Pistons owner responds to fans calling on him to sell the team

Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores responded Friday to fans who chanted for him to sell the team during Thursday’s game.

Pistons fans could be heard chanting “sell the team” as the clock ran down Thursday when the team lost its 25th consecutive game. Gores acknowledged the chants but said the push to sell the team was “ridiculous” because of the work ownership does within the community.

“They can say what they want, but that’s ridiculous,” Gores said, via James L. Edwards III. “Other than winning — and we should win more games — we do a lot in the community. Players, the organization, we do a lot in the community. If you put aside winning, we’ve made a very big difference in the community. That means a lot to me. I understand that’s only going to mean a lot to people if we win, but the underworking of what’s happening and with our community, over all these years, is there. We’re doing multibillion-dollar things outside of [basketball.] I understand the fans being upset, but it’s a ridiculous thought.”

Gores’ community work is nice, but when the team is 2-26, nobody is going to be moved by this argument. The team has made the playoffs just twice since he became owner, and they were swept both times, and that is fundamentally what matters to most fans.

Gores seemingly committed to a rebuild almost four years ago, and it’s hard to argue that the team is in a better place now than it was then. While there is young talent on the roster, the team lacks shooters and has invested in a curious amount of big men. Fan frustration is high, but Gores is not going anywhere.