Detroit Pistons’ rookie Gbinije to play primarily shooting guard
Detroit Pistons’ rookie Michael Gbinije is expected to play primarily at shooting guard early on this season, a bit shocking considering he was drafted to compete for the team’s third string point guard spot.
Detroit Pistons’ rookie Michael Gbinije had a rough summer. He got hurt early in Summer League stifling his opportunity to show the Pistons’ coaching staff what he could do. Then he spent the his summer playing in the Olympics for Nigeria where he injured his ankle and got sick.
With the minor setbacks to his summer, Van Gundy decided to ease the transition for the second round pick.
"“We didn’t get a chance to see (him) at the summer league,” Van Gundy said. “He had the injury and we just decided based on that, coming into the league and missing the summer, we’ll make it a little easier.”“It was kind of a minor setback, really,” Gbinije said. “That was kind of a chance for me to get comfortable with the sets and coaching staff, and that kind of got taken away from me early.”The summer had some rough patches for the rookie from Syracuse.Gbinije, already hampered by his ankle, was forced to sit out a game for his native Nigeria at the 2016 Rio Olympics after coming down with what he thought was food poisoning.“I did not enjoy (the Olympics), to be honest,” Gbinije said. “One we were losing, and two I got sick.“Yeah, this summer has been a little rough for me.”"
In Gbinije’s absence during Summer League, Lorenzo Brown got an extended look at point guard to show the coaching staff he belongs. Brown capitalized and is now in a dog fight to make the roster with fellow journeyman Ray McCallum.
It’s tough being a second round pick in the NBA. It’s even tougher with the situation Gbinije has been dealt.
I doubt Gbinije gets much burn for the Pistons this season. The shooting guards are well established with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Stanley Johnson, and Darrun Hilliard all splitting minutes there.
Even more disappointing for Gbinije, one of his biggest draws was his ability at 6’7″ to play point guard.
Well the setbacks are hard to deal with psychologically, the future is still bright for the rookie.
6’7″ point guards who can defend and shoot threes don’t grow on trees. I think he’s the team’s long-term option as the third point guard/rotational guard–oh, and Van Gundy loves versatility so that should go in Gbinije’s favor too.
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If Gbinije works hard and stays focused, I think he’ll be just fine.