Raj Mehta-Imagn Images

Pistons, George Blaha Share Heartfelt Moment Before Friday Night’s Game at Rockets

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nick Meyer | Last updated Oct 24, 2025 6:42 PM ET

Key Points:

George Blaha and the Pistons shared a moment
Blaha will be on the call tonight at Houston
The Pistons have a glaring potential weakness

The Detroit Pistons are 0-1 on the season with a big game against the Houston Rockets on the docket tonight at 8 p.m. ET in Houston.

The Pistons lost all three of their games to coach Ime Udoka's team last season but are back at it with extra playoff experience under their belts and plenty of time to morph into the championship contender coach JB Bickerstaff and GM Trajan Langdon expect.

The Pistons' broadcast team of Gregory 'Special K' Kelser and George Blaha will be on the call as usual, and were in Houston Friday in preparation for what is expected to be a close matchup.

Blaha got the surprise of a lifetime as Bickerstaff and his players paid tribute to the man who was recently honored by the Naismith Hall-of-Fame in Springfield, Mass.

Feb 28, 2017; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Radio and television commentator George Blaha smiles before the game between the Detroit Pistons and the Portland Trail Blazers at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons won 120-113 in overtime. Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Blaha, Pistons Gather in Show of Camaraderie

Blaha and the Pistons gathered at the scorer's table for a show of camaraderie hours before the game.

"As the Pistons ended practice in Houston this morning, J.B. Bickerstaff brought the entire team over to the scorer's table to congratulate George Blaha on his 50th season of calling Pistons basketball," reporter Johnny Kane of the FanDuel Sports Network wrote while sharing the video.

"#Together #DetroitBasketball."

Blaha was lauded as an example of excellence the Pistons are currently striving for by coach Bickerstaff while Pistons guard Cade Cunningham had a special request for the familiar voice of Pistons basketball.

The heartwarming moment and huddle between Blaha and the team were captured on film.

As the Pistons ended practice in Houston this morning, J.B. Bickerstaff brought the entire team over to the scorer’s table to congratulate George Blaha on his 50th season of calling Pistons basketball. #Together #DetroitBasketball pic.twitter.com/7jZxuxffXo
— Johnny Kane (@Johnny__Kane) October 24, 2025

Pistons' Glaring Weakness Will Be Tested vs. Rockets

The Pistons' glaring weakness, a lack of size and depth in the paint, reared its ugly head against the Bulls as center Nikola Vucevic scored 28 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.

The Rockets boast an even better center in Alperen Sengun, who compiled 39 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in an iron man 49-minute performance against Chet Holmgren and the Thunder in Game 1.

The Pistons' Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart are battlers and savvy, tough players with the ability to compete against anyone down low.

Whether or not the Pistons' current big man group is enough to stave off tall, rangy challengers like Sengun for an entire season plus the playoffs is anyone's guess, but there are plenty of doubters as tip-off draws near in Houston.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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