Detroit Pistons: What Jerami Grant has to do to be an All-Star next season

Jerami Grant had a break out season for the Detroit Pistons but he knows he can do more.

Grant is one of three finalists for the Most Improved Player award, and even though he is unlikely to win, it is nice to see that someone noticed the season he had in Detroit.

But Grant wants to be more than just an MIP candidate, as he said in a recent interview, he wants to be an All-Star and one of the best players in the NBA.

Can Grant get there? If you look at this year’s All-Stars, there are definitely a couple that Grant could supplant if he can make improvements in certain areas.

Here are three things Jerami Grant needs to improve if he wants to make the All-Star team next season.

Detroit Pistons: Jerami Grant needs to be more durable

The Pistons sat Grant for most of the home stretch with a dubious “injury” that probably had a lot more to do with them not wanting to win games.

I totally understand, as the Pistons were trying to secure the best possible odds at a number one pick in the NBA Draft, but it was also a shame, as sitting those games probably cost Grant a realistic chance at the Most Improved Player Award.

He improved more than Julius Randle, but Randle played in 71 games and Grant only played 54 for the Detroit Pistons.

Part of this was the Pistons’ tanking, but the other part was that Grant took a ton of hard fouls this season and had to carry a lot more of the burden than he ever had in his career.

Dwane Casey has tasked Grant with getting stronger in the offseason, saying,

"“One thing Jerami has to do is continue to work on being stronger, to be able to take the hits that he’s getting hit with, finish at the rim, which he did a good job with this year,” Casey said. “That takes a wear and tear on your body if you’re not really physically ready for it. He’s committed to the gym this summer. Get stronger in his upper body, his legs so he can take those hits.”"

If Grant is going to be the number one scoring option for the Detroit Pistons then he has to be ready to absorb a beating physically. Hopefully next season Grant will be ready for this role and will play in all of the Pistons’ games, which he’ll have to if he wants to make the All-Star team.