Detroit — Dwane Casey hasn’t coached a game yet, but he’s already impacting the Pistons' outlook. It’s in their preparedness for the game and their belief in themselves and their coach.
His first steps after he was hired in May was to reach out to the players and build relationships with them, not just from an introductory standpoint, but bonding with them to understand who they are and what makes them go.
While those results are sometimes visible on the court, they’re often tangible in qualitative ways in the players and their mental approach.
At Pistons media day on Monday, it was apparent in the players, as they spoke glowingly of their new coach and the impact he’s had on them in just a summertime, forging an impactful relationship that extends beyond the court.