A recent survey conducted by The Athletic’s NBA staff among 142 anonymous players revealed that Detroit Pistons’ home court, Little Caesars Arena (LCA), has been voted as the least favorite arena to play in by 16.2% of the respondents. Despite finishing with a dismal 7-33 record at home last season, the Pistons managed to rank 15th in attendance, averaging 18,159 fans per game, just short of the previous season’s total.
However, the survey results indicate that LCA’s lack of atmosphere and open design have made it unpopular among players. One player commented, “No fans, no atmosphere at the moment,” while another criticized its vastness, saying, “It’s very open. It’s going to be packed out for it to stand out, and that’s just not what it is.”
Adding to the team’s woes, Pistons coach Monty Williams has also faced criticism in the survey. He was ranked as the third-least desirable coach to play for, behind Tom Thibodeau of the New York Knicks and Doc Rivers of the Milwaukee Bucks, respectively. A former NBA Western Conference coach told MLive, “Monty’s act wears thin on players over time. He doesn’t ease up. Players like him at first, but his act will grow tired.”
Williams’ tenure in Detroit began promisingly, with the Pistons going 2-1 in their first three games. However, the team subsequently embarked on the NBA’s longest single-season losing streak of 28 games, eventually finishing with a league-worst record of 14-68, marking the worst in franchise history. The team also endured four additional losing streaks of at least six games throughout the season.
