Hunter Patterson, news editor by day and part-time Sacramento Kings coverage-provider by night, is stepping into a new role this season as a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Detroit Pistons, filling the shoes of James L. Edwards III. Edwards, who moved east to cover the New York Knicks earlier this year, had manned Pistons coverage for seven seasons.
Edwards and Patterson recently connected about the latter’s transition to the Pistons, how he plans to cover the team and what they’re watching for this upcoming season.
Edwards: Listen, I know Detroit hasn’t won a lot over the last 15-plus years, but there are very few organizations better to cover if you’re a writer who enjoys creative storytelling. The Pistons are a media-friendly franchise that understands the importance of fans being able to connect with players, as well as the impact of superb journalism, which I know you will provide.
If I’m not mistaken, this is your first time having a beat. What are you looking forward to most about the opportunity?
Patterson: Thanks, James. First off, thank you for leaving a great blueprint on how to succeed with such a passionate fan base. I’m most excited to immerse myself in Detroit culture while highlighting these players as people just as much as elite athletes. This is a young team with plenty of potential, and I look forward to being able to give undivided attention to this group for a full 82 games and beyond.
Another aspect I’m eager to get started with is connecting with the new coaching staff and front office. J.B. Bickerstaff and Trajan Langdon both have great track records, and I can’t wait to start cultivating relationships with them and their staff as much as the players.
I pride myself on my work ethic, and I know the fans won’t settle for anything less than top-notch coverage. I look forward to diving into coverage as soon as possible.
Edwards: I don’t think outsiders understand how vast and dedicated Pistons fans are. This is a fan base that loves to hate its team, but when they’re good, they are unrivaled in regards to support — just look at how many times the franchise led the league in attendance during the 2000s.
Detroit is a legacy act. The Pistons’ past accomplishments have and will continue to loom over the current iteration of this franchise until success comes again. You’re a young fella, so how familiar are you with the organization’s history?
Patterson: I’ll be honest, my earliest memories of the Pistons came when Larry Brown took over in 2003-04. I remember Big Shot Billups, Rip Hamilton, Sheed and Big Ben being the tough, hard-nosed players. This was during the era of baggy shorts and shiny jerseys that I miss. And I always wanted a Lindsey Hunter jersey, for obvious reasons, but never got one.
My affinity toward the late Kobe Bryant hadn’t yet developed, so I was invested in rooting for the underdogs. Seeing them rout the star-studded Los Angeles Lakers with Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal made me want to dive deeper into the Pistons’ history. Then I stumbled upon the Bad Boys. As a guard who never grew to 6 feet myself, I admired Isiah Thomas’ grit and feistiness as a lead guard who was generously listed at 6 foot 1.
Once I saw Bill Laimbeer and Dennis Rodman patrolling the paint and leaving guys plastered on the hardwood, I understood the passion the Pistons played with and consequently, the passion these fans have. Going to three straight NBA Finals and winning two back-to-back breeds winners. The fans want to get back to that standard, and I don’t blame them.
Edwards: Lastly, and feel free to call me crazy, but I think this team has an opportunity for postseason basketball this season. If you told me that the Pistons ended up being the No. 10-seeded team in a weak bottom half of the East, I wouldn’t be surprised. With spacing around him, Cade Cunningham should take him to another level.
Is there a storyline you’re looking forward to covering this season?
Patterson: I’m on the optimistic side about this season as well. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this team in the Play-In race during the spring. Aside from Cunningham, who I expect to have a career season with this much shooting around him, I’m most excited about the growth of Jaden Ivey. Excluding the last preseason game when he played just eight minutes, Ivey averaged 18.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists on 60.5/52.9/85.7 shooting splits.
Granted, it is preseason. But his jumper looked much more fluid, he looked more confident in it and he was scoring from three levels. Bickerstaff has experience managing two ball-dominant guards in the backcourt with Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland in Cleveland. I think in time this can be a formidable backcourt in the league for years to come. And I think this will be the first season we see it come to fruition.
Lastly, there’s so much youth. From Ausar Thompson, to rookie Ron Holland, to Jalen Duren — who by the way, I still can’t believe is only 20. Even Marcus Sasser has the potential to be an impact player off the bench.
This is an opportunity I’ve looked forward to for years, so I am beyond thrilled to kick off things in Detroit this season.
(Photo of Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey and Cade Cunningham: Brian Sevald / NBAE via Getty Images)
