In a far-ranging Q&A with Sports Illustrated, Platinum Equity Founder and CEO Tom Gores compared his decades of experience in corporate turnarounds to the amazing transformation of the Detroit Pistons, the NBA franchise he’s owned since 2011.

Two years ago, the Pistons were fresh off a 28-game losing streak on the way to a 14-68 record, one of the worst in league history. Currently, the Pistons have one of the NBA’s best records and will likely be the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference when the playoffs begin in April.

NBA All-Star Cade Cunningham is a strong candidate for MVP, and his teammate, Jalen Duren, was just named Eastern Conference Player of the Week, and also performed at the All-Star Game where Pistons Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff led both players. Bickerstaff is a candidate for NBA Coach of the Year.

The Pistons’ changing fortunes is one of the top stories in the league. It started with Gores’ decision to hire President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon in the spring of 2024. Langdon has overseen a remarkable transformation, supplementing a young core with astute player signings. The two men collaborated to hire Bickerstaff.

There is legitimate hope that this team could earn the franchise its fourth NBA title.

Read the entire Q&A here.

Published: Thursday, March 5, 2026 | Updated: Thursday, March 5, 2026
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