When Cade Cunningham went down with a collapsed lung, it seemed like there was no light at the end of the tunnel for the Detroit Pistons, whose season seemed to officially be on the brink.
The indefinite absence of the team’s MVP candidate was unfortunate—but it created the perfect storm for backup guard Daniss Jenkins to seize the moment.
Based on his last couple of performances, this setback for Detroit may set them up to hit the ground running when Cunningham returns.
Daniss Jenkins is rising to the occassion
When Cunningham went down, the first question everyone asked was who could fill the void left by the team’s star guard.
Immediately, Jenkins was inserted into the starting lineup and as his minutes increased, so did his opportunities on the court.
In his first game in the starting lineup following the Cunningham news, the St. John's product struggled from the field, finishing with just 9 points on 3-for-16 shooting from the field.
Since then though, the second-year man has seemingly shook off the nerves and ascended as the playmaker that head coach J.B. Bickerstaff can rely on.
He’s averaged 26.0 points, 8.0 assists and 5.5 rebounds over the last two games, including a dagger to snap the Los Angeles Lakers nine-game winning streak on Monday night.
The former undrafted prospect is answering the call, and his emergence could be a major key to the Pistons' long-term success, especially if/when Cunningham returns to the lineup.
Jenkins' extended opportunity will make Pistons' better when healthy
Similar to the opportunity Andrew Nembhard received to be the guy for the Indiana Pacers when Tyrese Haliburton went down during the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Jenkins extended role within the Pistons offense while Cunningham has been sidelined could play a major role in the team's future plans.
An increase of confidence for the young guard could allow for him to reach another level and if he's able to take the next step, he could become one of the best backup guards in the league, while making Detroit's second unit one of the most dangerous groups at the same time.
When Cunningham returns, it's inevitable for Jenkins to resume his role as the team's backup guard, but in the long run, this unfortunate setback for the team and Cunningham could be one that puts them in position to make an unpredictable leap that only makes them better when fully healthy.