The Detroit Pistons are still sorting through lineups and roles in the preseason, and one rookie is beginning to pop in a way that’s hard to ignore.
Ebuka Okorie is making his case as a possible hidden gem while head coach J.B. Bickerstaff keeps testing different combinations and rotations.
In the Pistons’ preseason loss to the Washington Wizards, the spotlight wasn’t really on the final score. It was on who could hold up when Cade Cunningham wasn’t out there.
Okorie gave Detroit a solid reason to keep looking his way. He scored 14 points and handed out six assists against the Wizards, finishing 6-for-15 from the field in nearly 27 minutes. The shooting line wasn’t eye-popping, but the broader picture was more encouraging than the numbers alone.
What stood out most was the guard’s ability to create for others. Six assists is a real sign that he can see the floor and is willing to get teammates involved, which matters for a young player trying to earn trust at the NBA level. He showed he can do more than simply hunt his own shot.
That kind of balance is exactly what Detroit is trying to uncover as it evaluates its young talent. A player who can help run the offense without becoming passive on that end is valuable, and Okorie’s game suggests there may be something there for the Pistons to build on.
The extra minutes mattered too. Playing a shade under 30 minutes gave him room to show more than a brief burst, and he took advantage of the longer runway to flash different parts of his skill set.
There’s still work to be done. Okorie shot 40% from the floor and missed all four of his three-point attempts, which is a reminder that his efficiency needs to come up if he’s going to become a dependable offensive option.
That three-point touch, in particular, will have to improve. A better rhythm from deep would make him tougher to guard and open more space for the playmaking that already looks like one of his better traits.
And this wasn’t the first time he’d put himself on the radar during the preseason. Okorie had already made headlines by hitting a game-winning shot against Phoenix earlier in the exhibition schedule, giving Detroit another look at his knack for delivering in a big moment.
For now, the rookie has done enough to keep Pistons fans paying attention.
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