The team that only won 14 matches last season has had an amazing turnaround. The Pistons have flipped the script this season, but the biggest headline? Cade Cunningham’s rise to stardom. In his fourth year, Cunningham isn’t just running Detroit’s offense—he’s thriving as its centerpiece. Over 64 games, he’s averaging 25.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 9.3 assists, proving he can do it all. His game has leveled up, and the numbers back it up. But here’s where it gets wild.

He’s now one of just three players in NBA history to rack up 4,300 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,400 assists in his first 200 games. The other two? Oscar Robertson and Luka Dončić. That’s not just an impressive stat—it’s the kind of company that signals a superstar in the making!

But the NBA isn’t taking notice. Probably because they aren’t the Warriors or the Lakers. Or perhaps because they don’t have a huge market like the Knicks. Heading into Christmas last year, national broadcasts on ESPN, ABC, and TNT were struggling, averaging just 1.4 million viewers—a steep 19% drop from last year.

Maybe it’s time to showcase rising teams instead of the usual suspects. And if the league wants drama, the Pistons are bringing it!

Detroit’s fiery loss to the Thunder had everything—controversy, emotion, and a coach who wasn’t holding back. After watching his team rack up five technical fouls in the third quarter of a 113-107 loss to OKC, head coach J. B. Bickerstaff didn’t mince words.

“I’m disgusted by the way that game was officiated,” Coach Bickerstaff said. “The level of disrespect was above and beyond. They have a guy fall down and trip on his own teammate’s foot, they review us for a hostile act. They throw an elbow to our chest and neck area, I ask to at least take a look at it (on video)… No one would take a look at it. The disrespect has gone far enough, and I’m not going to allow our guys to be treated the way they were tonight.”

Cade Cunningham was at the center of it all, picking up two technicals in under a minute and getting tossed from the game. Crew chief Brian Forte explained why, saying, “Cunningham was given his first technical foul for disrespectfully addressing an official with profanity. After the free throw for the first technical was shot, Cade continued to use profanity toward the official and received his second technical foul and was ejected.”

Dennis Schroder also got T’d up for arguing, which, according to Forte, came after the team had already been warned in the second quarter.

Fans have a point when they say the NBA needs to switch things up. Instead of the same old matchups, why not put rising teams and young stars in the spotlight? Giving fresh talent more national TV time could bring the excitement—and the ratings—back where they should be.

Fans have had enough of the Lakers, they want Cade Cunningham

“We need more Detroit games on national TV. Time to put more of a spotlight on Cade Cunningham.” Bobby Marks of ESPN, which is ironic, said this himself.

Detroit’s rise isn’t just about Cade Cunningham—it’s about the Pistons finally becoming a real playoff contender. Sitting at 38-31 and holding onto the sixth seed in the East, they’ve built a solid five-game cushion over the Hawks. That’s the kind of progress that gets fans excited.

For years, Detroit has been an afterthought on the national stage, but this season, they’re proving they belong in the playoff conversation. A team on the rise with a young star playing at an elite level? That’s exactly the kind of storyline the NBA should be putting on national TV.

Replying to Marks, another fan wrote, “Agreed – I think media can have a lot of influence on building the next generation of stars. Not enough shine on who’s got next. Cade a total baller”. The media plays a massive role in shaping the league’s narrative, and right now, it’s stuck in the past. While legends like LeBron James and Stephen Curry still dominate the spotlight, the NBA is failing to highlight the next wave of superstars.

Cade is the perfect example. The 22-year-old is putting up elite numbers, yet he’s barely getting national TV coverage.

“Big facts. They need to flex us into some national games,” wrote another fan. The Pistons’ turnaround isn’t just a fluke—it’s the result of a complete organizational overhaul. Detroit hit the reset button, bringing in Trajan Langdon as the new president of basketball operations and moving on from Monty Williams despite the $65 million still owed to him. J. B. Bickerstaff took over as head coach, tasked with implementing a more modern, disciplined approach. And the front office did its part by revamping a roster that desperately needed shooting to compete in today’s NBA.

So why are they still being ignored? With national broadcasts struggling for viewership, networks should be jumping at the chance to showcase an emerging team like Detroit.

One of the users called out Marks: “maybe we could if your network did not put the lakers on tv 50 times per year”. This season, the Lakers led the way with a staggering 39 nationally televised games across ESPN, ABC, TNT, and NBA TV. Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons have been given just four. Four. For a team that has completely flipped its narrative, that’s almost insulting.

Fans have had enough. While LeBron James and the Lakers remain a ratings draw, there’s growing frustration that fresh talent like Cade Cunningham is being overlooked.

One netizen chimed in with, “Say it louder for the people in the back!!! 🗣️🗣️🗣️”. Here’s the reality: Cade Cunningham is a star in the making, and the Pistons are a legit playoff contender after years of irrelevance. Ignoring them isn’t just unfair—it’s a missed opportunity for the league. The NBA needs to start showcasing who’s got next, not just who’s been around the longest.