The Detroit Pistons Made a Good Call with Their New Head Coach

I know that it riles people up when I get positive about the Detroit Pistons. It seems like we're at a point in Detroit where we just want to keep it real and wallow in our tragedies and misfortune. But, I feel good about our new hire for the Detroit Pistons head coach, so be nice and let me be happy about the Pistons for once in my life.

Listen. I realize this could go either way. The Detroit Pistons have been in rebuild years for as long as I remember. But, I'm happy that they were able to get someone to come to Detroit with present day NBA experience.

Meet the new coach: J.B. Bickerstaff. He's reportedly signing a five-year deal with a team option for the fifth season. So, like with previous coach Monty Williams' contact, this is a long one. Bickerstaff is 45 and was just let go from being the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was with the Cavaliers from 2020-24 and got them to the first round of the playoffs in 2023 (51-31 record) and the second round this past season (48-34). He was let go in May, following the Cavaliers being eliminated from the playoffs by Boston in five games. Of course, Boston went on to win the whole thing, so now the loss shouldn't sting as much. Last week, Cleveland hired Kenny Atkinson as their new head coach.

I'm glad that Bickerstaff wanted to come here. He could have looked at what happened with Monty Williams, who had a pretty good record before coming to Detroit, and decided to quit the game while he was going out at least with a decent record. But, Bickerstaff is coming to Detroit, and I'm grateful he's willing to give us some much-needed guidance. If you read my stuff or listen to me on the radio, then you know that I liked Williams as a coach, but he wasn't versed with helping young talent. This is different. Bickerstaff not only brings a winning track record but he also has been successful in player development, which is exactly what the Pistons need. We don't have vets. Maybe we'll get some during the offseason, but it's going to be difficult to get winning vets to come here right now, so our best hope is to develop the young talent on our team. I believe, and hope, that Bickerstaff can do that. Welcome to Detroit, J.B. Contact me with your Pistons thoughts.

The NBA playoffs are in full swing, and it's been one of the most exciting playoffs in recent years. Many of the top NBA superstars today are in the playoffs, while others are watching, following some upset losses. Either way, there's no denying that the NBA has a ton of talent right now. So many of the games have come down to the wire, which makes for some pretty incredible, and stressful, endings. So, who are the top NBA superstars of the minute?

Before we get into the top NBA superstars today, let's do some NBA history and look at the top players of all time. There's a reason they call LeBron James the GOAT. He's the best ever, according to the raw statistics and numbers via NBA.com. James knows how to really handle the pressure and fame.

In a recent interview with the New York Times, James went into detail about his fame and how it has impacted his life, both personal and professional. "I don't want to say it ever becomes too much, but there are times when I wish I could do normal things," he said. "I wish I could go to Target sometimes and walk into Starbucks and have my name on the cup just like regular people." He obviously can't do that without everyone rushing to meet the greatest basketball player of all time. NBA experts know that when you have a superstar as big as James, he never plays an away game. No matter what city he's in, people will go to that game just to see him. I have yet to see the GOAT in action, so I hope he returns next year, so I can catch him live.

No. 2 on the list of the greatest NBA players of all time, according to the NBA's stats, is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He played until he was 42 in an era where that was even more rare than it is today. So, how did he avoid burning out? Speaking with the Harvard Business Review, Abdul-Jabbar said, "I just thought that I had the greatest job in the world, and I wanted to keep it as long as I could. I knew it wouldn't last forever." He also noted that in one of his books, he quoted Jackie Robinson saying, "Athletes die twice," because when you're no longer playing professional sports, it's a kind of a death. That's deep.

Now, let's get into the top NBA superstars today.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's stats currently have him at No. 4 in the NBA, according to NBA.com's Player Impact Estimate. He's a great driver and fantastic defender. That's a dangerous combination. He's one of the hottest players of the season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks is sitting at a Player Impact Estimate of No. 3 in the league via NBA.com. Sadly, before the playoffs began, Antetokounmpo suffered a calf injury, so he was unable to participate. Now, the Bucks are out.

Some might say that putting LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers this far up on the list is a bit surprising. Overall, as I mentioned above, he's the all-time greatest player in the NBA. However, he's currently No. 5 in the NBA right now, according to NBA.com's Player Impact Estimate. He's the GOAT, so I have to put him at No. 3.

Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is an absolute beast on the court. That doesn't always mean his always team wins, but he's always out there, giving it his all. Doncic is ranked the No. 2 NBA player right now, via the NBA.com's Player Impact Estimate.

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, "the Joker," is one of the greatest centers of all time. He's ranked No. 1 in the NBA, according to NBA.com's Player Impact Estimate. He has gotten some raised eyebrows lately, due to some weak Nuggets games in the playoffs. But, there's no denying this MVP is the best right now.