With the NBA season fast approaching, anticipation is building. But before any games tip-off, the defending champions, Boston Celtics, have already sparked some trash talk.
On Tuesday, the Celtics held their media day, and the mood was optimistic. Players and coaches reflected on their 2023-24 championship run and expressed their desire to become the first Celtics team to repeat since the dynasty of the ’60s. Considering the team retained its core group, it’s no surprise they’re favored to win it all again. But one key player took the spotlight for reasons beyond basketball talk—by taking a jab at the Detroit Pistons.
Speaking to the media, Finals MVP Jaylen Brown discussed how the Celtics play through role players like Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser when facing teams like the Pistons. Brown mentioned the struggling franchise as an example, implying the Pistons are far below the Celtics level. Though indirect, the comment came across as slightly toward the organization, igniting conversation in Detroit.
For the Pistons, Brown’s remark only feeds the narrative that they must fight to earn respect in the league. Here’s how they can use this as fuel and prove they belong.
Pistons Look to Prove Themselves After Jaylen Brown Jab
Jaylen Brown’s Comments Could Shift The Pistons’ Narrative
“A night we playing, don’t mean to disrespect them but, the Detroit Pistons who have struggled over the last year or two, we gonna play through Payton, let him go for 30. Play through Sam, let him shoot 10 threes tonight. We gonna still win the game.”
It’s astonishing how the Pistons have gone from being one of the NBA’s marquee franchises to where they are now. Much of this decline stems from several missteps. Poor free agency decisions where players were overpaid and underperformed, trades that provided short-term gain but long-term setbacks, and draft picks that failed to deliver what the fan base expected. This lack of continuity has turned the Pistons into a team that guys only consider if an overpay is involved.
This offseason, however, the Pistons took steps to change that. Hiring Trajan Langdon as President of Basketball Operations and J.B. Bickerstaff as head coach signals a new direction. They’re working to rebuild the foundation that has been shaky since the “Goin’ to Work” era ended. With a motivated young core eager to prove last season was a stepping stone to greatness and a group of veterans brought in to demonstrate their value, the time is now for the Pistons to rewrite their story.
Pistons Must Earn Respect From Jaylen Brown and the NBA
Brown’s comments are the latest in a long cycle of disrespect toward the Pistons. Evan Fournier accused the team of tanking last season, and marquee opponents regularly rest key players when they face Detroit. Broadcasters use games against the Pistons as opportunities to remind viewers of the team’s struggles and question their abilities. But the biggest insult might come from the city itself.
In Detroit’s rising sports landscape, the Pistons have fallen behind. After the Lions’ breakout season, expectations are sky-high. The Tigers are on pace to make the playoffs for the first time since 2014, and the Red Wings enter the 2024-25 season with playoff hopes. In all of this, the Pistons remain an afterthought.
The Last Word
You can say whatever you want when coming off a championship run and individual success. Last season, Jaylen Brown averaged 32.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals on 61/42/67% shooting against the Pistons. In his 23 career games against the franchise, Brown holds a 16-7 record with averages of 18.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists on 51/35/65% shooting.
With the chance to prove to Brown and the NBA early that these aren’t the same old Pistons, comments like this should fuel their fire. It’s time for the Pistons to stop being a rest stop for teams, to stop being the punchline for the media, and to start showing their true worth. It’s time for the Pistons to change the conversation surrounding the organization.
