His feel for the game and IQ are super slept on. He just knows where to be and when to be there. That’s why he can make so many plays.”

Stewart is an elite defender, demonstrating the versatility necessary for today’s NBA. He is a big man who can switch on ball and defend guards out on the perimeter, while his hustle and activity help the Pistons get stops through deflections and 50-50 balls.

He has shown every attribute that has led his teammates to campaign for Defensive Player of the Year honors. In November, Stewart was a finalist for Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month — an award that went to the Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes.

However, no defensive skill set has been displayed more prominently than Stewart’s ability to protect the rim. His shot-blocking has led coach J.B. Bickerstaff to deem Stewart as “the best defensive center in the league.”

“It means a lot because he sees it every single day,” Stewart said. “He knows how much I care about defense and how I have a real passion for that side of the ball. He knows that and he appreciates that, and that means a lot to me.”

Not on ‘Beef Stew’

Stewart had a career year on the defensive end last season. He registered a career-high 1.4 blocks per game and led all reserves in the category while ranking 11th league-wide. However, 24 games into this season, Stewart is on the trajectory to surpass last year’s success.

He is currently tied with Alex Sarr for third in the league for blocked shots, averaging 2.0 rejections per game — trailing only Victor Wembanyama (3.6) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (2.4). Stewart has stood out among his peers for his shot-blocking, erasing numerous dunk attempts.

“How much he cares about it. There will never be a shot that goes up that Stew doesn’t contest,” Ausar Thompson said. “So, for him to sacrifice his body, put his body on the line every night — it’s beautiful to watch.”

Stewart, a 6-foot-8 big man, has acknowledged that his stature makes him an easy target for players seeking a quick highlight dunk, but he often wins his one-on-one battles at the rim.

“I feel like some players seek it out, while others get there and then don’t know what to do,” Stewart said. “Then they would usually pass the ball, which helps us out on defense.”

Stewart has rejected a dozen dunk attempts this season, resembling the likes of Ben Wallace during his heyday in Detroit. In the Pistons’ 122-116 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, Stewart blocked two dunk attempts, one of which was against Shaedon Sharpe, who has established himself as one of the league’s most gifted dunkers.

The moment occurred midway through the fourth quarter when Sharpe attempted a one-handed dunk over Stewart, who blocked it with the tips of his fingers. The rejected accounted for one of the four blocks Stewart had on the night, marking the fourth time this season he finished a game with four or more rejections.

“He has the best timing in the league. No one time dunks and layups better than he does,” Cunningham said. “It is honestly kind of scary. It is almost like he has finger tips made of vibranium … I think he is the best defensive player in the league.”

Stewart’s rim protection is a testament to his fearlessness of ending up on the wrong side of the highlight, but it is also an example of his ability to apply the lessons he learned throughout his six-year career. There was a time when Stewart found himself on the wrong end of a poster. Instead of shying away from the moment, Stewart used those experiences to learn how to find his timing and patience.

However, his shot-blocking also demonstrates Bickerstaff’s system. By orchestrating a defensive scheme to get the most out of his players, Bickerstaff quickly realized that Stewart had the intangibles to serve as Detroit’s most reliable defensive anchor.

“We put a lot of responsibility on them. They have to communicate with everybody, and their job is to protect the rim and the paint,” Bickerstaff said. “If you put guys who have the talent that these big guys have in those positions, it gives them opportunities to be playmakers, and it gives them the opportunities to dictate how games go.”

Stewart had a seamless transition when adapting to Bickerstaff’s technique last year. He felt Bickerstaff’s philosophies played to his strengths, which demand physicality, rebounding, rim protection and screen setting.

He has since catapulted up the list as one of the NBA’s best defenders, with the potential to receive some form of league recognition come mid-May.

“He is the most versatile center as a defender in the league. There is not a guy out on the perimeter or the post that he cannot guard,” Bickerstaff said. “He means so much to us because he is the guy who has to erase things, cover up things, and he takes on so many assignments. There are so many things that we ask him to do. I am hard-pressed to find a better defensive center than him in the league.”

DETROIT — While Jaden Ivey still might be a long way from returning to the Detroit Pistons‘ lineup, he is making positive strides. Ivey has begun on-court work as part of his rehabilitation process following an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee in the preseason. There is no specific timeframe for his return to game action, however.

Ivey was at the Henry Ford Pistons Performance Center on Friday for shootaround. He did not participate in any activities as the team prepared for their Emirates NBA Cup game against the Philadelphia 76ers, but did partake in a brief on-court workout that involved stationary shooting.

Ivey underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee on Oct. 16. His recent progression to on-court work corresponds with the team’s four-week re-evaluation.

