Detroit Pistons

Detroit Pistons star Blake Griffin will be able to return from his knee injury when the NBA season resumes. 

The forward broke down his status on The Encore with Sage Steele (8:30 mark):

Tune in now to watch The Encore, hosted by @SageSteele with this week's guests @BlakeGriffin23 and @DJKhaled as they discuss the latest episode of #TheLastDance. #JUMPMAN https://t.co/w2W0wL3QuD

— Jordan (@Jumpman23) May 11, 2020

"I feel great," Griffin said of his knee. "I've basically been cleared for a while now, I've just been stuck at my house. I'm ready to go whenever things pick back up."

The Pistons announced in January that Griffin underwent knee surgery and it was unclear when he'd be back on the court.

Losing the six-time All-Star effectively ended Detroit's playoff hopes, and the team waved the white flag at the trade deadline. The Pistons traded Andre Drummond to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Brandon Knight and John Henson, two players on expiring contracts, and a second-round pick.

That was widely considered to be a paltry return for a center who reached two All-Star Games, but it signaled a clear shift for the franchise. Two years earlier, Detroit acquired Griffin from the Los Angeles Clippers. Now, it was hitting the reset button.

The Pistons were 20-46 before the season was suspended due to the coronavirus, 10.5 games out of a playoff spot.

When healthy, Griffin is a dynamic scorer and rebounder. He averaged 24.5 points and 7.5 boards while shooting 36.2 percent from three-point range in 2018-19. His production declined to open 2019-20, which can be partially attributed to his knee problems.

At this point, the Pistons are probably looking to move Griffin when the right deal presents itself. He's under contract for $36.6 million in 2020-21 and has a $39 million player option for 2021-22.

Durability has been one of the biggest concerns around Griffin, though. He has made 70-plus appearances once since 2013-14. His return is at least encouraging as Detroit prepares for its future.

The Detroit Pistons and Brooklyn Nets are teaming up to donate hundreds of thousands of pieces of personal protective equipment to the city of Detroit. 

According to Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press, Nets owner Joe Tsai is donating 350,000 KN95 masks and 100,000 medical goggles through his Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation. Meanwhile, Pistons owner Tom Gores is using his team resources to deliver them.

According to Lauren Harper of the Pistons' official website, the Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation has already made similar donations in New York, New Jersey and California during the coronavirus pandemic.

The masks and goggles are being distributed to testing centers, homeless shelters and frontline workers to help combat the spread of COVID-19.

Gores said the following regarding Tsai's contributions: "We are grateful for Joe and Clara's commitment to Detroit and proud to be their partner in bringing additional medical supplies to our community. The NBA family continues stepping up in the fight against COVID-19."

Tsai also commented on his philanthropy:

"Many cities in America have been hit hard by the pandemic. Clara and I wish to help the people of Detroit get through these difficult times, and we are grateful that Tom and his organization readily stepped up to help us distribute the supplies. We have a history of friendship with Detroit and I want to thank Mayor Duggan for directing the PPE to where they are needed most."

The 2019-20 NBA season has been suspended since March 11 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Nets and Pistons are among the many NBA teams, players and personnel who have used the time off to make charitable donations. 

Sixteen years after ending the Kobe Bryant-Shaquille O'Neal Los Angeles Lakers, former Detroit Pistons guard Chauncey Billups is carrying the same swagger that allowed his team to knock off the three-time champions. 

While discussing that Pistons team on ESPN's Hoop Streams on Wednesday, Billups mentioned the moment he knew his underdog roster would win Detroit's first title since 1989-90.

"When [Los Angeles] beat Minnesota, I was happy," Billups said. "Because I felt like there was no way the Lakers could beat us." 

     

He was almost entirely right. The Lakers won only one game in the series, a Game 2 thriller that ended in a 99-91 overtime victory at home. 

