As the Detroit Pistons prepare for their own offseason, some of their former players find their new homes even before trying their luck in NBA free agency. This week, it was former Pistons guard Jaylen Nowell who signed his first overseas contract as a pro.
Per international basketball reporter Emiliano Carchia, the 25-year-old shooting guard is signing with the Shanxi Loongs of the Chinese Basketball Association for next season. There, Nowell will join a few more former NBA veterans, including a former Pistons fan favorite, Hamidou Diallo.
Jaylen Nowell signed in Shanxi
— Emiliano Carchia (@Carchia) June 8, 2025
Former Pistons Guard Joins Hamidou Diallo in China
Diallo has been in Shanxi since September 2024 after six seasons in the NBA. During his stint with the Detroit Pistons, Diallo emerged as a favorite thanks to his effort and intensity. While the Pistons were struggling at the bottom of the Eastern Conference without much hope for the future, Diallo was one of the more exciting members of the team.
His career didn't go in the trajectory some Pistons fans were hoping for as Diallo spent some time in the G League and with the Washington Wizards before signing a deal in China. In his first season at CBA, Diallo averaged 22.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.2 steals, and 0.9 blocks in 25.5 minutes per game but his team lost in the playoff semifinals to the Beijing Ducks.
Nowell, on the other hand, doesn't have the extensive history with the Pistons like Diallo. Towards the end of the 2023-24 season, Nowell signed multiple 10-day contracts in Detroit and appeared in four games for the team. He wasn't retained after the season and spent last season bouncing around the G League and the NBA.
A talented scorer and shooter, Nowell wasn't able to carry the success he enjoyed at the University of Washington to the NBA. He will hope to get his confidence and scoring touch back in China before making an attempt at a comeback in the NBA.