Duncan Robinson’s Impact in Detroit Is Already Undeniable
When the Detroit Pistons pulled off a sign-and-trade this summer to bring in Duncan Robinson from the Miami Heat, there were more than a few raised eyebrows. A three-year, $48 million deal for a 31-year-old shooter?
It felt like a gamble-especially for a team still shaping its identity. But here we are, a quarter into the season, and that bet is already paying dividends.
Let’s start with the numbers. Through 20 games-all starts-Robinson is logging a career-high 32.1 minutes per night and averaging 12.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.
He’s shooting 43.8% from the field and a sharp 40.1% from beyond the arc on 7.6 attempts per game. That’s elite volume and efficiency, and it’s not just helping Detroit-it’s helping define them.
Robinson isn’t just a shooter on this roster. He is the shooter.
He leads the team with 3.1 made threes per game. That’s a full tier above anyone else-Cade Cunningham is next at 1.9 makes on 6.3 attempts per game, but he’s hitting just 30.1%.
Jaden Ivey, still working his way back after missing the early part of the season, is at 31.3% from deep through six games. The hope is that Ivey can climb back toward the 40.9% clip he posted last season before injuries derailed his rhythm, but right now, Robinson is carrying the perimeter load.
And it’s not just about the box score. Robinson’s gravity-the way defenses have to account for him every second he’s on the floor-opens up the floor for everyone else.
His movement off the ball, quick-trigger release, and ability to stretch defenses out to 28 feet create driving lanes for Cunningham, passing angles for Killian Hayes, and room for Tobias Harris to operate in the midrange. He’s the kind of player who changes the geometry of the court.
That’s why Monday night’s game against Atlanta was so telling. Robinson missed his first game of the season due to a sprained ankle suffered against his former team, Miami, and the Pistons’ offense felt it immediately.
Detroit scraped out a 99-98 win, but they shot just 5-of-26 (19%) from three. The starting unit went 1-of-17 from deep, with Tobias Harris hitting the lone triple.
That’s not a coincidence. That’s the absence of their most reliable floor-spacer.
And yet, even with that off night, Detroit sits atop the Eastern Conference at 17-4, three games clear of the second-place Knicks. That’s despite ranking 21st in the league in three-point percentage (35.2%), second-worst in made threes per game (11), and third-worst in attempts (31.1).
In other words, this team isn’t winning because they’re lighting it up from deep-they’re winning in spite of it. Which makes Robinson’s role even more crucial.
He’s the one guy who is lighting it up, and when he’s not on the floor, it shows.
There’s also the context around the roster. Malik Beasley, Detroit’s top three-point shooter from last season, is still under NBA investigation.
That situation remains unresolved, and it only adds to the importance of having someone like Robinson in the fold. The Pistons didn’t just need shooting-they needed reliable shooting.
And that’s exactly what they’ve gotten.
The front office was smart about the contract structure, too. Robinson’s deal includes a partial guarantee for the 2026-27 season and is non-guaranteed for 2027-28.
That gives Detroit some protection if things go sideways, but right now, there’s no sign of that happening. If anything, Robinson’s fit has been even better than expected.
He’s not just hitting shots-he’s helping Detroit win games. And in a season where the Pistons are suddenly making noise in the East, that kind of contribution can’t be overstated.
All eyes will be on Wednesday’s game to see if Robinson returns to the lineup. If Monday’s performance was any indication, Detroit needs him out there-not just to make threes, but to make everything else work.