Malcolm Elliott ★

Paul Reed might have the best underdog story in the NBA right now -58th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft -Spends his rookie season bouncing between the G League and NBA -Wins G League MVP and Rookie of the Year -Spends years fighting for minutes behind Joel Embiid in Philadelphia -Finally gets his payday in 2023 when Utah offers him a 3-year, $23M contract. The 76ers match it. -Just one year later, Philadelphia WAIVES him to make room for Paul George -Coming off a 14 win season, the Pistons claim him off waivers -Gets buried behind Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart in Detroit's rotation -Just months after arriving, the Pistons waive him again -The next day, Detroit brings him back on a much cheaper contract -Goes from a $23M contract to averaging just 10 minutes per game as Detroit's third-string center -Despite barely playing, becomes a fan favorite in Detroit for his energy and hustle -Detroit brings him back on a new contract in the summer of 2025 -Drops 26 points on 11/11 shooting in April 2026 -Showed out in limited playoff minutes and outperformed Duren and Stewart -Now, with Duren injured, he's started 6 of Detroit's first 8 games this season averaging 13 PPG, 6 RPG, 2.5 Stocks Per Game, and 50% from 3 Paul Reed went from a second round pick, to G League MVP, to getting paid, to being waived TWICE, to finally getting his opportunity in Detroit. BBall Paul never stopped fighting for his spot in this league and he found it in Detroit How can you not root for this guy?