DETROIT — The Pistons didn’t have one of the best outing in the course of the NBA Summer time League in Las Vegas. They completed the event as one in all 5 groups that completed with fewer than two wins, going 1-4.
Regardless of their struggles as a workforce, the Pistons’ efficiency in the course of the league’s annual mid-July showcase was nonetheless a hit, as a handful of gamers successfully showcased the laborious work they’ve put in over the offseason.
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On the high of the listing was second-year guard Chaz Lanier. The previous second-round decide from Tennessee established himself as among the finest gamers in Las Vegas, and if not for the Pistons’ subpar report, Lanier would have left with some {hardware}.
“I really feel like I went on the market and was aggressive, displaying all the issues that I’ve actually been engaged on for the reason that season led to Might,” Lanier informed The Detroit Information. “However since Summer time League ended, I’ve continued to remain within the gymnasium and hungry. My purpose is to proceed getting higher.”
Detroit Pistons guard Chaz Lanier (20) defends Washington Wizards ahead Khris Middleton (22) within the second quarter. Detroit Pistons vs Washington Wizards at Little Caesars Enviornment on October 16, 2025, in Detroit, MI.
For a workforce that spent your complete summer season enhancing its 3-point capturing and flooring spacing, Lanier proved he may present one other answer to what the Pistons want.
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He averaged 17.4 factors whereas capturing 51.1% from behind the arc. Lanier’s greatest sport got here in the course of the Pistons’ 103-94 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on July 12. He scored a game-best 25 factors with seven 3-pointers. He started the sport by scoring 17 within the first quarter on 5-for-7 capturing from deep.
“He’s all about the suitable stuff, and he performs the suitable method,” guard Ebuka Okorie mentioned of Lanier. “He can shoot the ball rather well, however he competes on each ends of the ground. It’s nice to have somebody who’s all the time taking part in for the suitable causes.”
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Lanier’s efficiency was prophetic, exhibiting why coach J.B. Bickerstaff believes he possesses the on-court attributes to attain 20-30 factors as an off-ball risk. Whereas everybody was captivated by his capturing in opposition to the Cavaliers, Lanier targeted on different areas of his sport. A kind of areas was proving he has turn into a greater defender than he was his rookie 12 months.
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“This entire summer season I have been very intentional about getting higher in numerous areas,” Lanier mentioned. “To play for J.B., the very first thing it’s a must to do is be a very good workforce defender, and I have been actually intentional about that. I’ve additionally been intentional about adopting an aggressive mentality and taking my photographs, not passing up something — simply honing in on all the small issues of my sport.”
Lanier’s efforts to enhance his protection stem from his want to turn into an entire participant and earn extra minutes in his second 12 months. Final season, Lanier knew entering into as a rookie that taking part in time can be scarce. He solely appeared in 34 video games and averaged 7.7 minutes in the course of the 2025-26 marketing campaign.
Consequently, Lanier felt he spent his complete rookie season lacking out on experiences that almost all first-year gamers get to come across. He feels that his rookie 12 months got here to an finish with out having a “welcome to the league” second, aside from when he took the ground of Crypto.com Enviornment with the Lakers’ LeBron James sitting inches away throughout a Pistons victory in December.
Taking part in in every of the 5 Summer time League video games allowed Lanier to showcase his enhancements on a bigger stage. Nevertheless, his most vital progress has come in the course of the apply classes he and his teammates held behind closed doorways on the Henry Ford Well being Pistons Efficiency Middle.
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For the reason that season led to Might, the Pistons have organized a number of voluntary exercise classes on the workforce’s apply facility. These classes have included gamers like Ron Holland, Isaac Jones and Tolu Smith III, who’ve spent a lot of their offseason in Detroit enhancing their expertise alongside Lanier.
“The runs that we have now had within the gymnasium, we have now simply been competing and having enjoyable,” Lanier mentioned. “We now have taken the time to compete whereas placing into apply every thing we have now labored on all through the summer season.”
Except for just a few visits to see his household in Tennessee, Lanier has spent your complete summer season in Detroit specializing in his sport. When he is not engaged on his expertise, Lanier has tried to discover new methods to calm down and decompress. Considered one of his new hobbies contains exploring artwork at a number of Detroit museums.
Though he has loved his new interest, Lanier has remained pushed to make use of his time to enhance his sport, particularly as he appears to determine a real position within the Pistons’ rotation this upcoming season.
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
This text initially appeared on The Detroit Information: Chaz Lanier working to supply greater than capturing for Pistons