LAS VEGAS – The Detroit Pistons have had better Summer League teams than this year’s squad, which fell to 1-2 overall after a loss to the New York Knicks on Monday, July 13. But the Vegas slate is ultimately about player development and opportunity, and there are reasons for the team to be optimistic through three games despite the record.
This year’s first-round pick, Ebuka Okorie, is among the Pistons who have put together strong performances and could be factors on this season’s roster, which will look to build off of a 60-win season and second-round exit from the NBA playoffs. The first three Summer League games, typically, are the most important; teams often start shutting key players down by Game 4.
Here are four observations on the team thus far:
Ebuka Okorie has the tools, and he’s learning how to use them
The 6-foot-1 guard has lived up to his reputation as a walking paint threat. Through three games, his speed with the ball has been apparent. He has consistently blown by defenders with his quick first step, hesitation dribble and ability to shift gears. He has scored in double figures in all three games while operating as the Pistons’ primary set-up guy. Defensively, he’s been pesky while racking up steals.
Okorie is averaging 16 points, 4.7 assists, 3.3 steals and 2.7 turnovers. His shooting percentages aren’t great, however – 35.3% overall and 16.7% from 3. He has had some issues adjusting to the physicality teams have adopted. There has also been some questionable shot selection, although that’s not uncommon for primary ball-handlers in Summer League setting.
“It’s definitely making me tougher,” Okorie said Monday of the physicality. “Trying not to complain too much. Trying to play through it and trying to play to win.”
The shooting isn’t as big a red flag as it may appear – many talented NBA scorers struggle to hit shots in Las Vegas. 2025 No. 1 pick – and eventual Rookie of the Year – Cooper Flagg shot 35.7% in Vegas before shooting 46.8% (and averaging 21 points a game) during the regular season. That’s not to say Okorie won’t have an adjustment period in the NBA. Like many rookie guards, he’ll need to become stronger to thrive in the paint consistently.
There have been encouraging signs. Okorie reads the floor and understands how to weaponize his speed. He competes defensively and tallied seven steals in Sunday’s win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The traits that made him a star in his lone season at Stanford have been apparent, despite some inconsistency.
“Success isn’t a straight line,” sad Pistons assistant Steve Scalzi, who’s coaching the Summer League squad. “Let him learn through some of his third professional opportunity, first official back-to-back in the NBA. With all that presents new challenges and we’ll have to come up together with new solutions.”
Chaz Lanier making Summer League leap
In 6½ quarters of basketball on Sunday and Monday, the second-year wing knocked down 15 of 22 3-point attempts. Lanier is shooting a scorching 53.3% from 3 on 10 attempts per game in Vegas, thanks to those performances. He went 7-for-12 from deep against the Cavaliers on Sunday, and followed it with an 8-for-12 outing against the Knicks.
Lanier had one of the most impressive stretches of the weekend, by any player, when he opened Sunday’s game by scoring 17 of the Pistons’ first 20 points. It remains to be seen if he’ll be able to carve out a role on a deep Pistons team this season, but the sharpshooter from Tennessee looks like he’ll be ready when called upon.
Ugonna Onyenso needs time to adjust
It’s been an uneven week for the Pistons’ second-rounder (No. 57 overall). His best performance came Sunday: five points, eight rebounds and five blocks in a 103-94 win over the Cavs. His two other games featured just one point, nine rebounds, three steals and one block in roughly 31 minutes combined.
Onyenso was one of college basketball’s top rim protectors at Virginia last season, and he has had positive flashes on the defensive end. But the game appeared to move fast for him in Vegas, and he’s yet to stand out on the offensive end. Knocking down an open 3-point attempt on Sunday was a highlight, but he has only taken eight shots (and made three). The Pistons can afford to be patient, though: Onyenso’s on a two-way contract and will spend plenty of time with the Motor City Cruise of the G League.
Roddy Gayle Jr. has maximized his opportunity
Gayle missed Monday with soreness, but he was close to flawless during the first two games. The Michigan alumnus scored 10 points in each, on 8-for-8 overall shooting while going 4-for-4 from 3. The 3-point shooting is notable, considering he shot 30.1% from deep through four college seasons.
A sturdy 6-foot-4 wing, Gayle established a reputation as a strong defender who bullied opponents inside the arc on offense. Four 3-pointers is hardly a representative sample size, but it’s a good sign nonetheless, and a potential swing skill.
“The ball finds energy, right?” Scalzi said. “He’s an energetic defender. He’s definitely had a lot of this going on, he definitely added that to us. Once you get to the rim, you see one go in, you feel confident. He’s played in big games. I’m not surprised.”
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Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on X and/or Bluesky.
Next up: Suns
Matchup: Pistons (1-2) vs. Phoenix (1-1 entering Monday); NBA Las Vegas Summer League exhibition.
Tipoff: 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 15; Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas.
TV: ESPNU.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 4 Summer League thoughts on Pistons: Ebuka Okorie has vast toolkit
Reporting by Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
