Detroit Pistons Draw Heat After AI Use in Official Playoff Promo

For graphic designers, the playoffs, like the players, are the biggest part of the season.

With a majority of the teams eliminated and several days between games, official designers and content producers for franchises get time to create pieces that resonate with the fanbase and get them excited about the battles ahead.

A carefully crafted piece of promotional art can go viral and raise anticipation for a playoff game to a whole new level.

The Detroit Pistons barely made it out of the first round against the Orlando Magic, and heading into the second round, they didn’t lose the series but might have lost their graphic design team.

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Detroit posted a graphic on social media that was obviously generated by AI, given the illegible writing on the cards and overall nature of the photo.

Pistons and NBA fans at large were quick to jump on the organization for trying to peddle the AI graphic as a normal piece of promotion.

After a disappointing opening series against Orlando, the Pistons, AI and all, will hope to reach the Eastern Conference finals by taking down the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round.

The first game of the Eastern semifinals will be tonight in Detroit, with the New York Knicks 1-0 up on the Philadelphia 76ers in the other conference playoff matchup.

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This story was originally published May 5, 2026 at 12:05 PM.