Season stats: 2025-26. Updated 7 h ago.
Elijah Harkless Joins Pistons Backcourt After Solid Utah Stint
newsroom · 52 min agoElijah Harkless heads into 2026-27 with the Detroit Pistons after spending last season with Utah, where he averaged 6.8 points in 26 games. He is not on the injury report as Detroit prepares for the season opener. The 26-year-old guard out of UNLV brings two years of NBA experience to a new backcourt.
Who Is Elijah Harkless
Elijah Harkless is a 26-year-old guard who wears No. 16 for the Pistons. He stands 6-3 and weighs 195 pounds, and he played his college ball at UNLV. Harkless enters 2026-27 with two seasons of NBA experience under his belt. He spent last season with the Utah Jazz before joining Detroit. At his size and position, he projects as a rotation guard who can play either backcourt spot. His path to Detroit adds another body to a Pistons roster looking for depth on the perimeter.
Last Season's Numbers With Utah
Harkless appeared in 26 games last season with Utah, averaging 21.0 minutes per night. He put up 6.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.2 blocks per game, with 1.0 turnovers. His shooting split was 33.5 percent from the field, 23.9 percent from three-point range and 76.6 percent from the free-throw line. His true shooting mark sat at 47.1 percent with a usage rate of 16.2. His plus-minus for the season was -1.3. Those are the numbers Detroit is working from as it evaluates what he can offer entering camp.
What He Brings to Detroit's Roster
The steal numbers stand out from Harkless's time in Utah: 1.2 per game in 26 outings points to activity on the defensive end. His assist rate of 2.9 per game, next to modest scoring, suggests a player who has served more as a facilitator and defender than a primary scoring option. The three-point shooting at 23.9 percent last season is an area to watch as he settles into a new system. For Detroit, he adds a guard with NBA minutes already on his resume, even as the exact role in the rotation is still to be determined.
Health Report
Harkless is not on the injury report heading into the 2026-27 season. There is no injury history listed for him. That clean bill of health means he should be available for training camp and the start of the regular season without restriction. For a player changing teams, staying off the injury list early is a useful sign as he tries to earn a role in a new rotation.
Looking Ahead to the Opener
With no recent game log yet for Detroit and no rumors attached to his name, the picture on Harkless is still being written. What is known: he is healthy, he has two years of NBA experience, and he carries a season's worth of numbers from Utah as his most recent form line. The opener will be the first real look at how he fits alongside his new Pistons teammates.
Questions fans ask
What team did Elijah Harkless play for last season?
He played for the Utah Jazz in 2025-26, appearing in 26 games.
What is Elijah Harkless's jersey number with the Pistons?
He wears No. 16.
Is Elijah Harkless injured?
No. He is not on the injury report entering the 2026-27 season.
What college did Elijah Harkless attend?
He played college basketball at UNLV.
What were Elijah Harkless's stats last season?
In 26 games with Utah, he averaged 6.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.2 blocks in 21.0 minutes per game, shooting 33.5 percent from the field and 23.9 percent from three.
How much NBA experience does Elijah Harkless have?
He has two seasons of NBA experience.
Game log
last 0| Date | Opp | Result | Min | Pts | Reb | Ast | FG | 3P | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No games logged yet this season. | |||||||||