Chaz Lanier Impresses in NBA Preseason Debut for the Detroit Pistons

Detroit’s 2025 second-round pick Chaz Lanier showed flashes of what the front office saw in him during his rookie preseason debut — efficient shooting, floor spacing, and poise at the guard position.

The Debut: What He Did

Lanier came off the bench and logged 18 minutes in his first NBA appearance, playing against the Memphis Grizzlies. He knocked down three of five three-point attempts, finishing with 11 points, along with three rebounds and one block. He recorded a +11 plus/minus in that stretch — one of the best marks among Detroit’s reserves.

While he missed both free throws, his shooting display and floor impact made a statement.

What It Suggests About His Role

Detroit sees Lanier as a perimeter shooter first — someone who can stretch defenses and create space for others. He’s already drawn comparisons to other sharpshooters in the Pistons’ rotation.

Coach J.B. Bickerstaff has praised his basketball IQ, ability to read spacing, and instincts — noting that Lanier can score effectively even when he’s not handling the ball often.

College and Draft Backdrop

Lanier’s path to Detroit is rooted in consistent shooting and steady development.

He played four seasons at North Florida, where he grew from a role player into a reliable scoring option. After transferring to Tennessee, he exploded, averaging 18 points per game and shooting nearly 40 percent from three in the SEC. That breakout year put him on NBA radars and led to his selection at 37th overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2025 NBA Draft.



Early Takeaways and Expectations

  • 3-and-D Role Potential: His shooting gives him a clear role as a floor spacer. If he continues to progress defensively, he could grow into a classic 3-and-D wing.

  • Off-Ball Movement Strength: In college, he thrived without the ball by cutting and relocating to open spots — a skill that already showed up in preseason action.

  • Room for Growth: Lanier will need to improve his defense, athleticism, and consistency to earn consistent rotation minutes, but the foundation is there.

Chaz Lanier’s first step into the NBA showed exactly why Detroit took a chance on him: shooting, spacing, and readiness. His 11-point, 3-rebound, +11 performance might not make national headlines, but it made one thing clear — he belongs.

If this debut is any indication, the Pistons may have found a reliable contributor who can stretch the floor and bring instant energy off the bench.