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LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA - AUGUST 8: Isaac Bonga of Germany reacts during the international basketball friendly match between Slovenia and Germany at Dvorana Stozice, on August 8, 2025 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. (Photo by Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images)

Despite the fact that the Detroit Pistons’ upstart 2025-26 season is still ongoing – albeit only just, as they are now heavy underdogs in their first-round series against the Orlando Magic – they are already making news headlines over in Europe for an apparent upcoming summer signing.

Reports out of Serbia indicate that the Pistons are planning to sign swingman Isaac Bonga to a full NBA contract for the 2026-27 season. Bonga, a 26-year-old wing with a knack for taking extremely unflattering pictures, has spent the past four seasons in Europe following his exit from the NBA in 2022, and has spent the last two playing in Serbia for Partizan Belgrade, who compete in both the EuroLeague and the ABA League. Both there and in international play – where he has been a key cog in what has been by far the best era ever for the German national team – Bonga has re-established himself as a regular rotation player at that level.

After a difficult early NBA career in which he probably came over too early, Bonga has gone back to the world’s second-best league, and made himself into a fearsome defensive player. The NBA took note – and if the reporting is true, the Pistons are leading the race to sign him.

Pistons Will Be Getting A Quality Player

Bonga’s NBA career began with the Los Angeles Lakers, who acquired his draft rights in exchange for a future second round pick after he was selected 39th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. He appeared in 22 games for the Lakers as a rookie during the 2018-19 season, averaging 0.9 points and 1.1 rebounds in highly limited minutes before being included as a peripheral part of the Anthony Davis trade and finding his way over to the Washington Wizards.

It was in Washington that Bonga received by far his most extensive NBA action to date. During the 2019-20 season, Bonga appeared in 66 games, made 49 starts, and averaged 5.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 18.6 minutes per game. He was used primarily as a defensive wing, often tasked with guarding multiple positions rather than carrying a significant scoring role, while also facilitating offense as a secondary ball-handler and standing out for his innate hustle. Still aged only 20, Bonga’s star was burning quite brightly. But it did not sustain, and in 2020-21, his production was way down all across the board.

Bonga later signed with the Toronto Raptors for the 2021-22 season, appearing in 15 games, before his NBA tenure ended and he returned to his home land. Across 143 career games, he averaged 3.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 11.6 minutes per game. Or at least, those are his numbers so far.

Bonga’s Rejuvenated NBA Credentials

After leaving the NBA, Bonga returned to Europe and signed with Bayern Munich in his homeland of Germany. Over two seasons in the Bundesliga and EuroLeague, he played a consistent and far more frontline role, contributing to a league championship in 2024 and domestic cup titles in 2023 and 2024.

Having gained some interest on the EuroLeague market, Bonga joined Partizan in 2024, where his responsibilities expanded slightly. During the 2024-25 season, he averaged 7.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in EuroLeague competition, while also contributing defensively across multiple positions. He also shot a career-best 39.2% from three-point range, shoring up his biggest weakness. Partizan won the ABA League title that season, and Bonga was named the league’s Best Defensive Player – a title he has retained in 2025-26, while also putting up the best offensive numbers of his career.

Detroit has prioritized size and defensive versatility on the wing in their recent roster composition, and Bonga’s 6’8 frame, long arms and experience in multiple systems all align with that. That plus his point forward offensive style and improved shooting make for a strong modern role player, even without the high-volume jump shooting.

Bonga’s contract with Partizan runs through next season, but includes an NBA-only buyout out clause worth $875,000 – nonetheless, given the current rates of pay in the NBA, and the fact that Bonga has commanded enough of a market for a bidding war, this is not an obstacle. Bonga was an NBA-calibre player even when he was a youngster, and he is a man now. He has improved his skillset, gained his experience and proven himself.