Kaden Johnson knows he will experience many unforgettable moments in his life. As part of the Detroit Pistons Youth Council, something truly special will be needed to surpass the experience he had with All-NBA guard Cade Cunningham.
In February 2025, Wilson attended the Pistons’ Black Excellence Dinner at the DIA. As a high school basketball player, Johnson had the opportunity to bond with his favorite player over dinner. Their connection, however, extended beyond the basketball court.
Cunningham gifted Johnson a book titled “Discipline is Destiny: The Power of Self-Control” by Ryan Holiday. Cunningham shared that the book has become an essential part of his pregame ritual, and since then, Johnson has not only read it but also integrated the lessons into his own life.
“I was able to have a sitdown with (Cunningham), and we were eating and talking for hours. It was truly a blessing,” Johnson told The Detroit News. “This is something that not a lot of people get to do.”
Johnson is one of many students who have been involved in the Pistons’ Youth Council since its inception in 2021. Although the experience has strengthened his basketball aspirations, it also has enriched his off-court experience, where he has learned skills that will help him thrive in different aspects of the game, including marketing, community and other business areas in sports.
On Saturday, Johnson and the rest of his peers will put their lessons into practice when they host their fourth annual Detroit Pistons Family Fun Day at Chandler Park from 1 to 4 p.m.
“A lot of kids think sports are all about being the players, coaches, general managers and trainers. But exposing them to the business side is something that we were really trying to accomplish. And from that, we were really able to curate these types of events where they can lead from the front,” Chris Economeas, Pistons senior director of community & social responsibility, said.
The event is organized entirely by the Youth Council and is free and open to the public. It will include a basketball clinic hosted by the Pistons Academy, as well as family-friendly activities, food trucks and team giveaways. Attendees will have the chance to meet Hooper and the Pistons Dancers and enjoy music from a live DJ. Community partners also will provide complimentary haircuts and mental health resources.
“We give them a budget, and they take it and run with it,” Economeas said. “We guide them along the way, making sure they consider all the finances and how to operate an event from start to finish, including run-of-show, itineraries and agendas. This is their staple event every single year.”
Teaching students the business side of sports is one of the primary goals of the Pistons’ Youth Council. The idea began when the Pistons’ community department decided to create an advisory board made up of high school students and scholars.
Family Fun Day originated from the Youth Council’s desire to create a joyful family environment through the Pistons Neighbors Program. The event has evolved over the years, impacting everyone involved. For Economeas, his favorite moment came last summer, when he witnessed how year-over-year growth led to the event’s highest attendance, a testament to the Youth Council’s ongoing progression.
“With our Neighbors Program, we have our courts that are branded Pistons and always wanted to utilize these areas and spaces to have these types of events that will bring the community out. “They (Youth Council) really know what will bring out the youth,” Economeas said. “Since I’ve been with the team (2014), community has always been at the forefront. It has been part of Tom’s (Gores) vision since day one.”
Economeas continued, “It is great to be an organization that gifts financially. But to be an organization that shows up boots on the ground and puts on events like Family Fun Day or the Pistons’ Slow Roll (Community Bike Ride on Thursday), those are the things that truly matter.”
As Johnson wraps up his time with the Youth Council, he will do so alongside his best friend, Jason Wilson II. Johnson and Wilson are the longest-tenured members of the Youth Council, having been part of the program for four years. Similar to Johnson, Wilson had the chance to participate in the Black Excellence Dinner at the DIA, which was a monumental experience.
While Johnson dined with Cunningham, Wilson had dinner with his assigned mentor, former Pistons guard/forward Tim Hardaway Jr. The 18-year-old senior at Southfield Christian was influenced by the conversation he had with Hardaway, who provided advice that has since impacted Wilson’s life.
Being part of the Pistons Youth Council has inspired Wilson to pursue a college degree in sports psychology next fall. Before he begins his studies, however, Wilson is focused on making his final year as the organizer of Family Fun Day the best it has ever been, showcasing the personal growth he has experienced over the past four years.
“Family Fun Day is our chance to give back to the community,” Wilson said. “Family Fun Day has always been a blast. It’s a great recap of all of the hard work we have put in throughout the years. It’s going to be a little sad that this is going to be my last one, but this has been a blessing.”
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Pistons teaching sports business aspects through Youth Council
Reporting by Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
