Kevin Huerter’s Pistons Debut: A Full-Circle Moment and a Glimpse of What’s to Come
Kevin Huerter’s Pistons debut didn’t light up the box score, but it marked something bigger-a homecoming of sorts for a player whose basketball roots trace back to the mid-2000s Detroit squads he grew up idolizing. Now, after a whirlwind trade deadline move, Huerter finds himself wearing the jersey he once watched on TV as a kid.
The veteran wing was acquired in a three-team deal involving the Pistons, Bulls, and Timberwolves. At the time, Huerter was in Milwaukee preparing for a game against the Bucks when he got the call from Bulls head coach Billy Donovan.
The timing? Right before his pregame nap.
The message? He was headed to Detroit.
“I was excited,” Huerter said following his Pistons debut, a 126-117 loss to the Wizards. “My agent hadn’t heard anything leading up to that day, so I wasn’t expecting it.
I thought coach was calling to check if I was playing that night. Instead, he let me know I’d been traded.”
The trade set off a quick turnaround. Huerter had to pack up and get to Detroit in time for his first practice on Wednesday. Though he was initially listed as questionable with the trade still pending, he got the green light just hours before tip-off against Washington.
And while his six-minute debut didn’t offer much in terms of scoring-he missed both of his shot attempts-it did offer a glimpse of what he brings to the table. He moved well off the ball, made a heads-up defensive play with a steal, and later forced a turnover with a smart deflection. It wasn’t flashy, but it was the kind of gritty, team-first effort that fits Detroit’s identity.
For Huerter, suiting up for the Pistons is more than just a new chapter-it’s a personal milestone. He grew up watching those hard-nosed, championship-caliber Pistons teams led by Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Ben Wallace, and Rasheed Wallace.
One of his first basketballs? A Detroit Pistons ball on a Little Tikes hoop in the playroom.
“Back when you’re growing up as a kid, whatever team is on TV, those are kind of the ones you gravitate towards,” Huerter said. “That Pistons team was one of my favorites.”
Now, he’s stepping into a role where his strengths-particularly his outside shooting-can help address one of Detroit’s biggest needs. The Pistons currently sit 20th in the league in three-point percentage, and Huerter’s career 37% mark from deep immediately gives them more spacing and perimeter gravity. That’s not just helpful-it’s transformative for a team built around playmakers like Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren.
“This team has had a lot of things go right this year,” Huerter said. “I just told JB [head coach J.B.
Bickerstaff] to let me find the way I can fit in. The team doesn’t have to do anything different.
It’s up to me to fit into their identity.”
That identity? Tough defense, physicality, and a commitment to making opponents uncomfortable.
Huerter knows that. He’s played against this group and remembers the grind-it-out feel of those matchups.
Now, he wants to bring his own edge to that mix-while also providing the kind of shot-making that can swing games.
So far this season, Huerter has averaged 10.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists over 44 games (11 starts) with the Bulls. But those numbers don’t fully reflect his value.
He’s at his best when used as a weapon in the pick-and-roll, in dribble hand-offs, or spotting up off the catch. And he wasn’t always put in those positions in Chicago.
“Obviously shot making, outside shooting,” Huerter said when asked what he brings to Detroit. “This team is not fun to play against. They’re physical, they defend, and I think I have to bring that too-while finding my shots on the offensive end.”
Detroit could’ve used that shot-making against Washington. The Pistons hit just 27% from deep, while the Wizards knocked down nine more threes at a 44% clip. That kind of disparity is tough to overcome, especially when you’re shorthanded.
Tobias Harris was ruled out before the game with a hip injury. Then, Jalen Duren exited at halftime with knee soreness. Add in the absence of Daniss Jenkins, who was unavailable due to a G-League assignment, and Detroit was missing key contributors on both ends of the floor.
It’s not the kind of debut Huerter-or the Pistons-would have scripted. But it’s a start. And once he settles in and finds his rhythm, there’s every reason to believe he’ll be a difference-maker for a team with postseason aspirations.
For now, Huerter’s focus is simple: find his place, play his game, and help the Pistons keep pushing forward. The jersey may be new, but the connection runs deep.