Several Pistons to train with UFC fighters for a week

A contingent of Detroit Pistons will travel to Las Vegas on Aug. 31, but it won’t be fun and games.

Members of the team are going to train with some UFC trainers. It’s a team bonding event put together by the players with Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond being the leaders.

Two weeks ago, some UFC fighters came to the team’s practice facility to cross train with the Pistons. Now the players are returning the favor, but will be working with the UFC trainers and coaches.

The players will be in Vegas for about a week.

Spencer Dinwiddie didn’t know who all would be attending, but he’ll be one of them.

“Training camp basically starts for us on the 29th,” said Dinwiddie, who is fighting for a backup role on the team as a point guard.

“It’s an exciting time right now. The Vegas thing is a team bonding thing. It looks like we’ll be doing two-a-days. I think the main thing with that is going to be group cohesion. Obviously they aren't going to let us fight MMA fighters, you can get hurt doing that.

“I honestly don’t know where the idea came from. It might have been our equipment manager or strength coach and Stan (Van Gundy) may have had something to do with it.’’

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For Dinwiddie, the goal is hard work.

“Keep getting in great shape and bond with the guys,” Dinwiddie said. “That’s the main thing when you have guys here early, that’s what you’re going to gain from it the most. I think most of the guys are going to be there.”

Dinwiddie said injury-rehabbing point guard Brandon Jennings already is in Vegas and should make an appearance.

Despite an inconsistent performance in the Orlando Summer League in July, Dinwiddie is still confident in his abilities.

“The most disappointing thing was my turnovers; I had too many,” he said. “I didn’t shoot the ball as well as I would’ve liked. Last season my assist-to-turnover ratio was 3 to 1, so that’s a bigger sample size then the summer league games. I’m a confident guy. My plan is to go into camp and be the best player on the floor. Obviously we have Reggie and he’s our franchise player, so being the best player on the floor hopefully would give me the backup spot.”

Contact Perry A. Farrell: 313-222-2555 or pafarrell@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @farrellperry.