Top News

Daniss Jenkins, once an undrafted free agent, has emerged as a pivotal player for the Detroit Pistons during their playoff campaign. His impressive performance in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals saw him contribute significantly to the team's victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In this game, Jenkins played 29 minutes, scoring 12 points and adding three assists, while also achieving playoff career highs with seven rebounds and four steals. His ability to relieve star player Cade Cunningham on the court has solidified his role as a key bench player. Rising Through the Ranks Jenkins has quickly established himself as Detroit's top guard off the bench, averaging 29 minutes in recent games. This is particularly notable for a player who was previously on a two-way contract just months ago. After an undrafted career spanning four colleges, including a junior college, Jenkins spent much of his rookie season in the G League. "My whole journey, it hasn't been pretty, but it's about fighting through adversity," Jenkins stated. "So, I just try to go out and let that show when I play." His perseverance is evident as he has consistently improved his performance throughout the season. Key Contributions and Career Development The 6-foot-4 guard initially faced challenges, not participating in half of the first ten games of the season. However, he seized his opportunities in November, scoring a career-high 24 points against Washington and maintaining an average of over 19 points in subsequent games, all wins. In February, Jenkins played his 42nd game, which transitioned his two-way contract into an $8 million, two-year deal. He notably excelled in March when Cunningham was sidelined, scoring a career-high 30 points against the Los Angeles Lakers, marking the beginning of a streak where he scored in double digits for ten consecutive games. Support from Teammates and Coaches Detroit guard Duncan Robinson praised Jenkins, saying, "He's been building for it all year. His journey is unique, and it takes somebody with a special will and character to have that story." Jenkins's confidence, developed through adversity, has made him a formidable player. Despite a slow start in the first playoff round against the Orlando Magic, Jenkins improved as the series progressed. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff noted, "It was just a matter of him growing into playoff basketball. If you go back to that series, he got better every single game and it carried over (in Game 1)." Background and Future Aspirations Jenkins's journey began in Dallas, where he started his college career at Pacific before transferring through various schools, culminating at St. John's. After going undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft, he signed a two-way deal with Detroit, where he initially had limited playing time. Reflecting on his progress, Jenkins remarked, "I try to reflect a little bit, but I don't try to get too much out of the moment because we're still in it. We're still trying to win it, and we're not nowhere where we want to be." His commitment to improvement and team success remains a driving force as he continues to evolve as a player.