Jaden Ivey Q&A: Chatting with the Pistons No. 5 pick at the 2022 NBA Draft – The Athletic

Jaden Ivey sat in the bowels of Barclays Center in downtown Brooklyn, speechless and emotional. It was almost as if he was in a trance. The moment he had worked for his entire life had arrived. He was in the NBA, a member of the Detroit Pistons, who took the Purdue star with the No. 5 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Unbeknownst to him, though, as the 20-year-old sat and stared at a screen, sporting a sharp, navy-colored velvet sport coat and Pistons cap, talking to the Detroit media, his future was still up in the air. Rival teams were blowing up the Pistons phones, per sources, trying their best to create the awkward draft moment when a player parades around in public wearing the wrong teams colors. The Knicks, per sources, were most aggressive in trying to land his services. The Pistons, though, stood firm and elected to move forward with Ivey, who they werent sure would be available at No. 5 coming into Thursday nights draft.

For Ivey, going to Detroit means more than achieving his dream. His mother, Niele, played for the WNBAs Detroit Shock in 2005 when Ivey was 2 years old. His father, Javin Hunter, was born in Detroit and is a former NFL wide receiver. His grandfather, James Hunter, was an all-pro defensive back for the Detroit Lions in the 1970s and 80s. Ivey was born in in Indiana, but Detroit is home. He still has family there. It was almost as if his life had come full circle.

The Pistons took Ivey to create what they hope will be a dynamic backcourt for the next decade-plus, pairing him with last years No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham. Ivey told The Athletic he has admired Cunningham from a distance. Cunningham, being the No. 1 pick, was an inspiration to the underrecruited guard. Now together, the two fight the same battle of turning Detroit back into a relevant entity in the NBA world.

Thursday night, as he made the media rounds following his ushering into the NBA, the newest Piston guard briefly chatted with The Athletic about his first conversations with Detroit general manager Troy Weaver and head coach Dwane Casey, the biggest misconception about his game and his relationships with the players on the Pistons roster.

You can read the exclusive interview below.

(Editors note: The conversation has been edited for both length and clarity.)

Did you ever get a sense during the pre-draft process that the Pistons would take you if available at No. 5?

Yeah. After my workout with the Pistons, I really liked the organization. Dwane Casey, what we were talking about. Troy Weaver. I felt comfortable with the organization and coaching staff. They were very genuine. The facility I was at, it was a very nice facility. I cant wait to get to work there.

Whats the biggest misconception about your game?

I feel like I can showcase my midrange game at the next level. Its something Ive been working on all summer. I feel like I can showcase that at a high level.

What were those first conversations with Troy Weaver and Dwane Casey like?

They were very intense. I felt like they really wanted me. They were very genuine conversations. They talked about winning, and thats what I want to do. We talked about setting a defensive presence when I get there and bringing back winning to Detroit.

(Weaver) challenged me to be a great defender. I want to do that. He wants me to be part of this culture that theyre building on that side of the ball. I want that challenge. They want to win. I want to help them win. I want to show that I have some dawg in me.

Do you have any relationships with the players in Detroit?

Yeah, I know Isaiah (Stewart), Saddiq (Bey) I know a lot of the guys. Isaiah Stewart went to La Lumiere (Indiana), so I keep in contact with him and support him. Its a brotherhood at La Lumiere. Cade Cunningham Ive seen him in the draft. He was the first pick in last years draft. He gave me a lot of inspiration, being the No. 1 pick. The fact I get to play with him will be very special.

Last thing: I heard Stephen A. Smith said he was happy for you but mad you arent a Knick. Spike Lee said something to you at the podium. Has this whole situation been weird? Can you put it into words?

Tonight is special, to be honest. Just to be here, knowing how hard I worked to be here, to be drafted to the Detroit Pistons, an organization that, as a kid, I went to Pistons games. Its a high-energy, high-level style of play. Theyve got that dawg type of play, too, which is what I like. I want to get back to that. Im looking forward to that.

(Top photo of Jaden Ivey: Brad Penner / USA Today)

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Jaden Ivey Q&A: Chatting with the Pistons No. 5 pick at the 2022 NBA Draft - The Athletic