Detroit Pistons fans have high expectations for rookie point guard Ebuka Okorie. The Pistons moved up to the 17th-overall pick in the NBA Draft to select the 19-year-old guard out of Stanford. Given how desperately the Pistons needed offensive firepower, many wondered whether Okorie could be an instant contributor.
While this would obviously be welcome, it's not fair to expect it from Okorie. The Pistons will have title aspirations next season. It's not realistic for any rookie point guard who was drafted outside the lottery to contribute to a team with real playoff hopes.
Pistons fans have to temper their expectations for Ebuka Okorie in his rookie season
Okorie's rookie campaign will be about flashes. The long, grueling NBA season will provide him with opportunities. He will get his chances to show what he can do. These opportunities have to be more about the future rather than what he can do to make an impact in his rookie season.
There will be times when Okorie struggles immensely in the NBA. We have seen glimpses of what it can look like in his last two Summer League games. His dynamism and craft with the ball are obvious, but he doesn't have the required physicality. He has a size and strength disadvantage, which prevents him from generating great looks for himself, even though he can beat his defender one-on-one.
This will only be amplified in the NBA. Defenders are even bigger, stronger, and more athletic there than in the Summer League. This will result in some horrendous shooting nights as Okorie will almost certainly have trouble finishing over NBA length.
Getting these reps and being allowed to explore the studio space will still be very helpful for Okorie. He will get stronger and better at understanding what shots he can get to.
Especially when it comes to ball-dominant players, NBA adjustment can take a while. Okorie had the ball in his hands a ton in Stanford and is used to a certain level of physicality and athleticism. The shots he can get to against college basketball defenders are completely different from the ones he can get to in the NBA.
This process will take time. The Pistons have to be patient with him throughout this process. And this includes the fans.
The fans can get overly excited about a new, young player with upside. They understandably want to see them in action. When young players don't deliver right away, the fanbase can get disappointed too easily.
This can't happen. The organization has to do a good job setting expectations for Okorie's rookie season. If he can contribute right away, great. If he can't, there is absolutely nothing to worry about.
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