The Detroit Pistons aren’t just hot — they’re imposing their will on the league. And at the center of this 11-game surge is Daniss Jenkins , the undrafted, two-way guard turned full-blown rotation disrupter . The Pistons’ 120–112 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday pushed them three games clear atop the Eastern Conference — a sentence no one expected to write this early in the season. Injuries, lineup shuffling, and outside skepticism should’ve slowed this group down, but the Pistons refused to let that happen. The Pistons turned the noise into fuel, forcing the entire league to rethink just how dangerous this roster truly is.
No player has accelerated that shift more than Jenkins. Over his last five games , he’s averaging 20.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 2.0 steals on 50% shooting and 44% from three — production good enough to earn Eastern Conference Player of the Week consideration. Jalen Johnson ultimately took home the award, but Jenkins made it an honest debate. More importantly, he makes opponents feel his two-way pressure every single possession.
Even with Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson back in the lineup, Jenkins didn’t lose his starting spot. J.B. Bickerstaff kept him right where he belonged — on the floor, impacting winning. Is this a brief hot streak, or is Jenkins cementing a long-term spot in the Pistons guard hierarchy?
Daniss Jenkins Is Forcing the Pistons to Rethink Its Entire Rotation
Daniss Jenkins’ Future Might Be Now
Jenkins is currently on a two-way contract, which limits him to 50 NBA games and prevents him from being playoff-eligible. The way he’s playing, though, suggests those restrictions won’t hold for long. His confidence, edge, and steadying presence have already made him far too valuable to treat like a part-time contributor.
The Pistons can convert Jenkins to a standard deal, but doing so requires clearing a roster spot — all 15 are currently occupied. The most logical move would be waiving Isaac Jones , whose contract becomes fully guaranteed in January, and who has yet to establish a place in the rotation. Unless something changes, that scenario is inching closer to reality with each strong Jenkins performance.
Regardless of the route the Pistons take, one thing is clear: Jenkins has earned a permanent role. He’s become the exact guard critics claimed the Pistons lacked — a steadying presence, a defensive irritant, and a playmaker who lifts the players around him. He hasn’t just filled a need; he’s redefined what that need looks like.
When Depth Becomes a Dilemma
The Pistons guard rotation has gone from a preseason concern to a strength — and that’s still without Jaden Ivey and Marcus Sasser . Ivey has already begun practicing with the Motor City Cruise, signaling a return is on the horizon. When he’s back, the Pistons add another downhill threat whose speed forces defenses to react. Before his injury last season, Ivey was playing the most controlled, confident basketball of his young career.
Sasser remains sidelined with a hip injury, and while he was viewed by some as a bubble player entering the season, Jenkins’ rise intensifies that conversation. Both players bring toughness, scoring, and two-way potential, but Jenkins’ ability to run an offense and create advantages sets him apart. If minutes tighten — and they will — Sasser is suddenly in the most precarious spot.
The Pistons have gone from searching for reliable guards to having too many players deserving of time. It’s a good problem, but one Jenkins has forced to the forefront.
The Last Word
Jenkins didn’t just seize an opportunity — he altered the Pistons’ trajectory. His emergence has reshaped the conversation around Detroit’s depth, identity, and long-term ceiling. What began as a spark has grown into a driving force behind one of the NBA’s most surprising early-season runs.
With Ivey nearing a return and Sasser still waiting for his opportunity, the guard room is about to get even more competitive. But that’s the new standard in Detroit: roles aren’t given, they’re earned. And Jenkins has earned everything coming his way.
Whether he stays in the starting lineup or becomes the engine of the second unit, Jenkins is now firmly part of the Pistons’ future. If the Pistons maintain this grit and cohesion, Jenkins’ rise may mark the moment the franchise’s rebuild finally became real.
Featured Image: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
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