In Detroit Pistons' Summer League win, Bobi Klintman shows playmaking talent
He was the Detroit Pistons' best playmaker in their 104-86 blowout of the New York Knicks in their Summer League opener on Friday, July 11. But it's not just that he had a team-high five assists — it's how he got them.
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The 22-year-old forward ran a highlight pick-and-roll with big man Tolu Smith, delivering an on-time behind-the-back pass in the second quarter. On consecutive possessions in the first period, he assisted former Duke sharpshooter Trevor Keels to produce a wide-open 3-pointer and a layup.
Bobi Klintman of the Detroit Pistons poses for a portrait during the 2024 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at UNLV in Las Vegas on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.
FRIDAY'S ACTION: Ron Holland shows off outside shot as Detroit Pistons blow out Knicks in Summer League
Klintman, drafted in 2024's second round (at No. 37 overall), has received scant opportunity outside with the Pistons so far. But he played 32 games with the Motor City Cruise last year. His Cruise teammates who are with him in Las Vegas — Smith and Daniss Jenkins — are well-aware of his vision and eager to see him capitalize in summer league for the second year in a row.
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'Bobi's a pro,' said Smith, who had a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. 'From not just scoring, from the aspect of being 6-10 and being able to handle the ball like that and make the right read every time. Him playing with a lot of great players makes him thrive even more. He's a great guy, he has great vision. All-around player.'
Klintman didn't have a reputation as a playmaker during his lone season at Wake Forest in 2022-23, averaging less than a full assist (0.8) per game. Nor did his passing pop in his only season with Cairns Taipans in the National Basketball League in Australia a year later, when he averaged 0.7 assists and 1.6 turnovers.
But in Vegas last summer, his vision was immediately noticeable. He posted 13 points, five assists and five rebounds in his 2024 Summer League debut, once again leading the team in assists.
'I feel like I've always been an underrated passer,' he said after his debut last July. 'When I started playing basketball, I started as a point guard because I was playing with my brother. I feel like I had that throughout my career. I've been able to show it more at different stages. I always try to do what the coach asks of me. When I can show that, I try to go out and do that.'
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In the G League, Klintman averaged 12.2 points, seven rebounds and 4.3 assists. Of the Cruise's full-time players, only Jenkins averaged more assists per game.
Detroit Pistons forward Paul Reed (7) and forward Bobi Klintman (34) celebrate 117-97 win over Boston Celtics during the second half at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025.
His first real opportunity for the Pistons didn't come until their season finale on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks. With the core roster shut down in the second half, Klintman had an all-around strong performance with 15 points (on 6-for-8 shooting), six assists and no turnovers in just under 23 minutes.
'I've been telling Bobi ever since he'd been doing stuff from this offseason, ever since our last game in the G League and whenever he last played, I just told him I'm proud of the way he's carried himself this year,' said Jenkins, who scored 18 points Friday. 'He's looked like a pro this year. And to me, his game has shown that.'
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It's too early to say if Klintman will earn more minutes this season. But there's a gap at backup power forward after the team traded Simone Fontecchio to the Miami Heat. Other than Tobias Harris, there aren't any natural fours on the roster.
Klintman will have to shoot the ball better than he did with the Cruise (30.1% on 4.7 attempts per game). But he has a longer track record as a solid shooter than as a passer, hitting 36.8% of his 3-pointers in college and 35.7% in Australia.
Another strong showing in Vegas would provide more evidence that Klintman may be ready for a larger role.
'He's very serious about what he's trying to accomplish this year, how he's looked, how he's playing in the games,' Jenkins said. 'I think he looks like a real good player now.'
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Next up: Rockets
Matchup: Pistons (1-0) vs. Houston (0-0), Las Vegas Summer League exhibition.
Tipoff: 4 p.m. Sunday, July 13; Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas.
TV: ESPN2; FanDuel Sports Network Detroit Extra.
The rest of the schedule
July 15: Minnesota Timberwolves, 4:30 p.m., FSND, NBA TV.
July 17: Miami Heat, 4 p.m., FSND, NBA TV.
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July 18-20: Championship/consolation round.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons' Bobi Klintman shows more Summer League playmaking
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