The Detroit Pistons exceeded expectations after a historically bad season, reaching the playoffs and taking the New York Knicks to six games in the first round of the playoffs. Even though a loss in Game 6 to end their season was disappointing, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff knows his team has plenty to be proud of.

After resurrecting themselves from a franchise-worst 14-win season in 2023-24, the Pistons improved their win total by 30 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2019. They were betting underdogs as the No. 6 seed playing against the No. 3 seed Knicks, and those odds played out as they dropped the series, 4-2.