Killian Hayes has not performed in an NBA sport in over a 12 months. Nevertheless, after signing a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets, the previous No. 7 choose will debut towards the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.
“I felt very grateful. I felt like a number of work acquired put into this, and I’m simply very grateful for this chance,” Hayes stated after signing the deal. “[I’m ready to] simply do no matter I’m requested. Simply play laborious, go on the market, and play ball. [Harness] any pleasure I’ve. Simply give it my all, actually.”
After the Detroit Pistons launched him halfway by means of 2023-24, the Nets invited Hayes to coaching camp this fall. He was minimize after struggling a hip harm however signed with Brooklyn’s G League affiliate. The 23-year-old averaged 16.1 factors, 5.2 rebounds and seven.6 assists on 47/35/69 capturing splits over 29 appearances with the Lengthy Island Nets.
Killian Hayes trying to revitalize NBA profession with Nets
At 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan, Killian Hayes’ measurement, protection and ball-handling drew excessive expectations upon getting into the NBA. Nevertheless, his poor exterior capturing (27.7 p.c from three 45.6 p.c true capturing) held him again in Detroit.
Former Pistons basic supervisor Troy Weaver admitted this after releasing Hayes final season.
“He has measurement, a flexible defender, playmaker with the ball,” Weaver advised the Detroit Free Press. “It didn’t work due to his capturing. He by no means acquired his capturing. The man can actually defend, we’ve seen his playmaking capacity, however should you’re a guard within the NBA it’s a must to make photographs. The additional away you’re from the basket, the extra expert it’s a must to be. The nearer to the basket, the much less expert you might be. Should you’re a guard, it’s a must to make photographs.
“I’ve talked to Killian advert nauseam about that, bettering his capturing. That’s in the end why he wasn’t as profitable a participant he wanted to be. He has all of the attributes for a superb participant, however if you’re a guard capturing is paramount.”
Associated Brooklyn Nets InformationArticle continues beneath
Nevertheless, after an offseason primarily targeted on fixing his jumper, Hayes confirmed enchancment in Lengthy Island. The Frenchman shot 35.1 p.c from three on 4.6 makes an attempt per sport.
“It simply comes with reps and confidence. I feel confidence performs an enormous half in capturing,” Hayes stated of his three-point enchancment. “After I was over there, I used to be taking part in with a number of confidence. Each shot I took, I felt it was getting in. So it is nearly coming in right here with the identical impression, similar mentality.”
Whereas sustaining his three-point effectivity will probably be essential, protection and facilitation are Hayes’ most important calling playing cards.
“Defensively bringing aggressiveness, bothering anyone who’s bringing the ball up. And offensively, simply play my sport. I’ve at all times been someone that likes to seek out their teammates. Create photographs, create openings for my teammates as properly, and simply be aggressive,” he stated of the Nets teaching workers’s factors of emphasis.
The Nets maintain the NBA’s greatest protection throughout a 6-1 stretch over their final seven video games. Hayes will add one other succesful point-of-attack defender to Brooklyn’s backcourt because the crew pushes for a play-in spot. He’ll be a part of Trendon Watford as a backup level guard possibility behind D’Angelo Russell.
“We had him right here by means of coaching camp, and he dedicated to play with our membership in Lengthy Island, and he is accomplished an excellent job,” head coach Jordi Fernandez stated of Hayes. “He is impacted video games, aiding, rebounding, scoring, and he is been taking part in the best method. So proper now, we all know Trendon might be the man that runs the purpose, however on the similar time, Trendon could be a 1, 2, 3; he is multi-positional. So having a quote-unquote, extra conventional backup level guard can be good for us.
“We’ll give it a glance. This 10-day is necessary, not only for him, but in addition for us. And he can do the issues we ask him to do as a result of we all know who he’s. That is the explanation why we introduced him within the first place.”