Paul Reed has spent six seasons working toward a consistent role in an NBA rotation. A per-36 phenomenon and fan favorite, the Detroit Pistons big man has unfortunately failed to play at least 20.0 minutes per game a single time in his career—and has only once eclipsed 14.0.
Whether or not the Pistons re-sign Jalen Duren, Reed has finally been positioned to play meaningful minutes and perhaps even compete for a featured role in 2026-27.
Reed appeared in 65 games for Detroit in 2025-26, playing an average of 13.9 minutes per contest. During that time, he recorded averages of 7.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 offensive boards, 1.2 assists, 0.9 blocks, and 0.9 steals while shooting 61.7 percent from the field.
Those numbers translated to mind-blowing marks of 20.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, 5.2 offensive boards, 3.2 assists, 2.4 blocks, and 2.3 steals per 36 minutes.
Reed was the only player in the NBA to average at least 20.0 points, 5.0 offensive rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 2.0 steals per 36 minutes. If he can scale his impact to a larger role, then the Pistons will have no trouble justifying making him one of the most heavily featured players in their rotation.
Looking beyond the box score, it's clear that Reed's rise to potential prominence was not only a long time coming, but entirely deserved.
Paul Reed finally has a clear path to consistent minutes with the Pistons
In addition to having the per-36 numbers of an All-Star, Reed has become one of the more well-rounded defenders in the NBA. He's a disruptive force in the passing lanes, thrives as a rim protector, and is capable of blowing up the pick and roll.
It's admittedly unclear how Reed will fare when he's consistently matched up against starting-caliber players, but he's thrived in his role up to this point.
In 2025-26, Reed ranked in the 95th percentile in rim protection and the 97th percentile in rim disruption, per Basketball Index. He also placed in the 96th percentile in screener mobile defense and the 91st percentile in screener rim defense, which displays his ability to excel in drop coverage or when blitzing or hedging the ball-handler.
Reed also ranked in the 93rd percentile in screen assists per 75 possessions, which displays how willing he is to help his teammates excel rather than simply chasing his own offense.
Reed certainly has areas for improvement, particularly in regard to his shooting and the general success he experiences when creating his own offense. In 2025-26, he shot 33.3 percent on catch-and-shoot threes and ranked in the 36th percentile in one on one shot making.
Even if those issues persist, however, what Reed's done to get this far could elevate the Pistons on both ends of the floor. If he can fix his flaws, then his success could reach an entirely new tier.
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