NBA
DJ
#24

Daniss Jenkins

Guard · Detroit Pistons · 6'4", 165 lb · Born Aug 17, 2001 · Dallas, Texas · Drafted Undrafted, 2024
Detroit PistonsTwo-way → standardUndraftedPitino product
NBADetroit PistonsGuards
Compare:vs Thompsonvs Cunninghamvs Robinsonvs Joevs Durenvs Green
In short

Daniss Jenkins is a young combo guard for the Detroit Pistons who turned an undrafted, multi-transfer college journey into an NBA role. A Dallas native — like teammate Cade Cunningham — he played at Pacific, Odessa College, and Iona before a graduate year at St. John's under Rick Pitino. He signed a two-way deal with Detroit in 2024, earned a standard contract in February 2026, and broke out for 9.3 points and 3.9 assists in 2025-26.

Matchup model · next gameMedium confidenceFri, Nov 13
@Dallas MavericksAggressive hedge & help
Proj. points
9.4
range 6.7–12.1
Line 9.5
48%
to go over
Team win
40%
111–113
Poi 9.4 Lean underReb 2.3 Lean underAss 3.9 Lean underPRA 15.6 Lean over
Likely on himCooper Flagg· 76 Perimeter DSolid defender
5+ pts93%10+ pts42%

Model lines Jenkins at 9.4 pts (range 6.7–12.1) vs a 9.5 line — roughly a coin flip to clear it (48%).

Model favors Dallas Mavericks (60%), projected 111–113, ~224 total at 97.4 pace.

Full matchup breakdown · all markets →
Balladex Matchup Model — modeled from real roster ratings, scoring baselines & defender-matchup history. Schedule, availability & head-to-head samples are illustrative in this prototype; production wires live schedule, injury & player-tracking feeds. Not betting advice.
✦ Ask anything about Jenkins
The Jenkins Story — narrated
Tap play to hear his story, told as a 90-second short.
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Four colleges, undrafted, a two-way deal — and a Dallas kid who willed his way into the NBA.

Jenkins played at Pacific, Odessa College, and Iona before a graduate year at St. John's under Rick Pitino, then went undrafted in 2024.

🏀 4 colleges · St. John'sUndrafted, 2024

Detroit signed him to a two-way deal; he converted to a standard two-year contract in February 2026.

Two-way → standardFeb 2026

He broke out in 2025-26 — 9.3 points, 3.9 assists, a 30-point night vs the Lakers — on a 60-win team.

9.3 / 3.9 ast30 vs LAL

A fellow Dallas native to Cade Cunningham, he earned his teammate's praise: 'fearless.'

Dallas · like Cade'Fearless'
— end of story —
Want the full numbers? Open the breakdown →
PPG
9.3
2025-26
RPG
2.3
per game
APG
3.9
per game
FG%
.408
.374 from three
LIFE

Roots & the rise

A fearless, faith-driven combo guard who earned his NBA job the long way — Detroit's undrafted breakout.

Daniss Jenkins grew up in Dallas — the same city as teammate Cade Cunningham — and took a winding college road: Pacific, then Odessa College (junior college), then Iona, and finally a graduate season at St. John's under Rick Pitino, who told him to prioritize development over stats. He went undrafted in 2024 and signed a two-way contract with Detroit.

After a quiet rookie year he broke through in 2025-26, converting to a standard two-year deal in February 2026 and averaging 9.3 points and 3.9 assists across 72 games — including a 30-point night against the Lakers — as a contributor on Detroit's 60-win team.

Sources: Wikipedia, NBA.com, ESPN.

BEYOND THE GAME

Beyond the game

Jenkins's journey is a testament to persistence: lightly recruited out of Hillcrest High in Dallas, he passed through four college programs before reaching the NBA undrafted, then earned a standard contract with a two-way grind. Faith is central to how he frames it — 'I never lost my faith,' he has said, crediting belief and 'the right circle' for the climb.

Rick Pitino, who coached him at St. John's, advised him to focus on his workouts rather than his box scores, and the payoff came in Detroit. Teammate Cade Cunningham — a fellow Dallas native — praised him plainly: 'he could really play and he was fearless.' That fearlessness, on a lean 165-pound frame, is the throughline of an unlikely NBA story.

PERSONALITY

The person

A fearless, faith-driven combo guard — an undrafted grinder who plays bigger than his frame.

Secondary playmakerRuns a second unit and creates (3.9 assists) with good handle.
FearlessCade Cunningham: 'he could really play and he was fearless.'
GrinderFour college stops, undrafted, two-way to standard deal.
PLAYER DNA

Archetype & ratings

Archetype
Backup Playmaker · Combo Guard
Temperament
Steady
Leadership
55/100
Scoring54
Playmaking62
Rebounding38
Perimeter D60
Rim protection18
Spacing62
Athleticism68
Clutch56
Secondary playmakerSteadyYoung guard
ANALYSIS

What the numbers say

Backcourt insurance that earned its keep

Jenkins's rise from two-way flier to standard-deal contributor reflects real utility: a combo guard who can run a second unit, create off the bounce (3.9 assists), and shoot well enough (37% from three) to space. On a 60-win team leaning on Cade Cunningham, reliable secondary ball-handling in non-star minutes has genuine value, and his 30-point game showed a higher gear.

STATS

Season by season

Per game

SeasonGPMINPTSREBASTFG%3P%
2025-267220.29.32.33.9.408.374

Source: Basketball-Reference.

ADVANCED

Advanced & historical

Where he sits in history

2026Converted from a two-way to a standard NBA contract; 30-point game vs the Lakers
CollegePlayed at Pacific, Odessa College, and Iona before St. John's under Rick Pitino
2025NBA G League All-Rookie Team

Hardware

1×
G League All-Rookie Team (2025)
OUTLOOK

Where it's headed

AI-generated · updated July 12, 2026

A cost-controlled young combo guard on the rise — proven secondary playmaking for Detroit's core.

On a standard two-year deal signed in 2026, Jenkins went from undrafted two-way flier to rotation guard in a season. His creation and fearlessness give Detroit cheap backcourt depth behind Cade Cunningham, with room to grow.

PlaymakingSolid
FearlessnessHigh
Three-point shootingDeveloping
Age / upside24 · rising

Contract

Deal
2 yr (2026) standard
Role
Backup guard creator
Age
24 rising
Bottom line

An undrafted grinder who earned his job the hard way. Cheap, fearless backcourt depth behind Cade Cunningham — the kind of find good teams develop.

FAQ

Quick answers

Where did Daniss Jenkins play college basketball?

Pacific, Odessa College, and Iona, then a graduate season at St. John's under Rick Pitino, before going undrafted in 2024.

How did Daniss Jenkins make the NBA?

He signed a two-way contract with Detroit in 2024 and earned a standard two-year deal in February 2026.

Is Daniss Jenkins from the same place as Cade Cunningham?

Yes — both are Dallas, Texas natives, and Cunningham has praised Jenkins as 'fearless.'