Pistons Lose Summer League Opener But Three Young Names Stood Out

Deck: Despite the opening loss, rookie Ebuka Okorie and other promising talents shine for the Pistons in their Summer League debut against the 76ers.

The Detroit Pistons opened their 2026 Summer League slate in Las Vegas on Thursday and came away with a 101-93 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, but the night still gave the team plenty to like.

The biggest bright spot came from No. 17 overall pick Ebuka Okorie, who made his first appearance in a Pistons uniform and looked comfortable right away. The Stanford guard finished with 20 points and four assists on 8-of-16 shooting, and he added two made three-pointers to go with two steals. For a rookie trying to carve out a role, it was a strong first step.

Isaac Jones was just as productive, if not more so. The Pistons forward led Detroit with 22 points, four rebounds and one assist while shooting 9-of-15 from the field.

Jones, who is on a two-way deal, is trying to turn Summer League production into something bigger and push for a permanent roster spot next season. He appeared in four games for Detroit last season and averaged 1.5 points per game.

Detroit also got its first Summer League look at former Michigan guard Gayle, who joined the organization on an Exhibit 10 contract after the 2026 NBA Draft. He made the most of his debut off the bench, scoring 10 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting night.

Gayle also added one rebound and one steal. After helping Michigan to a national championship and averaging 8.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game, he’s looking to keep that momentum going in Las Vegas.

The Pistons won’t wait long for their next chance to respond. They face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET at the Thomas & Mack Center, with the game set to air on Prime Video.

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