The Detroit Pistons had been one in all their greatest surprises of final season as they reached the playoffs after a disastrous 2023-24 marketing campaign.
The Detroit Pistons, led by Kade Cunningham, confirmed grit and resilience to hitch the playoffs as the highest six seed.
They confronted the New York Knicks within the first spherical, the place they misplaced, however the Pistons confirmed the world what they may do within the subsequent few years.
One of many gamers that mattered to them of their nice season was Tim Hardaway Jr., who moved to the free company Denver Nuggets.
Nevertheless, he gave reward to one of many staff’s star gamers, particularly for his maturity.
Cunningham ran a breakout marketing campaign final 12 months as he averaged 26.1 PPG, 9.1 APG and 6.1 RPG, creating an All-Star and All-NBA staff.
He led the way in which from earlier than, and his efficiency helped him acquire reward from analysts and present gamers, together with Draymond Inexperienced.
Hardaway Jr. had an unbelievable season with Cunningham, and in his current podcast look, he gave younger star flowers for his efficiency.
He mentioned:
“He does an unbelievable job of taking part in at tempo. He actually has no weaknesses. A third stage scorer will dunk to you if he can play each ends of the ground, which is considerably uncommon within the league.
Hardaway Jr. identified Cunningham’s capacity to guard one of the best gamers within the opposition staff all night time, and the way he challenges him to do the identical from his coach.
“You might have star gamers who play protection, nevertheless it’s like a really uncommon star participant taking over the problem of defending one of the best gamers from different groups all night time,” he added.
Isaiah Stewart is the participant who divides the NBA neighborhood.
His teammates love him for his contributions, however the opposition events do not benefit from the fixed chaos of battles Stewart brings to the sport.
He has been concerned in a number of brawls all through his profession, together with the notorious incident in opposition to LeBron James in 2021.
Nevertheless, Hardaway Jr. has revealed that regardless of all of the toughness on the courtroom, Stewart is a beautiful individual outdoors the sport.
“Isaiah Stewart might be among the best teammates I’ve ever had.
“He has a coronary heart of gold and will not harm the fly, however when he steps between the traces, I do not know what is going on to occur, what is going on to occur, however he will be one thing you actually cannot educate,” he mentioned.
The previous Pistons participant then continued to speak about how Stewart’s mentality helped your entire staff.
Hardaway Jr. added:
