{"id":123727,"date":"2025-02-14T18:04:49","date_gmt":"2025-02-14T23:04:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=123727"},"modified":"2025-02-14T18:05:52","modified_gmt":"2025-02-14T23:05:52","slug":"ron-hollands-rookie-season-as-pistons-potential-star","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/02\/14\/ron-hollands-rookie-season-as-pistons-potential-star\/","title":{"rendered":"Ron Holland\u2019s Rookie Season As Pistons\u2019 Potential Two-Way Star"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Detroit Pistons<\/a> entered the 2024-25 NBA season with a roster full of promise\u2014and plenty of questions. Cade Cunningham\u2019s<\/a> looming rookie-max extension<\/a> was a hot topic, while Jaden Ivey<\/a> and Isaiah Stewart<\/a> were quietly mentioned in trade rumors. When the new President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon<\/a> took over, some expected him to hit the reset button. Instead, Langdon doubled down on the young core, choosing patience and development over a complete overhaul.<\/p>\n

Armed with the fifth pick in the 2023 draft, the Pistons had several options. They could select a top prospect, trade down for future assets, or acquire a veteran to complement their youthful core. Ultimately, Langdon bet on talent, selecting Ron Holland<\/a>\u2014a G-League Ignite standout widely regarded as the most NBA-ready player in the draft.<\/p>\n

The pick drew mixed reactions<\/a>. Holland\u2019s defensive versatility and slashing ability made him an exciting prospect, but his raw shooting mechanics raised questions. Some also wondered how his game would fit alongside Ausar Thompson<\/a>, given their overlapping skill sets.<\/p>\n

Despite the ups and downs of his rookie season, Holland has shown flashes of his potential. His defensive instincts and ability to attack the rim have stood out, but where can he improve? And what should Pistons fans be most excited about? Let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n

Ron Holland\u2019s Rookie Season As Pistons\u2019 Two-Way Potential Star<\/h2>\n

Willingness To Improve<\/h3>\n

One of Holland\u2019s biggest weaknesses entering the league was his shooting. His slashing and transition finishing were already elite. However, his inconsistent jumper allowed defenders to sag off him. Holland joined the Pistons at the perfect time with Fred Vinson<\/a> becoming the team\u2019s new shooting coach. Vinson is known for transforming players like Brandon Ingram<\/a> and Lonzo Ball<\/a> into reliable shooters.<\/p>\n

Turning a weakness into a strength takes time, but Holland has shown gradual improvement. He\u2019s averaging 2.1 three-point attempts per game, hitting 25% from deep. Early in the season, his struggles were evident. He shot 11% from three in October and 16% in November. His true shooting percentage was just 46% during that span. December provided hope, as he shot 42% from three<\/a> on 2.8 attempts per game. His effective field goal percentage<\/a> jumped to 66% that month.<\/p>\n

Holland is becoming more comfortable in catch-and-shoot situations. His January three-point percentage dipped to 32%, but his shot selection improved. He\u2019s taking fewer contested jumpers and more open shots within the offense. With Vinson\u2019s guidance and Holland\u2019s work ethic, his shooting could reach league-average levels. That would make him a more complete offensive player.<\/p>\n

Holland Embodies Pistons’ Defensive Identity<\/h3>\n

Holland earns his minutes on the court because of his relentless defensive energy and willingness to take on tough assignments. He never backs down from matching up with some of the league\u2019s top perimeter players, bringing a physical, aggressive style that defines his game. While this approach has its pros and cons, it\u2019s clear that Holland\u2019s defense is a work in progress with flashes of elite potential.<\/p>\n

Statistically, his aggressiveness sometimes leads to foul trouble. Holland ranks 20th in the NBA in personal fouls per 36 minutes (4.2) and 19th in personal fouls per 100 possessions (5.6), limiting his availability in key moments. However, his activity on the defensive end can\u2019t be overlooked\u2014he\u2019s recorded 20 games with at least two steals and has tallied three or more steals in three different games. His steal percentage of 2.6% ranks among the top 15 for rookies, highlighting his ability to disrupt passing lanes and create transition opportunities.<\/p>\n

Holland\u2019s versatility is another strength. He\u2019s capable of defending multiple positions, from quick guards to bigger wings, holding opponents to 43% shooting when he\u2019s the primary defender. As he learns to channel his aggression more effectively and reduce unnecessary fouls, he has the potential to become a top-tier defender in the league.<\/p>\n

The Last Word<\/h3>\n

Ron Holland\u2019s rookie season has been a rollercoaster filled with learning experiences, flashes of brilliance, and signs of steady growth. While his shooting remains a work in progress, his noticeable improvements\u2014especially under the guidance of shooting coach Fred Vinson\u2014should give Pistons fans reason for optimism. Defensively, his intensity and versatility have already made him a valuable piece of the rotation, even as he works to balance his aggression and avoid foul trouble.<\/p>\n

Holland\u2019s willingness to improve and his competitive edge suggest that his ceiling is far from reached. If he continues to refine his jumper and sharpen his defensive instincts, the Pistons could have yet another cornerstone in their young core. Patience will be key, but all the tools are there for Holland to evolve into a game-changing two-way player.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Photo Credit: \u00a9 Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Detroit Pistons entered the 2024-25 NBA season with a roster full of promise\u2014and plenty of questions. Cade Cunningham\u2019s looming rookie-max extension was a hot topic, while Jaden Ivey and Isaiah Stewart were quietly mentioned in trade rumors. When the new President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon took over, some expected him to hit the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5168,"featured_media":123760,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10,1608,62],"tags":[3109,49172,49241],"class_list":["post-123727","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pistons","category-basketball","category-nba","tag-j-b-bickerstaff","tag-ron-holland","tag-trajan-langdon"],"modified_by":"Jacob Stephens, Associate Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123727","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5168"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123727"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123727\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":123762,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123727\/revisions\/123762"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/123760"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123727"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123727"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123727"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}