Jaden Ivey’s comeback could be the X-factor Detroit desperately needs
Pistons guard Jaden Ivey is finally healthy after a devastating broken left fibula sidelined him for 55 straight games last season.
The injury forced him to watch from the bench as his team struggled without him. Now, he’s ready to prove everyone wrong.
It’s easy to forget just how good Ivey was before getting hurt. With all the offseason moves around the league, his name has barely come up in basketball conversations.
The Kevin O’Connor Show on Yahoo Sports recently highlighted this oversight, wondering if Ivey might be Detroit’s secret weapon next season. Could he even make a push toward All-Star consideration?
Ivey’s return couldn’t come at a better time for the Pistons. He’s fully recovered and expected to play major minutes alongside star point guard Cade Cunningham.
Despite being just 24 years old, Ivey already has 181 games under his belt with 164 starts. He was a full-time starter in all 30 games he managed to play last season before the injury.
The numbers tell an interesting story.
Ivey posted career-highs with 17.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game last season, showing real growth before getting hurt.
Meanwhile, Cunningham exploded as Detroit’s primary option, averaging 26.1 points and 9.1 assists per game. The question now is whether Ivey can make a similar leap.
Some Pistons fans seem to have forgotten just how effective Ivey was. As one Twitter user pointed out: “The discourse around Jaden Ivey FROM PISTONS FANS genuinely confuses me. Do y’all not remember him hooping before the leg injury?”
The most encouraging sign might be Ivey’s dramatically improved shooting. After hitting just 34% from three-point range in his first two seasons, he jumped to nearly 41% last year.
Even more impressive? He shot a blistering 45% on catch-and-shoot threes.
The chemistry between Detroit’s young guards could be the key to the team’s future. When sharing the court with Cunningham, Ivey averaged an eye-popping 26.6 points per 75 possessions. That number dropped to 18 points when Cunningham sat.
If they can maintain that level of production together, Detroit might finally have the elite backcourt they’ve been trying to build for years.
The big question heading into next season: Can Ivey take that next step and become the star the Pistons drafted him to be?
