Pistons superfan 'Korean Tom' builds following by loving Detroit, team

Joey Mangold of Sterling Heights, left, takes a selfie with social-media personality Tom Hur of South Korea on the concourse before the start of Game 2 of the NBA semifinals game between the Pistons and the Magic at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Wednesday. David Guralnick / The Detroit News

A video game leads to lifelong love of the Detroit Pistons

It started, as many childhood obsessions do, with a video game.

Hur's friend wanted to be the Lakers every time they played "NBA Live." Hur says his friend "made" him be the Pistons.

As a kid growing up in Seoul, Hur said he had little exposure to the NBA. But the video game planted the seed, and soon he started following the sport, and the Pistons. When the team signed Hur's favorite player, Tracy McGrady, in 2010, that sealed the deal for Hur.

But Hur didn't make his first trip to Detroit until 2023. A friend wanted to go to the United States, and asked Hur to go with him. Hur had one condition.

"He only wants to stay in New York," Hur said. "I was like, 'I'll go to America with you. If you go to Detroit with me.'"

South Korean Super fan,Tom Hur, cheers for the Pistons in the second quarter. Detroit Pistons vs Orlando Magic at Little Caesars Arena on October 29, 2025, in Detroit, MI.

His friend obliged, and they spent three days in the Motor City. Hur said he loved it instantly, certainly better than the Big Apple.

He came back last year, and started documenting his stay on Instagram. He quickly built a following by highlighting his favorite restaurants and sites. He's watched a guy pull a large fish out of the Detroit River. He declared Sweetwater Tavern has "The Best Wings in Detroit!!!" Every post starts with "Whatupdoe!" (Cue the "One-of-us!" chants.)

This year, he wanted to be here for the first round of the playoffs. The plane ticket cost him about $2,500, he said, to spend about five days here. He's been honored with a jersey at the Tigers' game, and a chance to meet the Pistons' Cade Cunningham. A photo from that encounter is now the background on his phone.

He stops to take pictures with anyone who asks. He's grateful for the way the city embraced him, he said.

"I don't take anything for granted," Hur said. "They're loving me back, and it's an amazing feeling."

Pistons fan Tom Hur of South Korea is presented a Team Korea jersey by Tigers designated hitter Jahmai Jones before Tuesday's game at Comerica Park. Detroit Tigers

More: Pistons superfan from South Korea holds court with Tigers, too

Meanwhile, his Instagram following has grown to over 20,000.

It's not a side gig, he noted. He doesn't earn any money from it. He did, however, score a spot in the Pistons' "Influencer Suite" at Wednesday's game.

"I can never get used to that word," Hur said of the "influencer" label. "I guess, I am."

So if he is, what is he influencing?

"I think what I'm doing is, like, just showing people how good Detroit really is, and reminding people of Detroit how good you have it here," he said. "So, I guess that's what I'm influencing."

Cities like Detroit overlooked, Hur says

So what does a guy from South Korea love so much about Detroit, anyway?

"First of all, it's the Pistons," he said.

Fair.

The first time he came here, Hur said he was apprehensive, not knowing what to expect. The second time, when he started to share his time here with the world, he opened up a bit more. In true Midwest fashion, the city opened right back up to him.

"I started just going to, like, random places recommended by some friends that I know," Hur said. "And that's when I started falling in love with the city, the food, the people, the culture, and I started sharing it, and people started appreciating it. And that's how it all started."

Just like his friend who only wanted to go to New York, Hur said he thinks cities like Detroit get overlooked.

"The thing is, like, people beat up these cities without being here," he said. "...They just see their social media and stuff. 'All right, this place is a s--thole,' or whatever. But they haven't been here. So they don't know."

His Korean friends, who, he notes, don't treat him any differently now that he has fans, ask him if Detroit is dangerous. He tells them he's never felt danger in the places he's gone.

"Yeah, people say that about Detroit, but they have never been here, and they could judge all they want," he said. "But I disagree."

jpignolet@detroitnews.com

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Pistons superfan 'Korean Tom' builds following by loving Detroit, team