There's been plenty of good news for the Tennessee basketball team coming in. While superstar point guard and favorite Zakai Zeigler didn't hear his name called during the NBA Draft, it didn't take long for a team to come calling.
According to ESPN's Jonathan Givony, Zeigler has agreed to a deal with the Detroit Pistons to play summer league ball with them. Zeigler, who is no stranger to proving people wrong, is getting his NBA shot after all and things are made even more special for him knowing that Chaz Lanier was just drafted by Detroit:
Tennessee's Zakai Zeigler will play summer league with the Detroit Pistons, a source told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/pHE1NwK33l
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 27, 2025
Zakai Zeigler is getting his NBA shot with the Detroit Pistons in the summer league
It wasn't a huge surprise that Zeigler didn't get drafted. However, the Pistons came calling and he's going to use his underdog mentality once again to put on a show and prove to the Eastern Conference side that they need to keep him around beyond summer action.
This offseason, Zeigler made countless headlines when he was in a legal battle for a fifth and final season of eligibility to play for Tennessee. Unfortunately, his efforts fell short and he won't be returning to Knoxville to try and help the program reach the Final Four for the first time.
Countless Vols supporters were holding out hope that he'd be able to return, but things just weren't meant to be there. Despite that, it doesn't take away from the fact that Zeigler, along with Jahmai Mashack and others, meant so much to the program beyond just what they got done in 2024-25.
Zeigler was the back-to-back SEC Defensive Player of the Year and he was a floor general for head man Rick Barnes. Those two built a connection that you don't see often between a player and coach. Barnes and his staff will now be rooting for Zeigler to make a name for himself with the Pistons. We all know he's got the right mentality and plenty of talent to do so.