The Detroit Pistons have gotten off to one of the hottest starts this NBA season, and with how well Javonte Green has been playing, he could be more than just a fun regular-season story: He could be a guy who changes the course of their playoff trajectory. And that’s exactly what Detroit needs.
Green wasn’t supposed to be a featured player for the Pistons this year, yet he’s been one of their most reliable guys through the early portion of the season. He has all the winning characteristics that teams love to get from end-of-the-bench guys, and his play could shine in the playoffs, too.
He’s perfect for the Pistons.
How could Javonte Green help Pistons in playoffs?
When the Pistons signed Green to a one-year contract over the summer, few people thought much of it. It was likely just going to be a roster-filler guy who could maybe provide a veteran presence to a young group looking to improve. That hasn’t been the case.
Instead, JB Bickerstaff has used Green on a nightly basis. He’s appeared in all 15 of the Pistons’ games this year, playing 23.3 minutes per contest.
That’s the second-most minutes he’s played in a season (not counting his nine-game 2023-24 campaign), and he’s making the most of every single season that he’s on the court.
Through Detroit’s first 15 games, Green is putting up 8.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while shooting 40.6% from the floor and 30.6% from deep on 3.3 three-point attempts per contest.
His efficiency numbers won’t jump off the page, but the impact Green has made for Detroit goes way beyond the box score, and it’s the exact type of thing that could be useful in a postseason scenario.
Green is an energetic defender capable of guarding multiple positions, a freak athlete adept at cutting off the ball, and a completely unselfish player, always willing to take on whatever role the team needs from him on any given night.
Finding guys like that is a rarity in the NBA, and when the playoffs come around and the Pistons need someone to simply do the dirty work, there’s no doubt that Green will be ready.
Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren are going to have to lead the way, with Ausar Thompson and Tobias Harris right behind them. But once the playoffs come around and the rotation shrinks, the Pistons will still need guys to play solid minutes in limited court time.
Green is the exact type of player who will be ready no matter what, and that could matter come postseason time.