2. Killian Hayes had a rookie’s beginning
The Detroit Pistons drafted Killian Hayes seventh overall in this year’s NBA draft (like, three weeks ago), and the turnaround between draft and first preseason game was astonishingly fast. The thing to remember with young players in these early goings is not whether they look like world-beaters (because they almost never will), but whether they look overmatched.
Fortunately for the Pistons, Hayes did not look overmatched.
Without a doubt, he tried to do too much at times and made some sloppy rookie turnovers (he finished with seven of them in his 21 minutes of action), but that’s part of the learning experience. He also had three assists and a few crisp passes to set up teammates with no payoff.
Hayes scored five points on 2-of-7 shooting, both of which were in the paint. One came on a twisting layup at the basket and the other off his floater.
It’s going to be a challenge for Killian Hayes to put it all together, but unless you’re Luka Doncic or LeBron James, that’s the case for every rookie. He definitely showed some of the talent that earned him that No. 7 slot in the 2020 NBA Draft