Jerami Grant is going through his toughest test as a Detroit Piston

Jerami Grant has received plenty of acclaim for his play this season with the Detroit Pistons, and deservedly so. He bet on himself and left the Denver Nuggets, seeking an expanded role and the opportunities that come with it.

It would have been easy to stay in Denver, firmly ensconced in the pecking order behind Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, but he chose to beat his own path. It’s a decision not many NBA players have chosen, departing a contender with a firm ceiling on how high he can fly, to join a team on the first rung of the ladder back to contention where the sky may be the limit for his potential.

Jerami Grant has been going through a shooting slump, but he’s found ways to be productive in spite of it for the Detroit Pistons

With the increased opportunity comes a heavier workload. Grant was effective last season with a light load, just 18.0 percent usage, but this season has been an eye-opener for him. His usage has jumped all the way to 26.2 percent this season, a nearly unprecedented jump while keeping his efficiency nearly in line.

Last season Grant’s true shooting percentage for the Nuggets with players like Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray was 59.1 percent, and this season playing on a team with players like Delon Wright and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, it’s 57.9 percent.

That efficiency was higher until about 11 games ago, too. Since January 22nd, Grant is shooting just 40.2 percent from the floor, but his 3-point percentage remains solid at 38.2. His scoring average has dipped to 21.5 points per game after checking in at 25.4 points per game the first 14 outings of the season.

It’s more of a slog for him as he grows accustomed to the workload amid a condensed season, but he’s not falling into the typical traps of a player growing weary. He isn’t turning the ball over, for starters, and his ability to avoid those turnovers is borderline historic. In fact, his already low turnover percentage this season of 7.3 has dipped slightly to 7.1 over this 11-game struggle.

The shots aren’t falling from the field, but he’s getting to the free throw line more over the last 11 games. Over games 1 through 14, he shot 5.7 free throws per game, and over this most recent stretch he’s shot 6.8 attempts per game.

Even as Grant struggles, he protects the ball better than ever, forces his way to the line, and his defense doesn’t dip in the slightest. His playmaking has ticked up significantly, from 2.6 assists per game to 3.5

And as we sit concerned over Jerami Grant’s recent shooting slump, it’s important to remember that his best scoring performances have come in the past week with back-to-back 32-point outings against the Los Angeles Lakers (a double overtime loss) and the Brooklyn Nets (a blowout win for the Pistons).

As far as slumps go, this one is something to keep an eye on. However, not for the usual reasons. We know Grant is going through it right now, but what is interesting is the ways he’s countering when he shot doesn’t fall, or when his energy is low.

Jerami Grant is putting on a master class on how to cope through a shooting slump with an emphasis on getting to the line, looking for teammates, playing stout defense, and above all: DON’T STOP SHOOTING. Let’s keep watching this one.