Finally, Luke Kennard is just days away from officially appearing on an NBA court as the Detroit Pistons begin the 2017-18 regular season this week.
For the rookie, the rigors of training camp are soon coming to a close. He was introduced to the speed and physicality of the NBA through five preseason games.
The 6-foot-6 shooting guard out of Duke, taken with the 12th pick back in June's draft, has impressed his new teammates and coaches throughout camp with his ability to shoot and create space with and without the ball. The defensive efforts that concerned head coach Stan Van Gundy are still an issue, but Van Gundy said he's seen enough from his rookie to believe he has the tools to be a competent defender.