The Pistons have officially added Ugonna Onyenso on a two-way contract, as confirmed by the NBA.com transactions log. The news was initially reported by Michael Scotto of HoopsHype via Twitter.
Onyenso, a 7-foot center originally from Nigeria, was selected with the 53rd overall pick in last month’s draft. While the Rockets originally drafted him, they traded that pick to New York as part of a move to acquire Bruce Thornton at No. 31; the Knicks then flipped Onyenso’s rights to Detroit in exchange for cash.
During his senior season at Virginia in 2025/26, Onyenso put up 6.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and led the ACC with 2.9 blocks per game, all while playing just 18.6 minutes nightly across 36 contests. Prior to his time with the Cavaliers, he spent two seasons at Kentucky and one at Kansas State, and he earned a spot on the All-ACC Defensive Team for his final collegiate campaign.
With a standing reach of 9’5”, Onyenso is widely regarded as one of the premier shot-blocking prospects in the 2026 class. That said, his offensive skill set remains underdeveloped, which likely contributed to his never logging more than 18.8 minutes per game in any of his four college seasons.
His two-way deal is worth roughly $679K, carries no guaranteed money, and does not affect Detroit’s salary cap. As a rookie, he’ll be eligible to suit up for as many as 50 NBA games, though he won’t be playoff-eligible unless he’s later moved to the standard roster. Teams are permitted to carry three two-way players at a time, and Onyenso becomes the Pistons’ second such player, joining Isaac Jones.
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