Interesting take from JB Bickerstaff…
The Detroit Pistons hosted an introductory press conference to welcome their new head coach, JB Bickerstaff, to the franchise. Joining him was President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon, as Bickerstaff addressed questions from the Detroit media. The 45-year-old coach expressed his excitement about the opportunity to create a winning environment with the Pistons, describing it as a “fun situation.”
“A lot of people talk about development, and we throw that word around a lot,” Bickerstaff said. “One of the things we, as coaches, did for so long was focus on development only impacting individuals. Where we aim to go is where development impacts winning and how we make them better winners. This is going to be a fun situation. I’m sure there will be ups and downs, but by the end of the season, you’ll see a style of play that you’ll recognize as Pistons basketball.”
Bickerstaff previously guided the Cleveland Cavaliers to prominence, serving as their head coach from 2020 to 2024. During his tenure, Cleveland finished with a 170-159 record over three-and-a-half seasons, making notable postseason strides from the play-in tournament to a second-round series loss to the NBA champion Boston Celtics. With the Pistons, Bickerstaff emphasized the team’s commitment to a patient approach without chasing lofty expectations too quickly.
“There’s no timeline because every situation is different. Our aim is to continue to get better as the season goes on. But stylistically, you’ll be able to see clearly what we’re trying to do, and I’m sure of that because our guys are of high character and buy into what we’re trying to do,” Bickerstaff explained. “Wins and losses come on their own timeline. We’re not going to promise you a specific number of wins, but we can promise you that our guys are going to compete their tails off, play selfless basketball, and do the dirty things it takes to win games, and that will be the Pistons brand.”
JB Bickerstaff’s vision of the backcourt
A key element for the Pistons’ development is the progress of their starting backcourt, Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. Both first-round picks, Cunningham recently signed his rookie max extension to stay in Detroit for five more years.
This young backcourt duo has yet to play an entire season together due to injuries and inconsistent lineups, limiting their ability to develop chemistry. Coach Bickerstaff expressed his enthusiasm about coaching Cunningham to his full potential.
“I think he’s a stud. There’s not much he can’t do on the basketball floor with his size, vision, and shot-creation ability,” Bickerstaff said. “Our focus is to make him one of the best two-way players in the league. Last season was tough for everyone, including him. He wants to be a key part of elevating the Pistons, and his excitement is contagious. As the season progresses, we’ll support each other through tough times. His leadership, combined with his talent, gives him the potential to be truly special.”
Ivey has also shown promise as a crucial piece for the Pistons. Bickerstaff mentioned the possibility of staggering lineups to always have either Ivey or Cunningham on the floor, similar to his strategy with Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland in Cleveland. He highlighted Ivey’s strengths that could benefit Detroit.
“His natural speed and athleticism are tough to handle in this league, especially with current rules, floor spacing, and tempo,” Bickerstaff explained. “He can put a lot of pressure on defenses and draw fouls. His speed is a major advantage. I’m excited to see him catch the ball on the move and can’t wait to work with him.”
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