But after stealing Game 1 at Staples Center, Detroit hosted Games 3-5 and virtually ran the Lakers out of town, punctuating their performance with a 13-point win in the decisive Game 5. Detroit outscored L.A. 454-409 for the series, while Billups averaged 21.0 points, 5.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds while shooting 47.1 percent from three. 

"If you look at the names on the backs of the jerseys, yeah, they should have swept us," Billups said. "They really should have." 

It's hard to argue with that point. The 2003-04 Lakers featured four Hall of Famers in O'Neal, Bryant, Karl Malone and Gary Payton, to say nothing of Phil Jackson and Tex Winter coaching from the sidelines. Los Angeles was a +140 favorite to win the NBA title at the start of the season (bet $100 to win $140), while the Pistons were +1,500, per Basketball Reference. By the time the two teams met in the Finals, the Lakers had moved to -550 to capture the title, while Detroit opened at +400. 

The Pistons were hardly pushovers, though. Between Billups, Rip Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace, there were plenty of reasons to believe Detroit could test L.A. The Pistons also had their own Hall of Famer on the bench in Larry Brown. 

"When you get that deep in the season, most of the time, the most connected team will come out on top," Billups said. "I just felt like styles make fights, and our style against theirs was superior." 

Billups may not have known how right he was at the time. After they lost to the Pistons, the Lakers traded O'Neal to the Miami Heat, sent Payton to the Boston Celtics, essentially forced Malone into retirement and watched as Jackson resigned as head coach. 

It was a messy breakup that may have been inevitable at the time, but Billups and the Pistons did all they could to speed up that process. That includes cheering when the Western Conference's top team became the only thing standing in their way of a championship. 

 

Few NBA Finals results throughout league history have been as surprising as the 2004 matchup between the Detroit Pistons and a Los Angeles Lakers squad featuring Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Gary Payton, Karl Malone and head coach Phil Jackson.  

Even Chauncey Billups, who was the MVP of the series and led the Pistons to a 4-1 victory, suggested the Lakers should have won when talking with Kendrick Perkins, Cassidy Hubbarth and Amin Elhassan on ESPN's Hoop Streams.

"If you look at the names on the back of the jerseys, yeah, they should have swept us," he said. "They really should have."

However, he pointed out, "styles make fights, and our style against theirs was superior even in the regular season when we played them."

It was because of those style matchups that Billups said he was pleased the Purple and Gold defeated a Minnesota Timberwolves team with Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell in the Western Conference Finals.

"I was happy because I felt like there was no way the Lakers could beat us," he said.

It turns out Billups was right, in large part because of his own play. He averaged 21.0 points, 5.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals throughout the series behind 50.9 percent shooting from the field and 47.1 percent shooting from three-point range.

Detroit also took a physical approach to the Lakers, especially when it came to guarding O'Neal with a frontcourt that included Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace and Elden Campbell.

The Pistons' win marked the end of an era for the Lakers as they traded O'Neal to the Miami Heat the following offseason. He and Bryant won three straight titles together in 2000, 2001 and 2002 and formed one of the best one-two punches in NBA history, but it wasn't enough to overcome Billups and Detroit.

O'Neal won one more championship when paired with Dwyane Wade on the Heat, while Bryant won back-to-back titles with Los Angeles in 2009 and 2010.

Detroit Pistons shooting guard Langston Galloway dropped into the B/R app Wednesday to answer some pressing questions in an AMA session.

Prior to the suspension of the 2019-20 NBA season last month due to the coronavirus pandemic, he was enjoying one of the most productive years of his career, averaging 10.3 points and 1.5 assists through 66 games.

The 28-year-old opened up about a number of subjects, including playing alongside Derrick Rose in Detroit's backcourt, his time in the NBA so far and some of his favorite kicks.     

The following is the full transcript from the AMA session.

                            

@AchintyaFeram: What are your favorite Jordans?

Jordan 13s, the He Got Games. Favorite of all time.

          

@wydluca: Favorite kobe?

The Kobe 4 and 5s.