“It sucks, we all hated to see that,” Cade Cunningham said in October. “But his spirit never dropped. He just put his head down and worked, and that is who he is. He doesn’t get ahead of himself. He just keeps his head down and works. I know he will be fine and come back better than ever, but he has to get all of that stuff cleaned up.”

Coach J.B. Bickerstaff revealed that Ivey suffered the knee injury during training camp. It came while the 23-year-old guard was working his way back from the broken left fibula he sustained on Jan. 1. The Pistons’ medical team, after completing its assessment, decided Ivey should undergo the arthroscopic procedure.

Ivey’s latest injury has delayed his long-awaited return from the broken left fibula that prematurely ended his career-best 2024-25 season. Last season, Ivey appeared in 30 games, averaging a career-best 17.6 points on 40.9% shooting from behind the arc, along with 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists.

Before the arthroscopic surgery, Ivey appeared in one preseason game, a 128-112 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Oct. 6. He played 13 minutes, notching seven points and one assist at FedEx Forum.

“It is tough for him; that is what you feel more than anything,” Bickerstaff said. “Going through what he went through last year, working his way back, and then having this happen to him, it was frustrating for him.”

DETROIT — Daniss Jenkins’ cool-down Monday night was different from anything he had experienced with the Detroit Pistons. With an ice pack wrapped around his right knee inside Little Caesars Arena, Jenkins sat at his locker after a career-best performance.

He had recorded 24 points, eight rebounds, four steals and three assists to lift the Pistons to a 137-135 overtime victory over the Washington Wizards. The pinnacle of his night came during the final seconds of regulation when Jenkins nailed the game-tying 3-point field goal after coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s original plan faltered.

“You dream of stuff like this,” Jenkins said. “To come out and hit that type of shot, I was just filled with a lot of joy and excitement. … Humbly and respectfully, I’ve always known what I was capable of, and I always believed in my preparation for this moment.”

But sitting on the right side of Jenkins’ locker was a red, white and blue WWE championship-style belt he received from Caris LeVert during the team’s postgame celebration. The WWE belt — also known as the “Belt to Ass” — is awarded to the player who provides the Pistons with the most significant lift, putting the team in the best position to win the game.

It’s more than simply giving the award to the player who scores the most points, given that the belt was several lockers down from Cade Cunningham, who notched a career-high 46 points in the win.

While Jenkins’ heroics were the reason he held possession of the belt, the honor marked the second time in three games that the Pistons’ depth was recognized. That depth has played a central role in Detroit’s 9-2 start, going into Wednesday’s game.

“The depth we keep talking about is important. We believe that the guys that we have here from top to bottom can help contribute to winning, and we’re lucky,” Bickerstaff said. “Give Trajan (Langdon) and the front-office group a ton of credit for the way that they constructed the team.”

The Pistons have faced several injuries in the first 11 games. Jaden Ivey and Marcus Sasser have not played at all, while minor injuries have caused LeVert, Tobias Harris, Isaiah Stewart, and Ausar Thompson to miss time.

Each absence has created a void for Bickerstaff to fill. However, the injuries have also given the Pistons an opportunity to delve deeper into their roster, helping the franchise maintain its early-season success, including a seven-game winning streak.

Jenkins’ performance against the Wizards came three days after Bobi Klintman helped the Pistons secure a 125-107 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.

“When you hear your name called, you have to be ready,” Klintman told The Detroit News. “I’m in the gym every day. Going out there, I always have a belief in myself, and the coaches believe in me too, which has been big time.”

It marked the first time in Klintman’s career that he received meaningful minutes in a regular-season game, an achievement that came as a surprise. He played 14 minutes and scored eight points, but his most significant impact came due to the hustle and effort he displayed inside Barclays Center.

Klintman nabbed five rebounds and secured a handful of 50-50 balls that created scoring opportunities for the Pistons. His efforts helped Detroit overcome an early 10-point deficit. By the end of the night, Klintman walked on the team bus with the championship belt lying across his shoulder.

“I wasn’t expecting to get the belt. We had two monster performances by J.D. (Jalen Duren) and Cade; one of them should have gotten it. But I am happy they gave it to me,” Klintman said. “It just shows that the team is with me in my journey. They have watched me put in the work, and to get that opportunity was big time.”

At the start of the season, there was uncertainty surrounding the roles of Jenkins and Klintman. Both players came into their second seasons sitting at the end of the Pistons’ bench and were prime candidates to spend much of the year developing with the Motor City Cruise.

