One of the biggest surprises in the NBA has been the Detroit Pistons. Through 16 games, the team has taken over the Eastern Conference with a 14-2 record, making them the best group. The team has been playing better than last year, thanks to the leadership of All-Star guard Cade Cunningham. On Monday’s episode of FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back,” former NBA player Chandler Parsons set the expectation for Detroit.
According to Parsons, he believes that the East team has what it takes to be a championship contender for the 2025-26 season. Detroit is the second-best defensive team in the league. The only team better than them is the reigning champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Parsons’ co-host, Michelle Beadle, asked the crew if it’s time to consider the team as one of the favorites to contend for the championship. The former player did not hesitate and spoke highly of the team’s potential.
“Yes, I’ve seen enough,” Parsons said. “There’s just this combination oftough, hard-nosed guys that defend and they respect their head coach and they play hard. Nowadays, that will get you in the door. That will get you with the game on the line and it’ll be close, and they have an MVP candidate, who we need to talk about more.
“Cade Cunningham, who’s one of the better closes in the NBA. He’s so clutch down the stretch, he can beat you in so many different ways.
Cade Cunningham, J.B. Bickerstaff and the Pistons might have a lot of hardware coming their way this June 👀🏆🔥
Chandler Parsons isn’t flinching — Detroit is the real deal 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/D0br01vFMK
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) November 24, 2025
“They are for real because no matter what, if their offense is bogged down and slow that night, they can defend, they’re gonna play more physical that you, they’re tougher than you. And they have the favorite to win Coach of the Year, JB Bickerstaff.”
The Pistons are linked to an NBA champion
The Pistons boast a talented young group led by Cunningham. However, other experts believe that the franchise is looking to add an established star to the roster. Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins said that Detroit could add one-time champion Anthony Davis.
“My sources are also telling me, the big fella, that Detroit has a lot of interest in old Anthony Davis. (…) You got to match the money,” Perkins said. “You get rid of Tobias Harris who’s making a lot of money on the expiring contract, right? You’ll be able to pull off maybe some young talent, but long as you keep Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren and you bring AD over there to that Pistons squad…”
Detroit already has a promising young core, and executing a mid-season trade for Davis could ruin the team’s dynamics.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
