The Detroit Pistons will open the 2026 NBA Summer League on Thursday against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas. The game is the first of four matchups the Pistons have scheduled for the summer showcase, giving the franchise an early look at its newest talent.

Centerpiece of the roster is No. 17 overall pick Ebuka Okorie, a guard out of Stanford. Okorie arrives with a reputation for versatile scoring and the ability to guard multiple positions. The Summer League will provide his first action against NBA competition, and observers will be watching how many minutes he receives and whether his defensive instincts translate to the professional level.

Joining Okorie is former Virginia center Ugonna Onyenso, who the Pistons acquired after the 2026 draft. Onyenso was selected at No. 53 overall after a trade that moved him from the New York Knicks, having originally been drafted by the Houston Rockets. In his lone season with Virginia he averaged 6.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.6 assists, numbers that suggest he can contribute on the boards and provide interior presence for Detroit.

Last year’s Summer League campaign saw the Pistons finish with a 3-2 record, the two losses coming at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves and the San Antonio Spurs. Those defeats highlighted areas, particularly rebounding and guard play, that the front office hopes the new rookies can improve. The 2026 opener therefore serves as an early benchmark to gauge progress against those specific weaknesses.

The Pistons entered the draft without a second-round pick, making the acquisition of Onyenso at No. 53 a clear example of the organization’s willingness to add developmental pieces through trade. By giving Okorie and Onyenso significant minutes in Las Vegas, Detroit can assess how their skill sets complement the existing young core and determine whether they merit a larger role when training camp begins.

After Thursday’s game, Detroit will face three additional opponents before the Summer League concludes in early August. Strong performances could translate into invitations to the main training camp, where roster spots are decided later in the season. For Okorie and Onyenso, the opening night offers a chance to make a case for continued involvement in the Pistons’ rebuilding timeline.