Daniss Jenkins has secured a promotion from a two-way deal to a standard two-year contract with the Detroit Pistons. The 24-year-old guard, who went undrafted in 2024, has become a key contributor for the team's strong season. The move fills a roster spot created by waiving Dario Saric.
On Sunday, February 8, the Detroit Pistons upgraded Daniss Jenkins from a two-way contract to their 15-man roster with a two-year standard deal. The contract includes a team option for the 2026-27 season and utilizes part of the team's $10.5 million bi-annual exception, valued at up to $5.1 million for the current season. ESPN's Shams Charania first reported the agreement.
To accommodate Jenkins, the Pistons waived forward Dario Saric, whom they had recently acquired in a three-way trade that also brought Kevin Huerter to Detroit. Jenkins, a 24-year-old undrafted free agent from St. John's, has appeared in 50 of the Pistons' 51 regular-season games this year. He averages 8.2 points, 3.3 assists, and 0.9 steals per game, shooting 39.1% from three-point range (43 for 110) in 16.8 minutes of play.
The Pistons, holding a 38-13 record as the NBA's second-best team, have relied on Jenkins since Jaden Ivey's knee surgery kept the former No. 5 pick out for the first month. Ivey was traded to Chicago on Tuesday, highlighting Jenkins' rising role. Jenkins impressed in summer league over the past two years and during his 2024-25 season with the Motor City Cruise.
"Had a great camp and he’s just continued his trajectory in getting better," Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon said before a recent game. "When the opportunities come he’s taken advantage of it."
Teammate Ausar Thompson recalled Jenkins' speed during playoff scout team practices last spring, when he mimicked New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson. "I was guarding him, had to pick him up full-court, and he was just running super fast," Thompson noted.
Jenkins' journey included stints at Pacific, Odessa College, Iona, and St. John's under coach Rick Pitino. Reflecting on his undrafted status, he said, "Going undrafted is insanity to me, literally insanity, and that burns inside of me every single day." Earlier, on January 30, he added, "I’ve been said I belong in this league a long time ago... I just needed an opportunity and that’s what this organization gave me."