           

@JAVIMATS: Favorite shoe of the off white "the ten"

Probably the Chicago Off-White 1s, the best colorway to come out.

         

@wydluca: Favorite snaker you don’t have yet?

The Grateful 3s or the Jeter 11s. A guy just offered them to me too but a size 12, and I can't fit a 12.

          

@Flight_reacts: Favorite Travis Scott shoe?

I don't want to say SB because it just came out...but yeah, imma go SB. I know everyone's hyped up about that.

          

@Rhettro: What is it like playing alongside Derrick Rose?

It's amazing. Hall of Famer. I can't wait to see what he continues to do going forward with him being healthy.

         

@vic4life: What is it like playing with Blake Griffin? Is he a mentor in any way to you?

Huge mentor. His approach to each and every game is what I really take away...how he prepares, his focus, I love that.

         

@riptidetrojan: How did you react to Andre [Drummond] being traded to the Cavs?

I was sick, never want to see anybody get traded. It was difficult for sure.

          

@IceTraeForThreee: Who was your favorite superstar to play beside?

Melo. He really is a teacher, lot of people don't give him credit for that. He knows how to teach, helps guys who want to learn.

              

@LBJ23MVP: Who is the funniest teammate you've had?

Iman Shumpert. Real self-motivated but at the same time, really intricate with a lot of his answers.

          

@4thball: Most expensive shoe in your collection

The LeBron Stewie Griffins. Prized possession. Going on three or four years now. Came across those, was like, never gonna let these go.

         

@Trent_Williams10: If I'm starting a shoe collection what's my number 1 shoe I got to have?

You start wherever you want--your story, your collection.

          

@jscrap_9: What is the best shoe to buy if you have a tight budget, and just want some nice street wear shoes?

I would say the Jordan 34s, best basketball shoe right now to wear. SOmething to walk around in, the Nike Reacts or some SBs.

          

@christian: why did you decide to sign with Q4 instead of the traditional nike, adidas, puma, etc. route? 

They gave me equity in the company and also they gave me an opportunity to wear and create my own sneaker, so that was a big power play for me. To have your own signature line and create what you want, that's what it's all about.

          

@Vady: Are you staying with Q4 for the rest of your career. Why?

This upcoming summer I'll be a sneaker free agent, so we'll see what's next.

         

@rock__man: What's your go-to shoe for games?

I have my own shoe, own Q4 line. Rocking my LG 9s every single game.

         

@StephMessi: Curry and Klay or LeBron and Wade?

Curry and Klay because they're my size. But LeBron and Wade, unstoppable.

         

@JCTheLit: What NBA legend do you wish you could have played with?

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. His focus and work ethic were incredible.

        

@AndrewMayer777: Who do you want to dunk on the most?

Boban.

       

@IceTraeForThreee: What is the strangest in-game interaction you've had with another player at any level?

Maybe somebody walking into the wrong tunnel.

          

What is your favorite game or play of your career?

My first game at the Garden, against the Rockets on TNT.

         

@CrowBird24: After your first NBA paycheck, what was the first thing you bought?

My wife's engagement ring.

         

@Ryanmurph9: What was your best moment at Saint Joes?

Winning the A10 tournament, definitely the defining moment in my career. We started out like 10-20 my freshman year, so winning the tournament was pretty cool.

         

@DumdDingus: Popeyes or Chick-fil-A?

I wish I ate that, I'm vegan now...but Chick-fil-A.

          

Go-to pre-game song or soundtrack?

Sky's the Limit by Lil Wayne.

           

How far do you think the moon is from Earth?

A million miles? I don't know.

Detroit Pistons forward Sekou Doumbouya is with his family in France in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced an ongoing 38-day suspension of NBA play.

The Associated Press (h/t NBC Sports) reported the news on the 19-year-old Doumbouya, whom the Pistons took 15th overall in the 2019 NBA draft.

Doumbouya averaged 6.4 points and 3.1 rebounds in 19.8 minutes per game for the Pistons. He started 19 of his 38 games played.

