Pistons’ Jaden Ivey to miss a month with injury
The return of Jaden Ivey, the talented guard for the Detroit Pistons, has been cut short once again. The player will be out of the courts for the next four weeks due to surgery on his right knee, as announced by the team this Thursday. Ivey, who had already been absent for 49 games last season due to a left fibula injury, was only able to participate in one preseason game before discomfort issues arose.Ivey, selected in the fifth position of the 2022 draft, was in the middle of a promising season last year before suffering a collision with Magic guard Cole Anthony on New Year’s Day. At that time, he was averaging 17.6 points and 41% effectiveness in 3-point shots, both career highs. The Pistons acquired veteran guard Dennis Schroder to fill the backup point guard position after Ivey’s injury last season. Bickerstaff is confident that guards Marcus Sasser and Daniss Jenkins, who is on a dual contract, can fill Ivey’s absence. In addition, third-year forward Ausar Thompson has taken on more responsibilities in training camp to be the primary facilitator when All-NBA guard Cade Cunningham is on the bench. As for Ivey, it could be up to 10 months before he returns to action in the regular season, and he is awaiting a rookie-scale extension if the team and he reach an agreement before the October 20 deadline. The Pistons will take precautions with his recovery, given the consecutive injuries suffered by one of the fastest players in the league.“It was something that developed during his work. Obviously, upon returning, but also in training camp, he began to feel something,” declared Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff, before the last preseason game against the Washington Wizards. “We took precautions, and then the medical team did their evaluations and those things, and then he had to make the decision that ultimately led us to where we are today.”
J.B. Bickerstaff
“Our priority is to do what’s right for our players and never put them in a position where we feel we have to rush them back,” Bickerstaff said. “We know the impact that can have on him, both physically and mentally, and also in the long term.”
J.B. Bickerstaff
