Detroit Pistons general manager Troy Weaver on Friday called the final stretch of the season a crucial period for rookie Killian Hayes’ development and experience on the court.
Of course, Hayes has not played since Jan. 4 after suffering a right hip subluxation versus the Milwaukee Bucks. He was cleared to resume on-court basketball activities on March 16 and will go through a phased progression plan toward his return to full-contact practice and game action.
The Pistons have not yet announced a date for Hayes to play again, as he will be re-evaluated again in early April, but the latest update is encouraging for his eventual return to the court.
“It’s exciting to get him going again,” Weaver said. “He definitely needs this as part of his growth to get on the floor and play some minutes to help his development. We’re excited to get him out there and get him going and get his feet under him so that he can sprint into the offseason, which will be a huge offseason for him. He will definitely need those minutes to get him comfortable and acclimated to NBA basketball.”
Hayes is viewed as a significant building block for the future of the Pistons, along with several other rookies. The team prioritized his development prior to his injury and wanted to give him the opportunity to log heavy minutes to adjust to the NBA game.
The organization will certainly be cautious with his return but it appears as though Hayes could soon join the team back on the court for the final 20-plus games of the season. In seven games, Hayes is averaging 4.6 points and 3.6 assists.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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