4 months ago
- Pistons
- Published: Jan. 07, 2026, 11:37 a.m.
It mightiness not beryllium agelong until Killian Hayes is competing connected NBA courts again arsenic nan erstwhile Detroit Pistons lottery prime is making a beardown statement for different changeable astatine nan large leagues.
Hayes’ first spell successful nan NBA aft being selected 7th wide successful 2020 by Detroit didn’t spell arsenic planned arsenic injuries and inconsistencies mounted and he didn’t make it done his rookie woody pinch nan team.
But now, Hayes is making waves successful nan G League pinch nan Cleveland Charge (Cavaliers affiliate) and was named G League Player of nan Week connected Tuesday.
To unfastened nan regular season, Hayes averaged 26.3 points, 9.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds crossed nan first 4 games, wherever nan Charge went 4-0.
Hayes, 24, mightiness not person lived up to nan lottery-pick billing for Detroit — averaging 8.1 points, 5.2 assists and 2.9 rebounds crossed 210 games pinch nan Pistons — but it looks for illustration he’s retired to get himself backmost into nan NBA aft immoderate clip away.
Following his stint pinch Detroit, Hayes signed pinch nan Brooklyn Nets successful 2024. While he spent astir of nan play successful nan G League — without showing astir nan aforesaid committedness arsenic this twelvemonth — Hayes signed a 10-day statement for nan Nets successful February 2025 and started 5 games for a depleted roster.
Hayes posted 9 points, 5.2 assists and 3 rebounds crossed six full games, which wasn’t capable to gain different 10-day deal. His past crippled was March 1, 2025 against Detroit.
Nothing is certain, but Hayes seems for illustration a beardown campaigner to gain a telephone up to nan NBA if he continues performing astatine this level.
The first time NBA teams could motion players to modular 10-day contracts was Jan. 5 and Jan. 7 is nan last time players who person non-guaranteed salaries tin beryllium waived earlier those deals go guaranteed.
Given Hayes isn’t a two-way subordinate aliases connected duty from Cleveland, he tin beryllium signed by immoderate NBA squad disconnected nan Charge that offers him an opportunity.
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Jacob Richman is simply a sports newsman for MLive.com and covers pro and assemblage teams crossed Michigan. Before joining MLive, Jacob covered assemblage sports successful Texas astatine LoneStarLive.com pinch a attraction connected Texas A&M and...
