If one were to simply go by the numbers, Detroit Pistons up-and-comer Marcus Sasser has proven himself ready to break out. He’s a dynamic point guard with the per-36 averages and efficiency to not only step into a significant role, but start for a vast majority of NBA teams.<\/p>\n
If the current roster holds true to form, then the Pistons will have left the door wide open for Sasser to answer a critical question in 2025-26: Is he as good as the numbers suggest?<\/p>\n
Detroit completed a draft-night trade to select Sasser at No. 25 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. It was a bold investment in a player who spent four years at the University of Houston, earning rave reviews for his play on both ends of the floor.<\/p>\n
In 2022-23, Sasser won the Jerry West award, the AAC Player of the Year honor, and was named a consensus First-Team All-American\u2014all while leading Houston to a third straight Sweet 16 appearance.<\/p>\n
Statistically, Sasser has hit the ground running in the NBA. Through two seasons, he’s compiled averages of 16.0 points, 6.1 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 2.5 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes, shooting at a clip of .441\/.378\/.863.<\/p>\n
Having played just 16.9 minutes per game, however, the jury is still out on whether or not Sasser can be the player the statistics suggest he is.<\/p>\n
Is Marcus Sasser as good as the per-36 numbers suggest he is?<\/p>\n
Sasser improved his two-point field goal percentage by 7.5 percent and his three-point field goal percentage by 0.7 percent between 2023-24 and 2024-25. He also averaged a mere 2.4 turnovers per 36 minutes while improving his numbers in points, steals, and offensive rebounds per 36.<\/p>\n
Despite the statistical progress, Sasser averaged 4.8 fewer minutes per game under J.B. Bickerstaff than he managed with Monty Williams.<\/p>\n
At 14.2 minutes played per game in 2024-25, there was only so much Sasser could contribute. It was a rather surprising development considering Jaden Ivey played just 30 games due to injury and Dennis Schr\u00f6der didn’t arrive until February.<\/p>\n
With Schr\u00f6der out of the equation and the Pistons without a backup point guard to play ahead of Sasser, however, minutes should become available in 2025-26.<\/p>\n
The Pistons would undoubtedly benefit from Sasser’s per-36 production and efficiency translating to a larger sample size of minutes played. Between Sasser and offseason acquisitions<\/a> Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson, Detroit could roll out one of the most productive bench perimeter trios in the NBA.<\/p>\n Considering the Pistons allowed 5.4 fewer points per 100 possessions with Sasser on the court in 2024-25, there’s also reason to be intrigued by what an increase in playing time could mean for their defense.<\/p>\n The hurdles that Sasser will face include the fact that he shot 33.9 percent on catch-and-shoot threes in 2024-25, thus calling his off-ball value into question. If he rectifies that issue and solidifies his place as a player with two-way value, however, Sasser should eliminate any future concerns.<\/p>\n