Jaden Ivey was looking like one of the best players for the Detroit Pistons last season, until he was pulled from the game because of a serious injury.
The Pistons are understandably very excited by Ivey, and they think he could be part of the franchise’s future.
An unnamed executive is so fired up by Ivey that they believe the team could have won their first-round matchup in the playoffs if he had remained healthy.
“Look, if we have Jaden last year, we win our first playoff series in forever. We believe that 100%,” a Pistons executive said, via NBACentral.
An anonymous Detroit Pistons front executive says the team would’ve won their first-round matchup if Jaden Ivey had never gotten hurt
“Look, if we have Jaden last year, we win our first playoff series in forever. We believe that 100%.”
(Via @KeithSmithNBA / h/t @KnicksMuse,… pic.twitter.com/6tWf26pK4b
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 23, 2025
Ivey was rising through the ranks, improving his game in multiple ways, when he got hurt.
He suffered his freak injury at the worst time, right as the Pistons were proving that they had turned a corner and were becoming a true threat in the East.
His season average ended at 17.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.0 assists.
There is hope that he will be just as good, if not even better, in 2025-26.
In fact, some people say everyone should consider Ivey when they think of candidates for Most Improved Player of the year.
The Pistons were on a roll when the playoffs started last season, and then they met their opening-round opponents: the New York Knicks.
They were able to pick off two wins, but the Knicks moved past them.
The Pistons want to do even better next season, and they believe they can, especially if Ivey is on the court and fully healthy.
Some people believe he was the missing piece that could have pushed them further into the postseason.
Next year, he will get a chance to prove what he can do.
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