The Detroit Pistons are gearing up for the 2026 NBA Summer League, and the team’s roster is packed with promising talent.
One of the biggest holes in this team’s roster has been having a steady and reliable complement for star guard Cade Cunningham. That’s exactly why the Pistons drafted Ebuka Okorie with the team’s No. 17 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft.
Well, Detroit has officially announced the team’s Summer League roster, and to nobody’s surprise, Okorie will be playing. He’ll be joined by Ugonna Onyenso, Chaz Lanier, Isaac Jones, Dawson Garcia, Brice Williams, Basheer Jihad, Latavious Mitchell, Roddy Gayle Jr., and Corey Stephenson.
Why Ebuka Okorie may be the perfect complement to Cade Cunningham
Okorie headlines Detroit’s Summer League roster, and even though all of the players will get some eyeballs, he’ll draw the most attention. He’s a high-scoring guard from Stanford who’s used to making shots out of thin air and getting close to the rim.
The Pistons’ hope is that Okorie takes some of the burden off Cunningham. That’s what this team needs, too. Cunningham led all players in the playoffs during the 2025-26 season, averaging 40.9 minutes per game, according to research from Basketball Reference. That’s too much, even for Cunningham.
Having Okorie in the fold should create more bench time for Cunningham, and that’ll be crucial if this franchise is going to get to the next level. The Pistons’ 2026 ESPN Depth Chart has Okorie clearly listed as a backup to Cunningham and the second-string point guard.
When Okorie gets on the court, it should be explosive. He led all guards in the 2026 NBA draft class last season with 250 shot attempts at the rim, and that alone makes him a strong fill-in when Cunningham takes a break.
But, first, we have to see it in action. Okorie and the Pistons kick off their Summer League series on Thursday, July 9, against the 76ers.