Never judge rookies based on the first few weeks of their NBA career. Or even the first few months, usually. That said, here’s the Detroit Free Press on Pistons lottery pick Killian Hayes:
Through four games, Hayes is averaging 5.0 points and 3.5 assists. He has more assists (14) and turnovers (10) and is already a reliable defender.
But he’s shooting just 27.6% so far. NBA defenders are longer and more athletic than the opponents he faced in Germany and France, and he’s still adjusting. To compensate, many of his shot attempts have come from the short midrange area, and he has made just one trip to the free-throw line through four games…
There have already been positive strides forward. He had seven points (3 of 6 from the floor), seven assists and just one turnover in the second half of Monday’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks and helped the Pistons cut a 24-point deficit to five in the fourth quarter. It was his best stretch of basketball yet in his young NBA career.
The Pistons are 0-4 so far this season. They face the Celtics tomorrow.
