Ron Holland’s Growth: From Rookie Questions To Bench Anchor In Detroit

With hopes of extending their four-game winning streak last night against Houston Rockets, it was the Detroit Pistons’ second unit that gave the squad their best chance at victory in what became a 111-104 loss. 

In the second quarter, the Pistons trotted out a lineup of Isaiah Stewart, Javonte Green, Daniss Jenkins, Ron Holland and Jaden Ivey to help dig Detroit out of an eight-point hole, and the reserves quickly shifted the game’s momentum. With Holland blocking shots to create turnovers and Jenkins knocking down key three-pointers, the Pistons methodically made the Rockets’ lead disappear and brought the contest to a 52-point gridlock by halftime. 

“I think they played well all night,” Bickerstaff said after the game. “They picked up the tempo, got out in transition, but they were generating stops also. And from that group, everybody that was there contributed. So, they've been that for us all year long, and nothing changed tonight.”

When the Pistons needed a stop during the 2025-26 regular season, Bickerstaff has learned that he can rely on Detroit’s rabid second unit to cause havoc. Early on, Beef Stew put the league on notice with his shot-blocking penchant and incredible timing to meet dunkers at the rim, but lately Holland has taken over the mantle as the Pistons’ primary turnover merchant on defense. 

“It's what we believe in Ron and who he is and his ability to give us that spark on both ends of the floor when he's playing in transition and attacking the rim,” Bickerstaff said. “He's hard to deal with because he is a really good finisher, but it's his defense always right? The deflections, the steals, the plays that only he's able to make. That, again, transitions him into the offensive end.”

Now in his second season in the NBA, Holland has grown into one of the toughest assignments to draw for opposing scorers. Holland is aggressive, he's physical and he wants to get under the other team's skin. These qualities were on full display Friday night against the Rockets. Holland finished the game with 13 points (5-for-7 FGs), six rebounds, two steals, one block and one assist against Houston, and his influence helped lift the Detroit crowd to their feet during the second half.

But despite Holland’s aggression and defensive tenacity, the Rockets were able to ride a 32-point outing from Kevin Durant to victory in a game littered with physical dust-ups. That’s just how the Pistons play, and Holland has been as integral as anybody in establishing that gritty, never-back-down mentality that permeates the Detroit locker room. 

The Pistons have today off to rest up before hosting the Sacramento Kings tomorrow afternoon at 3 pm in the Motor City. 

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