Detroit — Months before the 2025-26 season concluded with a Game 7 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 17, president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon already was devising a plan to add more talent to the Detroit Pistons roster for the future.
Langdon began to pay attention to a freshman prospect at Stanford, Ebuka Okorie.
The moment came early last season, when Okorie began laying the groundwork to establish himself as one of the most dynamic guards in college basketball. Okorie’s play caught Langdon’s attention early, and he quickly became the Pistons’ desired target for the 2026 NBA Draft.
“He is a guy that we have targeted a lot throughout this process,” Langdon said. “The whole second half of the season, he became a guy that we like and thought would fit with what we are trying to do here, in terms of playing faster and having another guy who can be on the floor handling the ball. … He is going to compete. He is going to bring it every single day.”
On Tuesday night, Langdon and the Pistons achieved their goal by selecting the 19-year-old combo guard with the No. 17 pick. They did so by trading up from No. 21 with the Memphis Grizzlies in a deal that sent three second-round picks in exchange.
During his pre-draft workout and lunch with the staff, the Pistons became increasingly convinced that Okorie was their guy as they learned more about his personality, which showed how he could be a quintessential fit within the team’s culture, both on and off the court.
“I am going to work hard at being the best possible player I can be — I am blessed to be a Detroit Piston,” Okorie said. “I am going to go out there and give it my all every time I step onto the court, each time I get an opportunity. I am looking forward to helping this organization build on everything they have done so far.”
Okorie’s playing style made him the Pistons’ top prospect entering the draft. He averaged 23.2 points in 32 games played as a freshman. He led the ACC in scoring and ranked seventh nationally, all while shooting 46.5% from the field and 35.4% from behind the arc.
Okorie also brings valuable skills as a secondary playmaker, averaging 3.6 assists per game. As someone who grew up idolizing Kyrie Irving and LeBron James, Okorie identifies as a combo guard with attributes similar to those of Collin Sexton of the Chicago Bulls.
He is a high-volume scorer whose strength comes from getting to the paint and scoring inside, similar to Sexton. Additionally, Okorie believes he possesses the same feisty and competitive spirit on the court, which is expected to strengthen Detroit’s perimeter defense, much like the intensity Sexton has showcased on both ends of the floor throughout his career, especially in helping coach J.B. Bickerstaff lay the groundwork for success during their time together with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“It just all comes down to competing and wanting to win. When it comes to the team’s standards, everyone plays for a common goal, just working towards that,” Okorie said. “I feel like this is the best situation for me, coming to this winning organization, looking to contribute in any way that I can.”
Although Langdon had some familiarity with Okorie, he attributed much of his belief in the rookie guard’s potential to the Pistons’ scouting staff.
Okorie completed his only season at Stanford, earning recognition as a first-team All-ACC player and a member of the ACC All-Freshman Team. The achievements are notable, considering Okorie was overlooked as a mid-tier prospect when he was coming out of Brewster Academy in New Hampshire.
According to 247 Sports, Okorie was ranked No. 119 among his high school peers in the class of 2025. The significant progress and development he has made over the past year have positioned Okorie as a first-round pick for the Pistons, which is why Langdon and his staff believe Okorie is the ideal fit for Detroit, both now and in the future.
“He is a hard worker and a student of the game. We think he has a ton of upside. We think the things he brings to this organization, not only as a human being, but also as a basketball player,” Langdon said. “We are incredibly excited.”
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Pistons believe Ebuka Okorie is a great fit on and off the floor
