Expect a big sophomore campaign from Ron Holland II

During his rookie season, Ron Holland II showed why the Detroit Pistons coveted his talent in the 2024 NBA Draft, and the top five selection has been busy during the offseason so that he can hit the ground running and make an impact in the 2025-26 campaign. 

“I'm just kind of trying to showcase everything that I've been training this summer,” Holland said after practice. “I mean, we all pretty much got the same approach to this. We know what we're working towards, but I'm really just trying to go and show that I've grown this summer as a player, as a man, got my body right, started eating differently, and everything. I'm ready for the season.”

Last year, Holland played in 81 regular season games for the Pistons, and he worked his way onto the score sheet more and more as he developed as a rookie. By the end of his first year, Holland posted 6.7 points and just under 3 rebounds per game, but his impact was largely on the defensive end and as a hustle player who was committed to executing the gritty plays along with Ausar Thompson. 

“Me and AT on Media Day, they talked about causing chaos for teams,” Holland said. “But I mean, with this team, how we play, how hard we play, it's gonna be chaos all over the floor. I feel like we are a defensive set team. We hang our hats on being gritty. So, I think that's one thing about us that's gonna keep us pushing.”

With that mindset, Holland is optimistic for the future of the Pistons squad, especially with the team fresh off a first round playoff appearance against the New York Knicks. 

“Just knowing how competitive this team is and how much love that we have for each other, it's really special,” Holland said. “You can tell that every day you walk in here that we want to see each other get better every single day. So, I think that's gonna take us a long way.”

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During the summer, Holland tacked on 15 pounds of positive weight to help him acclimate to the physical role that awaits him this season. Along those lines, Holland also mentioned that he’s prepared to guard players from the one to the four, boasting about his adaptable nature as a player who can bring flexibility to the Pistons lineup. 

But Holland is not alone in the hard work he’s put forth during the offseason. In particular, the second-year forward singled out guard Marcus Sasser as a player who’s developed a lot during a short timespan. 

“Sass, he's upped his intensity, for sure, learning to be more vocal and everything,” Holland said. “I can tell that that's one thing that he's definitely been trying to work on. And just being able to be more vocal as a leader and as a point guard, he's definitely gonna have to be communicative. But just, I mean, y'all know Sass is a bucket. It’s been good watching him throughout this training camp, throughout this whole summer he's been doing and I'm really proud of him, the player that he's becoming, for sure.”

The Detroit Pistons kick off the pre-season in just a few days with a matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, Oct. 6. 

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