But through workouts and five-on-five scrimmages at the Henry Ford Health Pistons Performance Center during training camp, Jenkins and Klintman made Bickerstaff reconsider how to distribute minutes among his players.

Nearly a month into the 2025-26 season, Jenkins and Klintman have become unsung heroes. While their contributions have led to early success for the Pistons, it’s evident that the franchise is well on its way to establishing itself as a true contender in the Eastern Conference.

“I always try to make my presence felt, whatever that looks like,” Jenkins said. “Wherever I am, you are going to know that Daniss Jenkins was there.”

DETROIT — Slow starts have been a significant issue for the Pistons through the first five games. They have yet to win a first quarter and have consistently ranked near the bottom in every statistical category.

The Pistons rank 30th in points per game (25.6) and field goal percentage (36.8%) in the first quarter heading into Saturday’s interconference match against the Dallas Mavericks in Mexico City. Detroit also ranks 27th in points allowed in the first quarter, giving up an average of 34 points.

From the coaching staff to the players, everyone has emphasized the importance of solving their first-quarter woes, but no one can pinpoint the logic behind the team’s subpar starts.

“There are a lot of things we can point out, but we just have to self-reflect and see what is going on. Eliminate the problem and go out there and try to (solve) it,” forward Ron Holland II said.

The slow starts have forced the Pistons to rely on their resilience to claw back into the game. Playing catch-up has led to a 3-2 start to the season.

While Cade Cunningham’s second-half average of 14.2 points on 44.2% shooting has been a central figure in Detroit’s comeback efforts, nothing has been more essential to the Pistons’ rally success than the production from the bench.

“If there is a slow start, the bench mob, we can get into the game and bring the energy. That is what we are here for,” Holland said. “As a bench mob member, we are all waiting for our names to be called. Once we get out there, we are like, ‘Let’s do it, we are here now,’ no matter how the game is going. If the first five get off to a great start, we want to keep it going. If they get off to a slow start, we want to lift them so we can get a run going.”

The Pistons’ bench has been one of the most productive in the league. Detroit’s reserve unit ranks 10th in scoring league-wide, averaging 40.2 points per game while shooting 44.2% from the field. On defense, they have held opponents to an average of 43.4 points per game.

While averaging 11.6 points, Holland has taken the helm as the unit’s leading scorer. Still, the Pistons’ bench production has been a collective effort, with Javonte Green and Isaiah Stewart displaying their two-way talents and leading the Pistons in 3-point field goal percentage at 41.7% and 58.3%, respectively.

Having a greater offensive responsibility has not hindered Stewart’s role as Detroit’s defensive anchor. He is in a four-way tie league-wide for the most rejections as a reserve, averaging two blocks per game.

“Those guys are dependable. They’re pros. They work their tails off, and they just make sure that they keep themselves in position to be ready when their numbers are called,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “They’re competitive, they’re team-first guys. They’ve given us a spark, and they’ve changed the game for us when they’ve come in with that energy and tried to propel our starters.”

In each of their three victories, the Pistons have had several players come off the bench and play essential roles. Paul Reed was critical in last week’s 115-111 victory over the Houston Rockets, recording 13 points, nine rebounds and two blocks after the losses of Jalen Duren (ejection) and Stewart (foul trouble).

Reed wasn’t the only reserve to step up for the Pistons in that game. Late in the fourth quarter, two-way guard Daniss Jenkins hit a 3-pointer that gave Detroit a 101-99 lead, as the Pistons’ second unit outscored the Rockets’ bench 43-25.

The Pistons’ bench received an additional boost in Wednesday’s 135-116 victory over the Orlando Magic with Caris LeVert’s return. After missing the last three games due to hamstring tightness, LeVert’s energy and intensity on both ends complemented the second unit.

“We have to start games better, that has been a point of emphasis for us,” LeVert said. “We know once we get back into the game, it’s in our hands. It is tough when you are playing from behind.”

A strong bench unit is crucial for the Pistons to achieve their ambitious goals and expectations, as it can significantly enhance the team’s overall performance.

However, Detroit must find a way to address a troubling trend just nine days into the season. If the Pistons continue to risk slow starts in games, their comeback efforts could eventually lead to disaster.

“I don’t like them (slow starts),” Cunningham said. “I want to start fast. I want to start playing well.”

HOUSTON — New Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson doesn’t know all the details surrounding the federal investigations of Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups. The arrest also included former NBA player Damon Jones.

But he does know that Rozier is a friend, and he was “sad” to see his former Heat teammate arrested on Thursday. Rozier and Billups, a former Pistons great, were among the more than 30 people charged with participating in criminal cases alleging sprawling separate schemes to rig sports bets and poker games involving Mafia families, according to federal authorities. Rozier and Robinson played together for two seasons in Miami.

