Chaz Lanier Explodes With 40 Points In The G-League

Since the Detroit Pistons were resting up over the past week, rookie guard Chaz Lanier was assigned to the G-League’s Motor City Cruise in order to get a little more work in before the Atlanta Hawks come to Motown on Friday night. 

Up until this point, Lanier has shown flashes in the Summer League and during the preseason, but the rookie out of Tennessee has played sparingly during the regular season. But based on his performance in the G-League yesterday, the 6-4 off-ball guard looks ready to contribute at the NBA level when called upon. 

Lanier made the most out of his opportunity with a massive 40-point outburst which featured a stellar 9-for-12 shooting performance from behind the three-point line. Despite Lanier’s 40-point game, the Motor City Cruise were unable to hold off the Cleveland Charge, suffering a 129-121 loss at home.

"It just goes to show you he understands the game offensively at a higher level and he has the ability to make shots," Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "So, we don't see it as an opportunity or a movement up or down. We see it as an opportunity for him to get experience and just get reps. Right now, we just don't have the numbers to provide him with the reps that we feel he needs to continue to develop and gain his rhythm. So, we jsut want to make sure he gets those opportunities. That what we believe our G-League team is for. The Motor City team is there for development for all of our guys-- whether it's players, coaches, whoever is apart of it. It's not a vertical thing, it's a lateral thing for us where it's as big of a part of our program as anything." 

With the Pistons, Lanier has only featured in 13 games this season and has contributed 3.3 points and 1.1 rebounds per game in that time. Detroit has a deep lineup and is currently firing on all cylinders at 19-5 on the season and first place in the Eastern Conference, so Lanier has not had much opportunity to show off his skill set with the Pistons yet. But based on the offensive display that he put forth with the Cruise, Lanier is a talented shooter who can help stretch the floor and can create for himself or others with the ball in his hands. 

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Lanier was selected at the top of the second round in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Pistons this past summer, and he’ll be given the time necessary to develop before being asked to contribute on a nightly basis for the Pistons. The Pistons recently welcomed guard Marcus Sasser back from a hip injury, and Detroit is continuing to work Jaden Ivey back into the lineup as well. So, Lanier has a couple talented guards ahead of him in the pecking order before he is expected to join the Pistons’ rotation on a regular basis. 

But to be sure, Lanier’s huge scoring effort in the G-League earlier in the week is a big step in proving that he’s ready for more minutes in the NBA. 

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