Ebuka Okorie is already giving the Pistons something to think about.
Detroit took the Stanford guard 17th overall in the past NBA draft, and early preseason looks have shown exactly why he’s forcing his way into the conversation. In his first preseason action against the Phoenix Suns, Okorie put up seven points in just 10 minutes, going 3 for 4 from the field. He followed that up with another strong showing against the Washington Wizards, scoring 14 points off the bench despite shooting 6-for-15 and 1-for-4 from 3.
The shot hasn’t been perfect, but that’s part of the deal with a rookie adjusting from college to the NBA. Okorie came out of Stanford after averaging 23 points a game, along with four rebounds and four assists, so there’s always going to be a learning curve when the offensive workload changes and the competition gets bigger.
What stands out, though, is that the Pistons clearly trust more than just the scoring. J.B.
Bickerstaff had high praise for the rookie, saying, “Some of the small things in his game are already very veteran-like. One is his ability to finish.
His ability to do the small things to create leverage typically takes young guys years to figure out, and he already has it. He’s an elite…”
That kind of message matters. When a head coach is talking about a rookie that way, it’s usually a sign the player has already made a real impression. And for Okorie, that impression isn’t just coming from one angle.
At 6 ft 2, there are obvious questions about how his size translates at the point guard spot in the NBA, where so many players are bigger. But he gives Detroit something else that can’t be faked: real playmaking. In the last preseason game against the Wizards, he finished with six assists, leading the team in assists while also leading the way in scoring.
His best path to carving out a role looks tied to the pick-and-roll. He has the speed to fly off a screen and create separation, and his feel for the game already looks advanced. That combination gives Bickerstaff something to weigh as the rotation gets sorted out.
Even his teammates are noticing. Asked Ausar Thompson about how the new Pistons players are helping up his game.Mentioned Ebuka Okorie with his handle is “like a little Kyrie Irving.” pic.twitter.com/NCeKPUlgjc
It’s one thing to hear praise from the coaching staff. It’s another to get that kind of nod from Ausar Thompson, one of the league’s top defensive players, especially with a comparison to someone known for elite ball-handling.
If Okorie gets consistent floor time, he looks capable of giving Detroit useful minutes right away. Cade Cunningham is still the clear leader of the team, but the Pistons could use another scorer who can come off the bench and change a game in a hurry.
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The fit, though, depends on what comes from the rest of the roster. Collins is not being asked to drive the offense, and the early look suggests Detroit will need more shot creation from its guards and wings if his value is going to show up the way the front office hopes. If the ball handlers can consistently put defenses in rotation, Collins can help open the floor and even slide into small-ball center looks, but the margin for error shrinks if the team expects him to do much more than finish the possession. [Read more 🡒]