The Detroit Pistons have had an incredible season thus far, especially after their prior two seasons.
Of course, Detroit finished with the worst record in the NBA over the past two seasons, but that has changed this season as they currently hold a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Detroit currently holds a 36-29 record which has them sitting sixth in the East standings. They have also been one of the hottest teams in the NBA over the past few months and have won seven of their last 10 games.
Despite this, Detroit has still not been recognized by many of the major networks that cover the NBA and it was shown by a recent statement by NBA legend and TNT analyst Shaquille O'Neal on he and Adam Lefkoe's The Big Podcast.
"Bro stop it. They're (Pistons) boring too. Bro the (expletive) are four games under .500," O'Neal said about the Pistons.
Shaq isn't impressed by the Detroit Pistons
Download the @DraftKings Sportsbook app and sign up using promo code BIGPOD – the crown is yours. pic.twitter.com/MrIc2DaMnl
— The Big Podcast (@bigpodwithshaq) March 11, 2025
This is a terrible statement from O'Neal, especially with him covering the NBA for TNT.
Lefkoe then corrected O'Neal, telling him that the Pistons are six games over .500 and have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA, but that was not enough for O'Neal to buy into what Detroit is doing this season.
"You want to brag about a team that's 32-26? That's not success," O'Neal responded to Lefkoe. "Bro, Detroit Pistons ain't winning no (expletive) championship."
While O'Neal may have a point about the Pistons not winning a title this season thanks to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics dominating the Eastern Conference this season, Detroit still needs to be recognized for the turnaround they have made.
O'Neal's comments are a bad look for him and the NBA as a whole, especially with the networks extensively covering the same four or five big market teams and leaving out the rest of the league.
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This story was originally published March 11, 2025 at 1:44 PM.