A day after the Detroit Pistons players held a final media session to close the 2022-23 NBA season, Troy Weaver and Dwane Casey stepped to the podium. Most were eager to ask Dwane Casey questions about his role, and the events around stepping down as head coach.

Dwane Casey, who accepted a front office position within the organization, is eager to continue the work started as coach. Player development, not wins and losses, has been the chorus for a few seasons with Casey guiding the ship.

And he likes the way things have gone despite some critics not able to see the bigger picture. “To see Ivey and Duren grow, to see how they handle themselves with you (the media), that is rewarding,” Casey said. “We all take Cade for granted, he’s a young man too. It’s rewarding to see their growth.”

Casey sacrificed the latter part of his coaching career to honor his commitment to Troy Weaver and the rebuild.

Weaver thanked Casey for his time “on the front lines, taking the bullets” for the rebuild. Something they believed was necessary for this teams restore to become reality, and the reason why Casey coaches.

“To me that’s the rewarding part of coaching and why I get upset when people criticize these young men. Because they’re not understanding what a rebuild is.”

Casey admitted he didn’t do everything perfect and will take time to reflect on that over the off season. But he won’t have too much time to dwell on it with the teams most pivotal free agency in over a decade just ahead.

Committed to the Detroit Pistons

Dwane Casey reiterated that his commitment was to the organization upon Troy Weaver being hired. Casey was initially hired to win now a season before Weaver was brought as GM. But Pistons owner Tom Gores really valued the person and professional that Casey had shown to be, in addition to his reputation around the NBA. The relationship developed led to Gores making asking for Casey’s commitment to the restore, as well as a vital role in Gores’ firsts rebuild as owner.

Dwane Casey couldn’t turn down the offer citing his budding relationship with Pistons owner Tom Gores as a factor. “Tom Gores has been a mentor and a boss, but also a friend,” Casey said. “We were going through a rebuild and he (Gores) understood that.

But this commitment was about more than just basketball, or even the promises made to Tom Gores. It was more about the impression the city of Detroit, the state of Michigan and its’ residents made on Dwane and his wife Brenda.

Committed to Detroit

Dwane Casey closed his press conference by reminding of his commitment he made when first hired as head coach. Giving back to Detroit and the surrounding community was always part of the deal for both Dwane and his wife Brenda Casey.

“That’s one thing Tom and I talked about was contributing back to the city through his organization, the teams foundation and working with the city.”

The positive takeaway is despite knowing he was in for a rough time coaching a rebuild, he never wavered in how much they tried to do in the community. Casey didn’t bolt for a team with better roster construction, or for a chance to win a ring.

He chose Detroit.

“As much as we can do as an organization, as a family and to see our players take that as a charge to give back to the city, warms my heart,” Casey said. “If there is anything we can do around the city whether it’s raising money, being an ambassador for the team, I’m all for that. And my wife is also.”

“To me it’s just as important.”