Detroit Pistons rookie guard Jaden Ivey is already turning heads in the preseason. Earlier this month, despite the Pistons losing their preseason road opener against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden 117-96. Ivey’s game stood out as he scored 16 points, four rebounds, two assists, a steal and no turnovers in the loss.
He shot the ball effectively 6-on-9 from the field, made all his free throws, and connected on his single three-pointer, and according to Tony Jones of The Athletic, he is going to be a star.
Meanwhile, DP_NFL who is a National Scout for The Draft Network believes Ivey can help maximize Cade Cunningham on the offensive end.
“Jaden Ivey can help maximize Cade Cunningham on offense. Not only will he push the ball on the break, but handing the ball allowing cade to play off the ball. Spot up 3s, back door cuts, feed the post vs smaller guards!”
Speaking of Cunningham, “I can play off the ball or on the ball,” said Ivey. “I feel like I could complement Cade a little bit with his ability to score the ball. And just read how the offense is going. I’m a baller, if you need me on the ball or off the ball, whatever you need me to do to help the team win, I can do.”
Adding, “I feel that brotherly love,” Ivey said. “I feel like me, and Cade kind of have similar minds.”
According to Mirin Fader from The Ringer, Cade Cunningham has taken Jaden Ivey under his wing, hoping to create a successful partnership that will last for years to come.
“Everything you were doing in college, the player you are today, is going to be just fine,” Cunningham told Ivey. “It’s going to translate.”
“You can really put any group together out on the court, and I feel like it’ll be five guys that mess with each other off the court, and that are really cool and care about each other. You don’t find that all the time,” Cunningham added.
Pistons coach Dwane Casey shared that Ivey’s ability to draw fouls is “Huge.”
“With his speed, he’s going to get there. What he’s got to do now is recognize gaps – how quickly those gaps close up, how long guys are. They close up a lot quicker now than they did in college.”
Ivey is slated as a +700 to win this year’s Rookie of the Year, according to Oddseeker.
Pistons will start the regular season at home against the Orlando Magic.
