The Las Vegas Summer League is in full swing. The Detroit Pistons played two games already, losing against the Sixers and beating the Cavaliers. However, the Summer League is obviously less about the score and much more about individual performances. Pistons fans were tuning in to see their two rookies, Ebuka Okorie and Ugonna Onyenso, as well as second-year shooting guard Chaz Lanier.
Okorie obviously had the most eyes on him. The Pistons traded up to ensure they selected him in the 2026 NBA Draft. On paper, his skill set is exactly what the Pistons were looking for: a dynamic ballhandler, shot creator, and shooter. So, many were hoping to see signs of Okorie as an immediate contributor as a rookie.
So far, results have been a mixed bag through the first two games.
Ebuka Okorie has shown enough to give Pistons fans hope
There have certainly been positive flashes. Okorie can touch the paint and get to the rim at will. It's difficult to stay in front of the 19-year-old rookie. What he does when he enters the paint, however, has been less positive.
Okorie struggled finishing in traffic, especially in Sunday's game against Cleveland. His shot selection and decision-making inside the arc left something to be desired. He was also bumped off a couple of his drives and rim attempts. He was hoping to get foul calls on a couple of occasions, but didn't end up getting them.
This is to be expected from an undersized 19-year-old guard. The difference in physicality and length between college basketball and the NBA is massive. Okorie will need to get stronger and better at rim reads.
His ballhandling and playmaking through the first two games have been solid. Ten assists to only four turnovers for a ball-dominant guard in this Summer League setting is excellent.
Okorie is unlikely to be an efficient scorer right away. His three-point attempt rate and ability to get to the free-throw line have to improve before Okorie can get there, but the building blocks are clearly there.
The nine steals Okorie had in two games overstate his impact a little bit. However, he was still engaged and disciplined on that end of the floor for most of the time. One noteworthy thing was that he did seem to get discouraged at times when his shot wasn't falling offensively. He has to make sure that his offensive struggles don't impact his defensive effort.
A 19-year-old point guard who was drafted outside the lottery is unlikely to make an impact on a team with championship aspirations. This has to be more about the flashes and the building blocks, and Okorie has shown enough so far. There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic, but Pistons fans have to temper expectations about what Okorie can be as a rookie.
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