Former Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier is spending some time in the G-League with the Motor City Cruise to help him get some extra reps as he develops during his rookie season at the next level. Lanier was originally drafted by the Detroit Pistons this past summer, but it’s not like the Pistons are a broken team that’s looking for an influx of youthful talent, no matter the risk. Detroit is the opposite, actually. The Pistons are currently in first place in the Eastern Conference and have a two-game lead on the next closest competitor, the New York Knicks.
With nearly a full week off between their last game against the Bucks on Dec. 6 and their next game on Friday against the Atlanta Hawks, the Pistons decided to send rookie guard Chaz Lanier to their G-League affiliate to get some extra reps.
Lanier made the absolute most of his debut on Wednesday night. In a 129-121 loss against the Cleveland Charge on Wednesday, Chaz Lanier went ballistic shooting the ball. He dropped 40 points on 12-of-17 shooting, while going 9-of-13 from behind the three-point line. Lanier was in his bag; he was scoring on the drive, in transition, and of course, from the perimeter.
Chaz Lanier in his G league Debut
40 points
12/17 FG
9/13 3P
we not writing back pic.twitter.com/ghRr996Y52— rob (@rob4Sonder) December 11, 2025
More From RTI: What Cade Phillips’ Season-Ending Injury Means For Tennessee Basketball
Lanier’s play in the G-League, no matter how long it is, shouldn’t be viewed as a demotion. For one, it’s tough to get minutes on such a well-oiled team like the roster that Detroit has already constructed. So, for that reason, it’s an opportunity to get Lanier some much-needed reps to stay fresh, rather than getting on an NBA court for just 10 minutes a game, like he’s been averaging.
The Pistons seem to like Lanier a lot. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has repeatedly been complimentary of Lanier’s status and progress, and it does feel like the team envisions a future with the sharpshooter out of Tennessee. But as things currently stand, there’s just not a ton of room for minutes on the court. That’s why the G-League stint is sort of a win-win for both sides. Lanier stays fresh and builds some confidence, while the Pistons get him extra minutes to continue developing.
“Chaz has been great,” Bickerstaff said on Wednesday. “You know, again, it’s a numbers thing with Chaz. But there’s not been one guy that we’ve put on the floor this year that hasn’t helped us win a basketball game… But Chaz has helped us. When he’s on the floor, he makes shots. He understands, offensively, where to be, how to get his shots, how to be an outlet. He understands early how to play with superstars and talented players and make their job easier. So, it’s just a numbers game right now for him, and this is just an opportunity for him to go and get some reps. But there’s nothing that says to me that Chaz doesn’t fit, and I think he’s done a great job when he’s gotten his opportunities.”
Lanier’s 40-point game was massive. During his lone record-setting year with Tennessee, Lanier never even hit 40 points in a game. He hit a season-high 30 points in a road win over Texas A&M in February, but what he did on Wednesday was next level.
Prior to his G-League assignment, Lanier was averaging 3.3 points in 13 games played with the Pistons so far this year. He put together a season-best nine-point game against the Hawks in mid-November with 3-of-7 shooting from the perimeter.
