Despite missing seven regular rotation players — including their entire preferred starting five — in Wednesday’s game against the Chicago Bulls, the Detroit Pistons won. Again.
The Pistons moved to 10-2 on the young season after beating the Bulls, 124-113, in a wire-to-wire victory at Little Caesars Arena. Without a laundry list of players that included star guard Cade Cunningham and blossoming big man Jalen Duren, the Pistons moved 2.5 games clear at the top of the Eastern Conference as their reserve players starred.
Though center Paul Reed’s 28-point, 13-rebound double-double generated plenty of buzz, guard Daniss Jenkins kept his own momentum going after a career-best night against the Washington Wizards on Monday.
Jenkins, the St. John’s product who went undrafted in 2024, scored 18 points and provided 12 assists while playing a career-high 40 minutes in his first NBA start. Not bad at all for a player on a two-way contract.
Are the Pistons at risk of losing Jenkins?
Back in August, Jenkins signed his second two-way deal with the Pistons in as many seasons. Detroit wanted another look at the 24-year-old after he averaged 21 points and seven assists in 32 games for the G League’s Motor City Cruise.
After playing sparingly to start this season, Jenkins is proving that he has the talent to cut it in the NBA — and if he keeps it up, he is in line to receive a standard contract.
Of course, the Pistons will not be able to keep Jenkins on two-way deals for long.
Having been on the NBA roster for 12 games already, Jenkins has 38 games of eligibility remaining. Detroit will have to convert his contract before the end of the regular season in order to ensure he can play in the postseason, assuming the Pistons get back to the playoffs.
A reminder on Two-Way rules
* Can be active for 50 games (he has 38 remaining)
* Not eligible for the playoffs
* Contract can be converted up until the last day of the regular season https://t.co/8ifOLgmkQ1
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) November 13, 2025
Unless the Pistons opt to waive Jenkins, they will retain his rights and the chance to negotiate a standard contract with him. Given the competition in Detroit — especially considering that guards Jaden Ivey and Marcus Sasser have yet to debut this season — Jenkins’ future will be a fascinating story to follow in the weeks ahead.
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