With the Detroit Pistons, Killian Hayes had an odd first season. The French point guard, who was selected in the lottery for the 2020 NBA Draft, was limited to only 26 games due to a hip ailment, and when he did play, he looked like other first-year point guards in the league. Despite having professional experience in Europe, Hayes had to learn on the fly how to deal with the NBA’s speed and physicality, which is a common manner for rookies to struggle, especially those who have the ball in their hands as frequently as Hayes did.
As a result, Hayes is in Las Vegas for Summer League, something he didn’t get to do last season. During his first season in the desert, he’s had his ups and downs, but one of his most memorable moments occurred on Friday night when the Pistons were playing the New York Knicks and he blasted out a crossover that put Knicks wing Wayne Selden in the spin cycle.
Even by that standard, watching a dude get crossed up like this is really stunning. Hayes had a good game against the Knicks, scoring seven points on 2-for-8 shooting with five turnovers while also contributing six assists, five rebounds, one steal, and one block in a 93-87 victory.
