Why Jaden Ivey is still a work in progress for Detroit

The the return of quarterback Jaden Ivey was an intriguing situation for Detroit Pistons. The former first-round draft pick made his season debut in November after suffering a fibula injury back in January. His 2024-25 season was cut short at 30 games when former Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony dove into Ivey’s leg during a turnover fight.

Before the injury, Ivey was playing the best basketball of his career. His third season saw career-high averages of 17.6 and an impressive jump in 3-point shooting, averaging 40.9%. That growth led to winning basketball for Detroit, and his style looked flawless on the sideline All-Star Cade Cunningham.

Ivey was activated for 17 games and is currently coming off the Pistons bench. He was on a 15-minute game limit as he recovered to fit on the field. There have been signs of improvement in his game and fitness, but the comeback is still a work in progress.

Jaden Ivey’s minutes and usage have increased since his return

Ivey averaged eight points during his return to the team this season. It’s clear he’s still working to get back to his peak form and contribute as much as he can to the Pistons. After a slow, cautious start, head coach JB Bickerstaff appears to be working to increase Ivy’s workload.

The Pistons routinely had Ivey play an off-ball role as a secondary target on offense. He spent most of his minutes playing off the bench, but Bickerstaff started playing him more with Cunningham and the starters. This is key for the Pistons, given their lack of proven offensive starters. Ivey is also being used as an offensive generator for Detroit to take extra attention away from Cunningham. He was impressive in man and zone attacks that opponents used in defense.

Bickerstaff and the medical team remained adamant about slowly increasing its use. He was vocal about how difficult this was the transition can be for a player like Ivey.

“It’s continued growth. I can’t say it enough, but what he’s doing is tough,” Bickerstaff explained. “Going 11 months without playing an NBA game and then coming back and having to play NBA speed in the middle of the season just isn’t easy. But again, he’s a guy who’s up for the challenge.”

Jaden Ivey adds shooting and spacing

The increased usage is starting to show its reward with Ivy’s inclusion. Ivey has become one of the Pistons’ most reliable 3-point shooters, averaging 39.6% from deep on about three attempts per game. This is much needed for Detroit, as they rank 25th in 3-point shooting with a team average of 34.7%.

Last season, Ivey showed the ability to be an impact scorer in catch-and-shoot scenarios or creating looks himself. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 40% on catch-and-shoot targets for Detroit. He has increased that efficiency to 44% so far this season.

Ivey’s game has been visibly affected by the injury, as he hasn’t shown the same explosive speed he’s had since the 2022 NBA Draft. He’s done a productive job playing in the flow of the offense instead of forcing shots to prove his athleticism is still intact.

Jaden Ivey improved his defense

The Pistons and JB Bickerstaff will always favor defense because of their success. This has always been a needed area of ​​growth in Ivy’s game, and it looks like he’s buying in and helping.

Ivey compiled an NBA defensive rating of 113.5 through his 17 games. His speed and effort continue to fit into Detroit’s defensive identity, as he has done a quality job of playing passing lanes to help create turnovers. The Pistons are at their best when they can play in transition, and they haven’t lost a step in that department since Ivey returned.

Ivey didn’t get to play many minutes with Detroit’s best defenders last season. Now, with healthy perimeter depth that includes Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland, Isaiah Stewart, JaVonte Green and others around, Ivey doesn’t need to be a consistent primary defender. With his larger frame and wingspan, he’s still equipped to take on secondary targets and disrupt passing lanes.