DETROIT – Although they fell in overtime to the Dallas Mavericks inside American Airlines Arena, the Detroit Pistons are still the best team in the Eastern Conference with a record of 21-6.
But on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, the bigger news surrounding the Pistons wasn’t the score of the game.
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A radio host openly disrespected the new-look Bad Boys and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, calling them a “good little team.”
The comment wasn’t about the players’ height, but about their style of play and how they’d match up against the New York Knicks, who won the NBA Cup 124-113 over the San Antonio Spurs inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Tuesday.
Knicks fan and radio host Evan Roberts on WFAN went on-air Thursday morning with his chest out like the big bad wolf and huffed and puffed some disrespectful hot air in the direction of the Pistons.
“It’s not that they suck. I don’t buy their record and say, ‘Wow, they’re 21-5, they’re a powerhouse. They’re a nice, good little basketball team, and I think they need another lesson before they get to the next level. Last year, their lesson was losing to the Knicks in the first round. I don’t know if they’re ready to take the jump and knock the Knicks off and get to an NBA Finals.”
To add even more fuel to the hot take, Roberts added, “One last thing: I don’t trust J.B. Bickerstaff in a big spot, either.”
Roberts doesn’t see the Pistons matching what the reigning Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers did last year, surprising the Knicks to reach the NBA Finals.
“They’re a good little team. They are not a major threat to the New York Knicks, and if you want to save that audio and use it against me, cool. I’m not scared,” Roberts said.
Following Thursday night’s games, the Pistons (21-6) are four games up on the No. 2-seeded Knicks (19-7) in the wins column and aren’t paying any mind to the outside noise.
If we want to talk smack, the young Pistons took the Knicks to six games during the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs, needing a dagger three-pointer from All-Star guard Jalen Brunson in Game 6 to escape with a 116-113 victory.
→ Heartbreak in Detroit: Knicks eliminate Pistons in Game 6 as Brunson delivers late-game heroics
Not to mention, Detroit was playing without two of its best players: Isaiah Stewart, who played in Game 1 but suffered knee discomfort, and Jaden Ivey, who broke his left fibula in January.
While we’re going down this rabbit hole, let’s not forget the “no call” on former Michigan Wolverines legend Tim Hardaway Jr., who was fouled by Josh Hart while shooting a corner three-pointer in Game 4, leading to a 94-93 victory for the Knicks.
→ Detroit Pistons ‘no call’ in final seconds lead to Knicks taking commanding 3-1 series lead
With Stewart and Ivey back, plus the additions of former Wolverines guards Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson, alongside the dominant play of Jalen Duren, defensive standout Ausar Thompson, Ronald Holland II, Tobias Harris, and All-Star Cade Cunningham leading the way, look for Detroit to continue motoring through NBA cities.
If everyone stays healthy, the Pistons and Knicks could match up in the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals.
They can bring up Roberts’ remarks, especially on Bickerstaff, who led the Pistons to a 44-38 record in his first season with the team and led them to a 13-game winning streak this season, tying a franchise record and the No. 1 seed in the East.