DETROIT — For two straight years, Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores introduced new leadership to the franchise following disappointing seasons.

But Gores and the Pistons got this summer to look beyond coach and general manager searches after coach J.B. Bickerstaff and president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon helped usher in an historic turnaround in their first year to win 44 games and reach the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

It gave Gores more breathing room to focus on what he hopes is next — becoming a perennial contender.

“The state of the franchise, we’ve gotta win games but it’s never been better,” Gores told reporters ahead of Sunday’s home-opening win against the Boston Celtics . “Everything’s kind of come together between the players we have, the front office

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