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By Anne Erickson
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Chaz Lanier didn't get much of a chance to introduce himself during his rookie season.
The second-round pick spent more time in the G League than with the Pistons, and when Detroit reached the playoffs, his opportunities were limited. That's usually the reality for young players on teams trying to win now, not in the future.
Summer League gave him a different stage, and Lanier made sure people wanted to see him.
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The 6-foot-3 guard came to Las Vegas with something to prove and played like someone who wasn't going to take no for an answer. In four appearances, Lanier averaged 17.4 points while shooting an crazy 51.1% from three on nine attempts per game. That's no fluffy stuff.
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His best performance came against the New York Knicks, when Lanier caught fire early and scored 17 of his game-high 24 points in the first quarter. By the time New York realized what was happening, the damage was already done. Sometimes a shooter gets hot. Sometimes a shooter makes everyone else look like they're running through mud.
Detroit should notice. They have a star on their hands, if they develop him.
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The Pistons ranked near the bottom of the league in 3-point attempts last season, and adding reliable shooting has been one of the obvious needs around their young roster of talent. Lanier's Summer League numbers won't automatically carry over to the regular season. Real NBA defenses have a way of making life much harder for young players.
But the shot is real. The confidence is real. And the timing couldn't be better.
More sports news: AJ Dybantsa Isn’t the Only Wizards Rookie Making Noise in Las Vegas
Lanier made 23 three-pointers in Summer League, more than the 19 he made during his entire rookie season. That's a pretty quick reminder of how good he is right now.
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