The Pistons had the fifth pick in the 2022 NBA draft and selected Purdue stud, Jaden Ivy. Was this expected? What should we expect from him? What does he need to improve on?
Written by: Riya Kalra
30 June, 2022
Jaden Ivey was selected as the 5th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft. The 6’4 guard weighs around a hefty 200 lbs, however, given his extraordinary talent, some wonder why the Kings passed on Ivey. The Pistons made the right decision by taking Ivey as their 5th pick though, because the Pistons and the Magic had Ivey work out with them before the NBA draft. Sacramento, on the other hand, Ivey did not like the idea of playing for the Kings. Though a headline stated that Ivey thought Sacramento “wouldn’t be the worst option” in the draft, Ivey already had his eyes set on Detroit, or Orlando perhaps. In the end, Ivey was the best pick for the Pistons, a team who is looking to rebuild themselves and create a starting lineup.
What can Ivey Give to Detroit?
Ivey contains an explosiveness within him, he has bursts of energy that allow him to dunk on one side of the court, then hop back onto defense to guard his opponent. Ivey also always finds a way to get to the basket and score, whether it’s passing to his teammate for an open shot or side stepping around his defender to lay the ball up and in. Ivey’s stats reflect the effort and time he puts into basketball- 17.1 PPG, 3.1 APG, and 4.9 RPG, all in his 2021-22 sophomore season with Purdue. Another great aspect of Ivey is that he’s able to shoot from different angles- it could be a dunk, a hook shot, or even a long three from downtown, Ivey’s got it covered.
What can Ivey Improve on?
Ivey is an amazing player with lots of drive and intensity, however, this can serve to his disadvantage. Ivey can work on his decision making. His bursts of speed and energy seem to make it difficult for him to make a decision, whether it’s passing the ball to his teammate when speeding down the perimeter or being intensely double teamed. His speed can force careless errors on Ivey, such as when he’s on a fast break and razes through a defender, drawing a foul. Though Ivey only averaged less than two fouls per game, which is good considering he is an aggressive and hardcore player. Ivey’s aggressiveness may be used against him though, with defenders standing in front of him, potentially drawing a charge. In addition, his bursts of speed may create a challenge when hitting a jumper, when Ivey gets a fast break he tends to just dunk it. But in the NBA, with tougher defense, Ivey will have to focus on hitting those mid range shots, where he only hit 2/23 last season.
Conclusion
Jaden Ivey, the 6’4 guard from the Boilermakers, will help revitalize a new Pistons team. Ivey will bring intensity, passion, and energy to Detroit. With Jeremy Grant and Marvin Bagley iii, Ivey will have reliable teammates to pass too. Fingers crossed that during the Summer league, Ivey adjusts to his new teammates and will learn how to control his intensity in some situations. Ivey will bring a great amount of spirit and aggressiveness on both ends of the floor, but he must be wary of his surroundings and whether charging at his defender is the best option. Ivey can hit tough shots and draw fouls, which will be useful to the Pistons. While their goal is to integrate and improve Ivey when joining them, maybe Ivey is a strong enough figure to lead the Pistons to the playoffs and help create a capable roster.
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