AUBURN HILLS -- It might be Rodney Stuckey's third year with the Detroit Pistons , but new coach John Kuester's arrival allows the former first-round pick a fresh start.
Stuckey is running with it -- literally. "I think the offense we are playing this year is going to keep me aggressive and keep me attacking," Stuckey said Wednesday between training camp sessions at the Pistons' practice facility.
"It's going to be about making stops, and then getting the ball out and going and getting good shots. I think we're all excited to get started."
Kuester is excited to have Stuckey on his roster. The coach knows about Stuckey's emergence in the playoffs two years ago against Orlando, and he knows the Stuckey he saw play against the Cleveland team he assisted last year.
But he also sees a player who is only 23, stands 6-foot-5, weighs 205 pounds and possesses skills suitable for both guard positions.
In other words, Stuckey is a prime candidate for the interchangeable guard approach Kuester prefers.
"Rodney has a bright, bright future in this league," he said. "I don't know a lot of what happened the last two years, but I do know what I see early on this year is somebody I think has the potential to be very, very special, especially in time.
"He has all the physical attributes you want: Size, strength, the ability to knock down shots and to take it to the hole. All I ask of him now is to play and get better."
Stuckey averaged 13.4 points and 4.9 assists in his second year, but acknowledged he was overwhelmed and confused. He was pushed to be aggressive by former coach Michael Curry, and that sometimes conflicted with setting up Allen Iverson and Richard Hamilton.
"This year, step one is defense, because from that this offense will take care of itself," Stuckey said. "Our offense is going to be get out and go. It will have me on the wing sometimes and somebody else bringing the ball up. We're all going to defend, run and get good shots."
Stuckey spent the summer working on his shooting. He said he was in a gym Monday through Saturday each week working on 3-point shooting, mid-range jump shots and shots coming off screens.
"I'm going to be more confident with it," he said. "I'm better."
Kuester, a point guard in his playing days, said Stuckey will soak in knowledge and eventually take on another role.
"He wants to become a leader," Kuester said. "You can see that in his eyes."
