Detroit Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins traveled an unlikely path in his rise from junior college player to NBA game-changer.
The 24-year-old Dallas, Texas native made it to the NBA the hard way, including three Division I schools, JUCO and a season with the Motor City Cruise.
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In college, Jenkins played two seasons at the University of Pacific, leading the team in scoring his sophomore year (12.2 PPG) after averaging 6.2 PPG as a freshman. He was named to the West Coast Conference (WCC) All-Freshman team in 2020 and All-WCC Honorable Mention in 2021.
When Pacific Head Coach Damon Stoudamire left for an assistant coaching job with the Boston Celtics in 2021, Jenkins transferred to Odessa College, a junior college in Texas, for the 2021-2022 season.
Jenkins led Odessa College to an Elite Eight appearance in the NJCAA Division I championships, averaging 15 PPG and 5.3 AST.
In a jump back up to NCAA Division I basketball, Jenkins transferred to Iona for the 2022-2023 season under the leadership of legendary coach Rick Pitino. He averaged 15.6 PPG and 4.9 AST, which earned him All-MAAC Second Team honors.
Pitino became the head coach for St. John’s in 2023 and brought Jenkins along with him. In Jenkins’ final college season, he averaged 14.9 PPG, 5.4 AST and 1.6 STL, which earned him All-Big East Second Team honors.
After going undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft, Jenkins signed a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons.
Jenkins immediately made an impact with the Pistons’ G-League affiliate, Motor City Cruise, averaging 21.2 PPG, 7.3 AST and 1.8 STL during the 2024-2025 season.
Jenkins appeared in just seven games on the Pistons full roster with limited minutes during the 2024-2025 season.
Jenkins entered the 2025-2026 NBA season as member of the Pistons NBA roster. He saw limited minutes until he finally got his opportunity to play extended time on Nov. 11, 2025 against the Washington Wizards.
The Pistons gave Jenkins a chance because they had to play the game without Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Caris Levert, Jaden Ivey, Isaiah Stewart and Marcus Sasser due to injury.
Jenkins did more than capitalize on his opportunity. He finished with 24 points, eight rebounds, three assists, four steals and sent the game into overtime with a clutch corner three-pointer as the buzzer sounded.
The game served as Jenkins’ coming-out party as the Pistons won in overtime 137-135.
Jenkins followed the Wizards game with a four-game stretch where he averaged 19.3 PPG, 8.8 AST and 1.5 STL in 34.5 MIN/G.
After scoring 19 points, dishing eight assists and swiping two steals against the 76ers, Jenkins and Head Coach J.B Bickerstaff embraced the Pistons ‘dog mentality’ in a post-game press conference.
“We’ve just got a nasty dogs in that locker room and they love it,” said Bickerstaff. "
“We’re all nasty dogs, nasty boys, whatever you want to call it.” said Jenkins. “That’s us.”
In December, Jenkins averaged only 11.6 MIN/G as Ivey and Sasser returned from injuries but he is a player who is always ready to go when called upon.
On Jan. 4 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jenkins delivered another standout performance, scoring 25 points (including six three-pointers), dishing five assists and hitting crucial late-game free throws to help the Pistons win 114-110. He scored 21 of his points in a dominant second quarter, making all seven of his shots.
Jenkins followed the Cavaliers game with 12 points and five assists in the Pistons’ 121-90 blowout win against the New York Knicks.
Jenkins’ latest contribution was a 15 assist (12 in the second half) performance in the Pistons’ win against the Chicago Bulls. On a night without Pistons’ star Cade Cunningham, Jenkins stepped up as the team’s floor general, delivering pin-point passes to open teammates even though his own shot wasn’t falling.
“He read the game and made everybody else’s job easier,” said Bickerstaff in a post-game press conference.
Jenkins has made it clear that he’s not here to just be on an NBA roster but to be one of the key players in the Pistons’ rotation.
He has exhibited a passion, perseverance and ‘dog mentality’ throughout his entire basketball career that translates to the court. His on-court impact has become undeniable and Bickerstaff has recently seemed to favor Jenkins over Sasser and Ivey.
The Pistons front office will likely convert Jenkins to a standard NBA contract before the trade deadline, which will allow him to play in the postseason.