DETROIT – The Detroit Pistons are flying high in the Eastern Conference. They have surged to the number one seed, taking everyone by surprise. Even more surprising, Daniss Jenkins has emerged as a spark off the Pistons’ bench. The team will soon reward him with a standard deal.
Pistons Set To Make Important Daniss Jenkins Decision
A Long Road To Detroit
Jenkins went undrafted in 2024 after spending four years in college. He spent his freshman and sophomore years at the University of the Pacific. He then spent a year at Odessa Junior College. There, he led the team to an Elite Eight appearance in the NJCAA tournament. Jenkins attended Iona for his junior year. He spent his senior year at St. John’s. That long path eventually landed him in Detroit on a two-way contract.
Breakout Role Off The Bench
After barely seeing the floor last season, Jenkins has become a revelation this year. He has appeared in 26 games so far. He has started six as the team dealt with injuries. The coaching staff gave Jenkins a larger role in the rotation seemingly out of nowhere. He responded with aplomb. Over a five-game span, he started four times. He averaged 21 points, over seven assists, four rebounds, and two steals. He shot 50/44/80 during that stretch. On the season, Jenkins averages seven points. He adds nearly three assists and about a steal per game. He does so in just 16 minutes of nightly action.
Contract Implications And Roster Crunch
As the team has gotten healthier, Daniss Jenkins’ role has diminished. He remains very much a part of the Pistons’ plans. He has shown he can be a spark plug behind Cade Cunningham. That is why the Pistons will look to convert his contract soon. Jenkins has already appeared on the team’s active list 31 times. Under the CBA, a two-way player has a 50-game limit. After that, he becomes ineligible for minutes. Two-way players also cannot play in the postseason.
Detroit currently carries 15 players on standard contracts. The team will need to waive someone to convert Jenkins’ deal. Isaac Jones stands as the likely candidate. The 25-year-old undersized big has played just one minute. The Pistons claimed him off waivers earlier this season.
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