How a Viral Video Turned a Seoul Banker Into Detroit’s Favorite Pistons Fan
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DETROIT — A single playoff miss by the New York Knicks on April 22, 2025 sent Tom Hur, 7,000 miles away in Seoul, into tears, a moment that quickly linked a South Korean banker with the Detroit Pistons franchise he has followed since childhood.
Hur, 32, recorded himself celebrating Detroit’s 104-101 victory in Game 2 of the 2025 Eastern Conference first-round series, the club’s first postseason win since 2008. Wearing a customized Pistons jersey, he shouted “Let’s go!” as the final buzzer sounded, then broke down crying. The clip drew more than 3 million views on X, prompting the team to reply “WE DID IT” and Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas to share the video on Instagram.
From video games to lifelong allegiance
Hur’s Pistons connection began in the mid-2000s while playing NBA Live. A friend picked the Los Angeles Lakers and suggested Hur choose Detroit for balance. The bond strengthened in 2010 when Tracy McGrady, Hur’s favorite player, spent a season with the Pistons. “That’s when I decided this is going to be my team forever,” Hur told ESPN by phone.
Growing up, he relied on recorded broadcasts to catch games after school. Now he starts work at a Seoul bank at 10 a.m., allowing him to watch most of the first half live before sneaking “bathroom breaks” to track late-game moments on his phone. He stays current through multiple group chats and social media feeds.
Building an online presence
Hur joined X in September 2021 and quickly became a recognizable voice in the Pistons’ digital community, regularly posting in-game reactions and the trademark “Deeeeetroit basketball!” Even forward Isaiah Stewart follows his account.
First trip during 28-game skid
Hur traveled to Detroit for the first time in November 2023, coinciding with the franchise’s NBA-record 28-game losing streak. Limited to three nights, he felt he “wasn’t really able to feel the city.”
Return visit and hometown welcome
He scheduled a second, eight-day solo trip for late October 2025. Landing at 10 p.m. ET on Oct. 24, Hur headed straight to local favorite Sweetwater Tavern, then sampled Detroit-style pizza at multiple spots, eventually adding about 11 pounds. A helicopter ride over downtown produced another viral clip of him yelling “Detroit Basketball!” with Little Caesars Arena below.
Team owner Tom Gores surprised him with a shopping spree at the arena store before the Oct. 25 home opener, where Hur picked up a “I was a Pistons fan before it was cool” T-shirt and a Ron Holland II jersey. Players Cade Cunningham and Stewart greeted him, and president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon stopped for a photo.
The visit boosted Hur’s X following from roughly 6,000 to nearly 20,000. Local icons noticed as well: rapper Big Sean commented “My guy!” on one post, the Lions invited him to a football game, and even a Detroit police officer asked for a selfie.
Recognition from afar
The Pistons have previously mailed Hur a signed Cunningham poster and a custom jersey featuring the South Korean flag. On World Basketball Day, the organization added another personalized jersey to his collection.
Hur says Detroit fans appreciate the sincerity of his devotion. “They know my love for the Pistons and Detroit is genuine,” he said. “It’s not fake at all.”
The Seoul native, who jokes that his mother worries he might move permanently, needed just one playoff win to showcase his loyalty. The Pistons — and the city — have embraced it ever since.
Source: ESPN
