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It wasn’t a surprise to the Detroit Pistons that Ron Holland, who was only 18 on draft night in June 2024, appeared in 81 of 82 games as a rookie last season.
They drafted him with the expectation that he would play, so that he could grow. What wasn’t expected is that the athletic wing would immediately contribute to a winning environment, playing key minutes down the stretch as the Pistons finished above .500 for the first time in a decade.
Holland was impactful as he was just grasping the nuances of NBA basketball. His endless motor, one of his defining traits as a basketball prospect, helped the Pistons on the defensive end and in transition on offense. He immediately had a knack for finishing difficult shots at the rim. If it weren’t for a one-game suspension, he would’ve played all 82.
On the Pistons’ 2025-26 media day, on Monday, Sept. 29, Holland’s name came up repeatedly – both from his teammates and coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Now 20, Holland is coming off his first full offseason as an NBA player and a promising showing during Summer League play in Las Vegas, preparing to take on more responsibility after exceeding expectations a year ago.
“Ron, I think, is gonna get more opportunity this year,” Bickerstaff said Monday. “He’s earned that with his play in Summer League and the work he’s done over this summer. You can see the transformation in his game. It’s maybe a small thing, but when he has the ball in his hands and he’s in the open court, he’s playing lower to the ground, which leads to less turnovers, quicker decisions.
“He’s got the ability to play-make, and his shooting has come a long way, also. Those are a couple of areas that will stand out to you when you’re watching him.”
Holland averaged 6.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and one assist in 15.6 minutes per game last season. His ability to rebound and force turnovers, as well as his interior scoring, all popped in limited minutes. He knocked down a healthy 60.8% of his shots inside the 3-point arc, meaning defenses still had to account for him despite his 23.8% clip from 3.
An improved 3-point shot would open the floor, though, and it was a point of emphasis for him this offseason. Holland got to showcase his growth both as a shooter and passer in Vegas, making seven of 15 attempts from 3 while averaging 21.7 points, six rebounds and four steals a game.
“I feel like I had a really good rookie year, but obviously there were things that I had to work on,” Holland said Monday. “I approached the summer really well, I feel like. I got to it right away working on my jumper, working on my body, eating and trying to change eating habits, things like that, so I could go out in summer league and try to dominate as much as I can. And I feel like I did that as well.”
After the team’s practice on Thursday, Holland added that he’s emphasized eating more food to bulk up. He has gained 15 pounds since his draft night, he said, which should help him take on greater responsibility in Year 2.
The team is taking a by-committee appraoch to the power forward position when starter Tobias Harris hits the bench. Holland is one of several players, including Isaiah Stewart, who could spend time at the four. That means Holland could match up defensively against some of the league’s bigger forwards, such as Julius Randle.
“That’s where the weight-gain things come in,” Holland said. “Whatever position they need me to go in and play, I’m ready for it, whether it’s the one, two, three or four. I feel like if I go sub Tobias and I go guard some fours, I’ll be prepared for that.”
Holland also is looking forward to spending more time alongside Ausar Thompson. They only shared the floor for 148 minutes together last season, according to NBA Stats. The only players who spent less time with Holland were fringe rotation players Wendell Moore Jr., Lindy Waters III, Bobi Klintman and the two-way signees.
Even Jaden Ivey, who only played 30 games before a broken leg ended his season on Jan. 1, spent 199 minutes alongside Holland. The coaching staff typically staggered Holland and Thompson to avoid having cramped floor spacing. Holland appears to have improved his shooting, and the coaches are more willing to experiment with lineups this season.
The team believes the duo can wreck opposing teams defensively with their length and athleticism. They’ve dubbed themselves “9-to-5,” referencing their jersey numbers (Holland has switched from No. 0 to his preferred No. 5, following Malik Beasley’s departure) and commitment to working on that end of the floor.
“Cause chaos,” Thompson said of what he hopes to accomplish with Holland. “Ron changed his number. I was happy about that because when he got drafted they were talking about 9-to-5, and I truly believed there’s no breaks. Just being able to cause chaos and turn it into offense, make those fast breaks and be able to get as many stops in a row in general when we’re on the court, that’s what we bring to the team.”
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