The Detroit Pistons had good reason to believe that Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey would form the backcourt of the future. Cunningham’s superstar potential was apparent from Day 1 and Ivey's 2024-25 season averages of 21.2 points and 4.8 assists per 36 minutes fueling the belief in the legitimacy of his potential. Unfortunately, Ivey’s tenure with Detroit ended before he could finish his rookie-scale contract.
The good news for Detroit is that Ivey’s replacement appears to have arrived in Daniss Jenkins, who’s showcasing the very abilities they’ve long hoped to be able to place alongside Cunningham.
Cunningham shouldered an immense workload in 2025-26. He not only led the Pistons in points and assists, but Jalen Duren was his only teammate who averaged at least 13.5 points per game and Jenkins’ 3.9 assists per contest ranked second on the team. Suffice it to say, offensive creation and creativity proved to be issues.
Though Jenkins showed potential in his role, inefficiency remained a problem, with an erratic jump shot preventing him from becoming a truly ideal fit in a lineup that already had a non-shooter in Ausar Thompson.
In 2026-27, however, Jenkins is putting the pieces together and becoming the complete offensive package. He’s spacing the floor with his jump shot, creating for his teammates, and forcing defenses to collapse with his dribble penetration ability—a skill that no Pistons player other than Cunningham had consistently displayed after the team parted with Ivey.
If Jenkins can sustain what’s becoming a consistent level of success in the co-creating role, he’ll be exactly what the Pistons wanted Ivey to become and help Cunningham tap into a higher level of potential.
Daniss Jenkins is the shot creator Pistons wanted Jaden Ivey to be
Jenkins entered the Nov. 12 encounter with the Washington Wizards averaging 12.7 points, 4.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 1.0 offensive board, 0.8 steals, and 2.1 three-point field goals made in 26.0 minutes per game. He was managing that production on .452/.429/.917 shooting.
Jenkins had no trouble keeping his scoring surge alive, as he dropped 16 points in the first half alone and consistently bent Washington’s defensive shape with his activity.
Jenkins finished the game with 21 points, six rebounds, two offensive boards, and two steals on 6-of-11 shooting from the field and an 3-of-5 mark from beyond the arc. He also got to the line for six free throw attempts, burying all of them. All in all, it was another great game from Jenkins at a time when Detroit needs offense due to Jalen Duren’s injury absence.
More importantly, it was the continued establishment of a trend that could go a long way toward elevating the Pistons to the realm of the true contenders once they’re at full strength.
Danish Jenkins has scored 20+ points in three straight games
The clash with Washington marked a third straight high-volume game from Jenkins. That trend began when he picked up 31 points, five rebounds, four assists, and a steal on 9-of-17 shooting from the field. It continued with 22 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and four steals in a Nov. 9 game against Washington. He committed just three turnovers between those two games.
If this is all a sign of things to come, then Jenkins is giving the Pistons a look at what their offense can look like at its full potential—and Duren’s return shouldn’t compromise his role.
Even with Duren in the rotation, Detroit will still need another perimeter player who can create offense for themselves and others. Duncan Robinson’s shooting and Thompson’s growth as a playmaker are invaluable, but Jenkins hasn’t stepped into a conveniently available role. Instead, he’s doing the things the Pistons have waited to see a shooting guard do.
Best of all, Jenkins has developed a history of stepping up when the Pistons give him a chance to step into the starting lineup.
Daniss Jenkins consistently steps up when he’s a starter
Nov. 12 marked Jenkins’ 22nd career start. He's now averaging 17.6 points, 7.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 1.4 offensive boards, 1.0 steal, and 1.8 three-point field goals made per game—on .447/.381/.846 shooting. Those aren’t just strong numbers, but dream-like production from a player who’s complementing one of the best guards in the NBA in Cunningham.
If Cunningham and Jenkins manage to sustain their current levels of success, Duren gets healthy, and Robinson and Thompson play up to their capabilities, the Pistons could have an elite starting lineup.
More importantly, the Pistons can alleviate pressure from Cunningham. Jenkins isn’t just productive, but does an excellent job of creating penetration. Once he beats his man, his movements are all but unpredictable, which forces defenses to adapt without having the opportunity to hold their structure and inevitably creates opportunities along the perimeter and interior alike.
With another strong performance behind him, Jenkins is seemingly proving that his success is no fluke. Instead, he’s becoming what the Pistons hoped Ivey would become.
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