According to TSN, the Detroit Pistons have defied all expectations to enter the post-All-Star break with the best record in the NBA. The franchise, which has struggled for nearly two decades without a playoff series win, currently sits at 40-13, narrowly leading the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
This surge is attributed to a combination of young talent maturing and a defensive identity that has stifled the league’s top offenses. Star player Luka Doncic continues to lead the scoring race, but Detroit’s team-oriented play has been the primary story of the 2025-2026 season.
As the league prepares for the final stretch toward the playoffs, the Pistons are now viewed as legitimate contenders for a home-court advantage in Game 1. This turnaround is being called one of the most remarkable “rebuild to contender” stories in recent NBA history.
* “The Pistons… will start the night with the best record in the league, a smidge ahead of the Thunder.” — TSN Sports
* “Detroit is 40-13… Playoff basketball awaits in Detroit for the first time since 2008.” — NBA Analysis (Associated Press)
Echotitbits take: The Pistons’ rise is proof that patience in rebuilding eventually pays off. However, the real test begins now; the “post-break” atmosphere is notoriously more physical, and whether this young squad can maintain this intensity under playoff pressure remains the biggest question in basketball.
Source: TSN — https://www.tsn.ca/nba/article/detroits-stunning-surge-pistons-enter-post-all-star-play-with-the-nbas-best-record/ February 17, 2026
Photo Credit: NBA Basketball Wikia
