Detroit Pistons: Sekou Doumbouya’s Destined Deliverance

Off-Season Bubble Improvements

After such a rigorous roller-coaster ride of a rookie campaign, Doumbouya has given head coach Dwane Casey emerging confidence that he’ll take an enormous leap in year two

. Knowing that he’s still the youngest player on the team, Casey was  adamant and demanding of Doumbouya in the midst of the off-season bubble workouts.

The Detroit Free Press’ Omari Sankofa II tapped into Casey’s perception following the bubble workouts.

"“I’ve been as hard on him as anyone,” Casey said recently, “pushing him with an arm around him. I know how important this summer development is for him. He’s done a heck of a job with his body, in the weight room, conditioning. His intensity level with his workouts has been great. That’s been very, very impressive as far as his work since he’s been here.”"

With such vivid potential, the off-season bubble workouts have the Pistons experimenting with various positions for Doumbouya. At 6-foot-9 and nearly a seven-foot wingspan, the coaching staff is emphasizing his athletic ability in small-ball situations.

Casey and the Pistons investigated zone schemes where Doumbouya played center and the results were promising. Casey confirmed that he fit the bill for being the “quarterback” of the zone scheme and was really pleased with the way he adapted.

Today’s NBA is ever-changing and continues to adapt to an open-floor concept, with any given player ready to defend or shoot. Doumbouya primarily filled in at the power forward position last season, but workouts veered him to be far more aggressive in transition to maximize his athletic ability.

Knowing that Doumbouya needs vast transition improvement, Casey pressed him to immediately push the ball when grabbing a rebound.

"This is a great time to learn because we probably won’t have him do it during the season until he grows into it,” Casey said. “This is a development phase for him to be able to bring the ball down. Not in pick and rolls, but again, working in our transition game, getting a rebound and busting out with it. I thought he did a better job. By this time next year he’ll be much better at it, but this is a good start for him."

Admittedly, pick and rolls will be more of an extended project for Doumbouya instead of improving his strength and athletic ability like many young players need, as both of which are solidified and proven.

Casey has been the observer of several other young players during the summer months, including Luke Kennard, Svi Mykhailiuk, Bruce Brown and two-way players Louis King and Jordan Bone. But undoubtedly, no one’s evolution is more demanding than Doumbouya’s. With the Pistons opening the gates to the rebuilding phase, Doumbouya and the 2020 future first round draft choice, will become the faces of the franchise’s future.

The coaching staff has been working tirelessly with Doumbouya to improve his ball-handling skills and to mold him into an NBA-type body. Ball handling continues to become a critical part of any NBA player, and the prospect of Doumbouya maybe running the offense is vastly intriguing.

Already given considerable credit for the development of all-star forward Pascal Siakam in Toronto, Casey draws several comparisons to Doumbouya.

"“Similar running the floor and athleticism as far as leaping ability and that type of thing,” he said, per Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press. “He’s a jet running the floor like Pascal, so it should increase our speed. His length, his size, his ability to switch positions is something that catches your eye. We have to keep in mind he’s 18 years old.”"

Actually 19, but still extremely young, Doumbouya has preposterous potential and displayed just a small glimpse of the future in his rookie outing. The drive, grit and hunger that the Pistons have witnessed so far can be immensely enticing for the future of the franchise. The enthralling aspect to Doumbouya and the Pistons is the vast time and growth the franchise possess.

For year two and beyond, Pistons fans will observe their youngest player blossom into stardom over the course of the next decade.