The Detroit Pistons will release a retail capsule honoring The Belleville Three—Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson. Designed with local artist Sheefy McFly, the collection includes a hat, t-shirt, hoodie, and an exclusive in-arena jersey. The merchandise will be available starting February 1 at Pistons313Shop.com and the Team Store at Little Caesars Arena, and aims to recognize the group’s contributions to Detroit’s music history, according to ClickOnDetroit.
The Belleville Three will perform at halftime during the Pistons vs. Nets game on February 1. They will share the stage with the Pistons Jit Team to mark 50 years of Jit, a dance style closely connected to techno culture. The performance will also show Detroit techno’s impact on music worldwide. The Belleville Three said, "Detroit is home. Everything we've ever made started with this city, its people, its clubs, and its energy. To bring the Belleville Three sound into the Pistons’ arena — at halftime, in front of our hometown crowd —means a lot," as reported by The Detroit News.
The Belleville Three, who combined electronic sounds with funk, soul, and European synth-pop in the early 1980s, helped establish Detroit as a center for electronic music. Marissa Garland, Sr. Director of Brand and Marketing Strategy for the Pistons, said, "The Belleville Three helped shape a sound that put Detroit at the center of a global music movement, and this collaboration celebrates their lasting influence." Following past partnerships, including one with Detroit rapper Big Sean in 2025, the new initiative blends basketball, music, and style. The Belleville Three added, "This isn’t nostalgia; this is Detroit culture still moving forward. Basketball, music, style, community—it’s all part of the same story here. The merch capsule is our way of celebrating that connection and giving something back to the city that gave us everything," as mentioned by NBA.