Per the AP, the Pistons know that Doumbouya left for France to be closer to his family as the pandemic continues its spread.

Doumbouya was born in Conakry, Guinea, but grew up in France, where he played professionally from 2016 to 2019.

Travel from France (and many other countries) has been banned because of COVID-19. It may be difficult for Doumbouya to return if the NBA resumes, but that doesn't appear imminent.

Commissioner Adam Silver told reporters Friday that the league is "not in position" to make a call on the future of the 2019-20 campaign at this time.

Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores has bought 100,000 PPE face masks to be distributed to and used by the people of Detroit during the COVID-19 pandemic, the team announced on Monday.  

"The surgical-grade masks will be provided to Detroit police officers, firefighters, bus drivers and other city workers serving the public in order to help slow the spread of COVID-19," the Pistons added.

"First responders and city workers are on the front line of this crisis and they need our support now more than ever," Gores said in a statement. "I'm proud of the way people are coming together."

Gores added:

"Once we get past the immediate threat from the virus, there will be so much more to do. We need plans to revitalize the economy which will help struggling families and programs to make sure kids aren’t set behind. Our work is just beginning and we are adapting and planning daily. We can't predict how long this crisis will last, but we are taking immediate action right now while also preparing for what comes next."

The Pistons have been active in relief efforts against COVID-19:

A message from Derrick Rose and the Detroit Pistons.

Donations of support can be placed by visiting https://t.co/Qrnsns3d9B #NBATogether #ActsOfCaring pic.twitter.com/V77M5WKYN6

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 2, 2020

A message from Rick Mahorn, the Detroit Pistons and the @CityofDetroit:

To fight COVID-19, the winning strategy is using our #HomeCourtAdvantage.

Stay Home, Stay Safe, Detroit. pic.twitter.com/Vfwy4QAEzM

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 9, 2020

We know there are countless local restaurants who are offering food services to the community in these unprecedented times.

We’ve launched "Open For Business" to let the community know which restaurants are open for carryout, delivery or curbside pickup. https://t.co/Vjneolgj0B pic.twitter.com/1hbRB8vfHy

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 12, 2020

In "Hoopers Meet Heroes," the Pistons' Langston Galloway met Detroit's Dr. Sara Hegab to discuss the local #coronavirus outbreak, and @HenryFordNews' life-saving partnerships w/ Ford and Tesla. @getusppe #PPEisKEY #HandCheck #HomeCourtAdvantage

Full chat: https://t.co/XM83vGnQJw pic.twitter.com/EPduwZ4Mn7

— CloseUp360 (@CloseUp360) April 10, 2020

The #Pistons are proud to assist @zamanhumanity be a ‘lighthouse’ for the poor during COVID-19 crisis

@Vincent_Ellis56 has the story: https://t.co/A25KmjXtf3 pic.twitter.com/5QmVmD1Ox0

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 10, 2020

https://twitter.com/DetroitPistons/status/1248350925103738880

The NBA announced the suspension of its 2019-20 season on March 11. Pistons forward Christian Wood was reported to have tested positive for COVID-19 on March 14:

Detroit Pistons‘ Christian Wood has tested positive for coronavirus, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Wood had 30 and 11 rebounds against Rudy Gobert on Saturday night before a career-high 32 on Wednesday.

Sources say Wood has shown no symptoms and is doing well.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 15, 2020

Woods' agent, Adam Pensack, confirmed the forward was fully recovered on March 25.

 

Former Detroit Pistons head coach Larry Brown is the latest to claim his team would have had a dynasty if the organization drafted Carmelo Anthony in 2003 instead of Darko Milicic. 

The Hall of Fame coach weighed in Wednesday on SiriusXM NBA Radio:

What if the #Pistons had drafted Carmelo Anthony in 2003?

