If the Detroit Pistons had listened to speculation and the rumor mill, Duncan Robinson would've been waived. Brett Siegel of Clutch Points, for instance, reported in a since-deleted post that Robinson would be waived. Instead, the Pistons guaranteed his contract for 2026-27 and thus opted to take on the final two years and $31-plus million on his deal.
Although it's early in the 2026-27 season, Robinson is already rewarding the Pistons for tuning out the noise and bringing one of their most reliable scorers back to Detroit.
Robinson's return to Detroit was so surprising that NBA insider Chris Haynes reported it with the note of, "Contrary to speculation, the Detroit Pistons will not be waiving marksman Duncan Robinson." It's hard to believe that his future was in question considering how well he's playing in 2026-27.
WIth the Pistons down Jalen Duren and in need of reliable offense, Robinson is averaging a career-best 19.0 points per game on .474/.479/.844 shooting.
While Robinson will likely experience an at least minor drop from beyond the arc, other elements of his success should last. He shot 45.6 percent from the field in 2025-26 and his uptick in scoring volume is due more to a change in assertiveness than a stunning uptick in efficiency.
As the Pistons continue to await Ausar Thompson's leap on offense and general improvement in the shot creation department, Robinson's success is further solidifying his place as an invaluable contributor.
Pistons were wise to keep Duncan Robinson despite the rumors
It's fair to question if Robinson will continue to score 19.0 points per game, but what's clear is that he's willing and able to step up in a pinch. For instance: In addition to playing without Duren, the Pistons have been without marquee offseason addition and sharpshooting wing Isaiah Joe.
Robinson has stepped up with four 20-point games within his first eight appearances in 2026-27, and has scored at least 17 points in each of his past three showings.
That's taken a significant amount of pressure off of franchise player Cade Cunningham at a time when he could've been even more overburdened than he already is. One of the primary reasons Robinson has succeeded in providing aid is that he's playing a far more aggressive style.
That's resulted in Robinson attempting 4.0 free throw attempts per game, which is a massive increase over his 2025-26 mark of 1.4.
Once Duren and Joe return to the rotation, Robinson's role could admittedly change. The fact that he's able to step up in a bind is still pivotal information, however, and his shooting and double-digit scoring remain a virtual given in any game he plays.
With a career average of 15.9 points per 36 minutes and an increase in responsibility pushing him to an even higher tier, Robinson is proving the Pistons right for not giving up on him.
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