NBA Summer League: Grading The Detroit Pistons’ Performance

With the Summer League in the books for the Detroit Pistons, there were several positive aspects (and also a few negative) to draw from after the team’s 1-4 performance. The Pistons may have ended the tournament on a bit of a sour note with a 14-point loss to the Miami Heat coming on Friday night, but that should not be a proper reason to disregard all the work that was accomplished in their Summer League action.

PG Ebuka Okorie

For the Pistons rookie, the Summer League provided a perfect opportunity to adapt to the physicality and pace of the NBA after his freshman season at Stanford. Although Okorie was the leading scorer in the ACC last year, it is reasonable to expect an adjustment period for the highly-coveted guard, and he acquitted himself quite well with 19.6 points per game. 

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On several occasions, Okorie did struggle with contact in the lane and had some trouble finishing his paint touches, but the Pistons guard still found ways to contribute in the passing game and defensively when his shot wasn’t falling. In fact, Okorie logged seven steals during one contest in the Summer League, so he performed admirably given the quick turnaround between draft night and this tournament. 

Final grade: B

SG Chaz Lanier

Perhaps more than any other Detroit player, Lanier looked ready to go from the opening tip. Lanier has been lauded for his three-point shooting ability, and the second-year Tennessee product showcased his quick (and improved) release and looked dialed in from long-range after a quieter game one performance. 

Lanier struggled to find regular minutes on the Pistons last season, but his prolific Summer League performance from beyond the arc might have been enough to carve out a larger role for the coming campaign. Look for Lanier to continue working on his shot during training camp and the pre-season, and don’t be surprised if he becomes a somewhat regular piece of the Pistons’ rotation moving forward.

Final grade: A-

C Ugonna Onyenso

As a second-round pick, Onyenso should be given a bit more grace in terms of the time it takes for him to adjust to professional hoops, but he showed flashes of the rim protection that made him an intimidating presence in the paint at Virginia. Onyenso registered not one, not two but five blocks in one of his Summer League matchups, so it is quite possible that he develops into a defensive stopper in the NBA once he fully adjusts to life in Detroit, though he may spend a bit of time in the G-League with the Motor City Cruise to begin his career as a two-way player. 

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On top of that offering, Onyenso connected on a pair of three-point shots, which meshes perfectly with the analysis from his collegiate coach, Ryan Odom, who said that he has a surprisingly accurate long-range stroke when he’s given the time and space to fire from distance. Overall, Onyenso looked raw and a bit indecisive with the ball, but that is how it goes for late second-rounders at this stage of the developmental process. 

Final grade: C+

Brice Williams also acquitted himself well in several games with a three-point shot that rivaled Lanier’s and a willingness to let it fly when given the opportunity, but the expectation is that Williams will serve as an anchor on the Cruise for the 2026-27 campaign. 

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