Detroit News

It’s been a tough couple of weeks for the Pistons in Las Vegas during Team USA’s preparation for the Tokyo Olympics later this month. Last week, Isaiah Stewart had an apparent ankle injury that ended his week of work with the Select Team early. On Thursday, forward Jerami Grant, who is on Team USA, entered health and

Las Vegas — This is not how USA Basketball expected to open its Olympic summer. Nigeria probably didn’t expect it, either. If there was any expectation of invincibility for the Americans heading into the Tokyo Olympics, it’s already gone — after Nigeria shocked the U.S. on Saturday night. Nigeria beat the U.S. 90-87, pulling off

It’s a little bit of good news and some not-so-good news for the Pistons players connected to Team USA and the Select Team that is preparing them for the Olympics this month. Saddiq Bey, who was on the developmental Select Team, is being promoted temporarily to Team USA, according to a report by The Athletic’s

Jerami Grant is at the USA Basketball practices this week in Las Vegas. He might not be the first name that most people think of when they start running down the list of the best basketball players in the world, but he’s earned his spot. Team USA is favored to win the gold medal in

Associated Press Memphis, Tenn. — Memphis coach Penny Hardaway has added Hall of Famer Larry Brown to the Tigers’ staff as an assistant, reuniting the former New York Knicks player and coach. Brown, 80, is the only coach to win championships in both the NCAA (with Kansas in 1988) and the NBA (Detroit Pistons, 2004) over

In a perfect world, the Pistons’ front office, led by general manager Troy Weaver, already has decided to take Cade Cunningham with the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft on July 29. It’s the sensible thing to do, after all. The goal of every lottery team is to defy the odds and rise up

The Grand Rapids Drive is no more. After years of connection as the Pistons’ affiliate in the G League, the Drive announced Wednesday that they have a new agreement with the Denver Nuggets — and will rebrand themselves the Grand Rapids Gold. The Pistons did not own the Drive, but they maintained an affiliate agreement

Pistons forward Saddiq Bey is going to have some good stories to tell about how he spent his summer off from the NBA. He didn’t exactly take a break from basketball; instead; he was picked for the USA Basketball Select Team, which will practice and scrimmage with Team USA in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics

Langston Galloway finished last season with the Pistons with an uncertain future. His three-year contract expired and when their season ended abruptly because of the pandemic, Galloway was headed for the fifth team entering just his seventh season. When the Phoenix Suns came calling, it looked to be a good fit for Galloway, especially given

At first blush, the NBA Finals doesn’t have a particularly endearing pairing, with the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns facing off in one of the unlikeliest matchups. The Bucks haven’t won a championship since 1971 and the Suns never have won a title — and they’ve been a league laughingstock for most of the time since

In a tale of two point guards, Chris Paul preened on the court, celebrating clinching his first trip to the NBA Finals in his 16-year career. Reggie Jackson, eyes welling, celebrated his situation, thankful for making it to the conference finals. It was a wonder that Paul hadn’t gotten there before, with dominant teams in his

From a 20-52 season, the typical thought would be that there is a lot of work to do with the Pistons roster. Whether it’s the next phase of rebuilding or trying to draft for need or just building up the talent base, there is a lot of room to improve. That’s not quite where the

Pistons rookies Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart made a mark in their first season with their surprising performance after being selected in the middle of the first round in the draft last season. Both were named to NBA All-Rookie teams and they have something else to add to their resumes. Bey and Stewart were chosen

By Anne M. Peterson |  Associated Press Portland, Ore. — The Portland Trail Blazers went into damage-control mode while introducing former Piston Chauncey Billups as their new coach Tuesday, amid questions about how they selected him over more experienced candidates and how sexual assault allegations were lodged against him nearly a quarter-century ago. Billups never faced charges related

Kevin Durant. Draymond Green. Kevin Love. Jerami Grant. One of these players is not like the others. Grant isn’t a multiple-time All-Star or an NBA champion. What they have in common is that they’re among the forwards on the U.S. Olympic team headed to Tokyo this summer after a year delay because of the pandemic.

Suffice it to say that Ben Wallace wasn’t waiting by the phone or checking social media to see whether he was selected for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. If it happened, it happened. If not, well, he would have been none the wiser. Wallace, a five-time All-NBA selection, four-time defensive player of the

By Tim Reynolds |  Associated Press As expected, USA Basketball will have a Michigan flavor for the Tokyo Olympics. Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant and former Michigan State star and Saginaw native Draymond Green will represent the country, with the Americans formally revealing their roster Monday. Grant and Green’s inclusion were reported last week. The roster will be

Chauncey Billups has agreed to a deal to coach the Portland Trail Blazers, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday night. The five-year deal will make Billups the successor to Terry Stotts. Billups, 44, was a five-time NBA All-Star and 2004 NBA Finals MVP with the Detroit Pistons. He comes to the Blazers after a one-season assistant

Near the start of the pandemic last year, former Pistons guard Chauncey Billups was participating in the NBA’s HORSE competition. By the end of the year, he was added to Tyronn Lue’s coaching staff with the Los Angeles Clippers. Billups now finds himself on the brink of being named the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers,

Mr. Big Shot, indeed. Former Detroit Pistons point guard and current Los Angeles Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups is in talks to become the next coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday night. If hired, Billups will fill the position left behind by Terry Stotts, who mutually agreed to part ways with the