“It’s hard to see, like, omnipresent, the betting stuff is for all of us,” Robinson told The Detroit News on Friday. “Obviously, recently we’ve seen the other side of that. Terry’s a friend, Terry’s a former teammate of mine. That’s tough to see, you know. I don’t know exactly all the details of what happened, but just from, like, a human standpoint, I feel for him, and I was sad to see that.”

The accusations have cast a massive cloud over the NBA and sparked widespread reaction. Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said he has had multiple discussions with his players. While this is an NBA requirement, Bickerstaff has conducted several additional conversations beyond that.

“We just understand how difficult it is for these guys now, the amount of pressure that’s on them, but how careful you have to be,” Bickerstaff said. “Any information that can be spread that’s not available to everybody else, who should you share that information with. Having to have hard conversations with your family, because it could be an innocent thing.

“We have seen now what those things can turn into and how they can spread and just how valuable this information is. It is a difficult situation overall. But once you introduce gambling the way the sports world has now, there are going to be some dangerous situations for everybody. We all need to do a better job of protecting one another.”

The NBA has encountered multiple challenges related to gambling recently. In April 2024, Jontay Porter was issued a lifetime ban after the league’s investigation.

A year later, former Pistons guard Malik Beasley became the subject of a federal gambling investigation, which led Detroit to withdraw its three-year, $42 million offer in June. Although he has been cleared by the NBA, he remains a subject of interest to the FBI.

“It’s a tough situation that you don’t like to see,” Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “We have a meeting coming up to talk about it to reiterate that point. Don’t know a ton of information on the specifics of those instances, but something you obviously know about players, coaches, and everybody involved, and something you have to stay away from.”

What can we expect from the Pistons this season? Coty M. Davis of The Detroit News provides a player-by-player analysis leading into the start of training camp. Next in the series: Jalen Duren

Last season

Jalen Duren left Wells Fargo Center celebrating a team win. The Detroit Pistons avoided a 0-5 start to the 2024-25 season with a 105-95 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 30. But through the celebration, Duren felt frustration on an individual level.

Duren had fouled out. He played 10 scoreless minutes against Philadelphia. After picking up his sixth personal foul early in the fourth quarter, Duren had a dejected expression on his face while walking back to the team bench.

Duren’s poor performance against the 76ers was indicative of the subpar start he had to the year. During the first quarter of the season, Duren struggled to adjust to J.B. Bickerstaff’s coaching philosophies. At times, his hardships led fans to want Isaiah Stewart to take over as the Pistons’ starting center.

Bickerstaff continued to have confidence in Duren despite his struggles. During the second half of the season, Duren was one of the most productive centers in the league. With 28 double-doubles, he averaged 14.0 points, 11.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks through the final 41 games of the regular season.

Duren reached his peak during the Pistons’ 117-105 victory over the Toronto Raptors on April 4. In that game, he led the short-handed Pistons with 21 points, 18 rebounds, six assists, four blocks and a steal. The game showed a glimpse of Duren’s full potential.

In the first 41 games, he averaged 10.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks.

2025-26 outlook

If Duren can continue his momentum from last season, the 2025-26 campaign could be a breakout year, potentially leading to an All-Star selection come February. Only Ivica Zubac (34) and Nikola Jokić (31) recorded more double-doubles at center than Duren during the final 41 games of the regular season. He also ranked eighth at his position in rebounding.

Duren possesses all the necessary tools to continue establishing himself as one of the league’s best big men. There is still room for Duren to improve defensively. However, he can further distinguish himself from his peers at the position by the Pistons utilizing his playmaking attributes more.

His ability to keep the Pistons’ offense flowing with his passing became one of the central features that helped Detroit become the first team in league history to triple its win total. Duren had 15 games of five or more assists.

In February, during the Pistons’ impressive eight-game winning streak, Duren averaged 4.8 assists. A standout performance to showcase his playmaking skills as a big man occurred in Detroit’s 125-112 victory over the 76ers on Feb. 7, when he recorded a career-high seven assists.

An ascension to All-Star status is crucial for the Pistons’ success next season. It would also be an ideal way for Duren to secure his place with the franchise, as he will be a restricted free agent after this season if he is not extended.

“J.D. is an all-around talent,” Bickerstaff says. “I think it’s one of those things that goes unsaid about him is his ability to pass the ball and play-make. We’ve seen him in situations push the ball the length of the court and make the right read, whether it’s a pass or a finish. We’ve seen him hit cutters and tight spaces. He’s a very good all-around basketball player.”