As the Detroit Pistons prepare to build upon arguably their best season since 2008, Ronald Holland II is taking center stage as a force on the rise. The No. 5 overall selection in the 2024 NBA Draft turned in a respectable rookie campaign, but erratic playing time overshadowed the peaks of his journey.
Thankfully, it hasn't taken long for Holland to remind the Pistons of his absurd potential by showing out at Summer League.
Detroit finished the 2024-25 season with its highest win total since 2015-16. It then went on to push the New York Knicks to six games in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, thus securing its first postseason wins since 2008.
Holland didn't feature heavily in the rotation, but two 26-point outings, including one in fewer than 21 minutes against the Boston Celtics, epitomized the high points that left the franchise compelled.
The Pistons are now off to a 2-0 start at the 2025 Las Vegas Summer League, with Holland taking center stage. Detroit kicked things off with a 104-86 win over the New York Knicks and continued its dominance with a 98-83 victory against the Houston Rockets.
During both of those outings, Holland displayed the ability to contribute favorably to his team's success—both as the driving force and as a complementary contributor.
Ronald Holland II is showing out at Summer League
Holland dominated the Knicks, posting 28 points, 11 rebounds, three offensive boards, two assists, three steals, and a block. He shot 8-of-12 from the field and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc, mixing up his offense and keeping defenders on their heels from beginning to end.
Considering the primary knock against Holland is his outside shot, it was encouraging to see progress being made from three-point range.
Holland wasn't quite as explosive the next time out, but he finished with a more than respectable 15 points, three assists, and three steals. It was a performance that epitomized the true appeal of his Summer League success, as Holland has made an impact on both ends of the floor.
Progress as a defender could create the opening Holland needs to be able to play through his offensive inconsistency in 2025-26.
Still just 20 years of age, the display of talent that one could argue exceeds the level of the average Summer League player is an encouraging sign. Holland isn't just in Las Vegas to rack up numbers, but is making his presence felt on defense and playing with impressive poise and maturity.
That's more important than any statistic he may rack up, as a simple commitment to improvement goes a long way toward creating a necessary sense of organizational patience.
With Detroit losing the likes of Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr., the door will be open for Holland to secure consistent playing time. The likes of Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson might argue otherwise, but the positional battles are winnable for the 20-year-old.
If Summer League is a sign of things to come, then Holland will be a key contributor for the Pistons as soon as the 2025-26 season.