Former Pistons Head Coach Larry Brown tells @TermineRadio & @Jumpshot8 he agrees with @carmeloanthony that he would have helped them win more rings. pic.twitter.com/q8gVgiZlZf

— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) April 8, 2020

Detroit won the NBA title in 2004 during Brown's first season with the team and reached the NBA Finals in his second and final year. The team went on to reach the Eastern Conference Finals in each of the next three years but couldn't win another championship.

Milicic was part of the title team but made a minimal contribution while averaging 1.4 points per game. He was traded after two seasons in Detroit and averaged just 6.0 points per game in his career.

Anthony could have been a much bigger help as someone who averaged at least 20 points per game in each of his first 14 seasons in the NBA. Though his numbers likely would've taken a hit playing alongside more veteran players like Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace among others, Brown thinks the teammates could have helped mold him into a better player.

"You walk in a room with guys like that, you're going to figure it out," Brown said. "And I think Carmelo would have had that."

He specifically noted Ben Wallace as someone who could have guided Anthony as a rookie.

Instead of being drafted into a dynasty, Anthony was selected No. 3 overall by the Denver Nuggets and hasn't seen much postseason success in his 17 years as a professional. He's only advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs twice and never got past the Western Conference Finals.

The 35-year-old recently said he would have won two or three rings with the Pistons, and Billups agreed, predicting three titles.

Chauncey Billups agrees with Carmelo Anthony that the Detroit Pistons could have had a dynasty if they made a better choice in the 2003 NBA draft. 

"If [Detroit] got Melo, we would've won three championships," Billups said Tuesday on Bart & Hahn.

It comes after Anthony projected he would have "two or three rings" if he went to Detroit during an Instagram Live with Dwyane Wade:

"I woulda had, uh, two, maybe two or three rings."

Melo on if he was drafted by Detroit 😅 pic.twitter.com/yky1oXHoAX

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 27, 2020

Melo was selected by the Denver Nuggets as the third overall pick in the loaded 2003 draft, which also featured LeBron James (No. 1 overall), Chris Bosh (No. 4) and Wade (No. 5) among others. The Pistons took Darko Milicic with the second pick.

Detroit won the NBA title the next year behind Billups, Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace, while the same group again went to the finals in 2005, losing to the San Antonio Spurs in seven games.

However, Milicic had a minimal impact on the team, averaging 1.6 points per game across parts of three seasons in Detroit before being traded. He lasted 10 years in the NBA but averaged just 6.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game in his career.

Anthony likely could have provided a lot more help while averaging 21.0 points per game as a rookie and topping 20 points per game in each of his first 14 seasons in the NBA while earning 10 All-Star selections.

Though he might've seen fewer shots early in his career around more veteran players with Detroit, he likely would have helped an organization that had enough talent to reach the Eastern Conference finals in six straight seasons from 2003-08.

Instead, Anthony spent his career with struggling franchises and only twice advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs.

The best postseason showing for the veteran came in 2009 with the Denver Nuggets, when he finally teamed with Billups to reach the Western Conference Finals.

Detroit Pistons head coach Dwane Casey said he was "very unhappy" news of forward Christian Wood testing positive for the coronavirus became public.

Casey told ESPN's Jackie MacMullan the information was leaked to the media before Wood even had a chance to inform his family.

"Christian was upset his name got out there. He didn't release it. And the worst part was it got out before Christian even had a chance to tell his mom," Casey said Friday. "I was very unhappy about that. I told our staff, 'This is unprofessional. This can't happen again.' It was so unfair to our player."

Wood was one of three NBA players along with Utah Jazz teammates Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell to have their positive COVID-19 test made public.

Casey said the entire situation has been a learning experience for Detroit's players.

"These young, healthy guys, professional athletes, they don't think about getting sick," he told MacMullan. "It was a quiet ride on the plane, but nobody seemed really that uptight about whether they had it. It was more that nobody knew when we'd get to play again—or see each other again."

Wood was medically cleared Wednesday after recovering from the coronavirus, per ESPN's Eric Woodyard.

The 2019-20 NBA season is delayed indefinitely because of the pandemic.