Pistons’ Tom Gores apologizes to fan base, alludes to looming changes

The Detroit Pistons are having a tough season, with a dismal 2-26 record—the worst in the NBA. They’ve not only broken the franchise’s longest single-season losing streak but also endured the overall longest losing streak. Another loss on Saturday would tie them with the NBA’s single-season losing streak record at 26 games.

Adding to their woes, if the Pistons don’t win at least one of their next four games, they endured two consecutive full months without a victory.

From the players and coaching staff to the front office and ownership, no one in the Pistons organization expected this type of start to the 2023-24 season, especially team owner Tom Gores. With the franchise on collision course with unfortunate NBA history, Gores spoke with select media members late Friday night to address the state team moving forward, including issuing an apology to the fans.

“I’ve been thinking about this for a long time—about how to communicate with the fans. We owe them,” Gores opened the conference call, saying, “I think a conversation about the Pistons and where we’re at, and also just apologize for the disappointment to our fans. And I’m as disappointed as anybody, obviously, but I think speaking to our fans and letting them know what’s happening and giving them a status is critical at this time. It is a pivotal moment.”

“We had a lot of expectations, and we lose these games in a row, and so on. It’s tough, but at the same time, I’m right here. I want to be accountable about it, but also let everybody know that we do have a plan.”

Although Gores didn’t specify the nature of these changes nor the details of the plan, he emphasized the importance of holding everyone accountable. From his perspective, he anticipated the team to be on a trajectory towards playoff contention or at least participating in the play-in tournament, rather than finding themselves once again in the NBA draft lottery.

While he’s looking at head coach Monty Williams and general manager Troy Weaver for better results, he puts more of the onus on he and Weaver’s shoulders. He’s of the mindset that the current problems are a byproduct of happenings or lack thereof that took place before Williams’ arrival.

“It can’t be on Monty. Monty’s here 20 something games. You could say, ‘Hey, maybe he could have done this rotation, that rotation.’ It gets you a few more wins. And Monty judges himself every single day. It just wouldn’t be right. And people, they love the idea of sending a message to blame someone. I’ve never done that in my leadership, not applying. I’m nowhere. I’m not sending the message taken out the wrong person. You get nowhere.”

While Gores did not announce any sweeping changes during the conference call, such as firings within the coaching and front office, he made it clear that “change is coming” and doubled-down on the notion that something is brewing. He stated that he is worried about the direction things are heading, but he is not panicked, as he’s been in communication with Weaver on a daily basis and communicates with Williams often.

Gores even stated he’s even open to discussing rotations with Williams, something he’s never done before, just to make sure no stone isn’t turned in fixing the team.

“We’re diving in pretty hard, and we are probably two weeks ahead of you guys, (and) the fans, in that,” Gores said. “Our disappointment is catching up to us too. We expected a lot more, but we have to be real in that there are some things that hadn’t been working with the makeup of the team.

“And even when it comes down to we should have won a few more games, but how many of those games? Maybe three, four? Who knows what that number is? But we’re not set up the way we need to be set up. So nobody’s fooling each other that we’re there in any way.”

Here are some more highlights from the conference call with Gores:

On hearing “Sell the team” chants that the possibility of that: “They can say what they want, but that’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous. And other than winning, we should win more games, but we do everything to bring the best to Detroit.”

“Sell the team? I mean, they don’t understand what we’re doing in the community. I know we have to have more wins, but we’re taking care of the community and being in tune with the community. Me selling the team would be selling the community out.”

“I’m not doing that to the community. When you put aside basketball, we’ve made a very big difference in the community, and that means a lot to me. I understand that’s only going to mean a lot to people if we win. But the under workings of what’s happening and our connection with the community over all these years is there. And we’re doing multi-billion dollar things outside of it. I understand a fan being upset, but it’s a ridiculous thought.”

On what he considers success moving forward this season: “I think bigger picture success is ensuring that our young players, 22 and under, in the core of the future are growing and feel encouraged. As for the fans, I’d love to see them support the players, blame me if needed, but overall, support them. I believe that if we get that core to continue growing, we will find success.”

“We have the flexibility to surround them with what they need to be successful”

On Troy Weaver making changes to improve the makeup of the team: “I do expect Troy to come up with changes because staying exactly the same, I don’t think anybody can be here and say that in any genuine way that change is not required. So I expect Troy to find ways to improve the makeup of our team and make us more successful. I do expect him to find ways, and he knows that. If we did nothing to improve ourselves, I’m going to be disappointed. And this is nothing new to Troy.”