Pistons rookie Saddiq Bey’s scorching shooting earns him NBA player of the week award

Detroit Free Press

Marlowe Alter | Detroit Free Press

Saddiq Bey introduced himself to causal fans last week with an NBA rookie-record 7-for-7 shooting from 3-point range Friday.

The performance helped the rookie forward earn Eastern Conference Player of the Week for Feb. 8-14.

The Pistons went 3-1 last week, and Bey’s exploits were a large part of the success: He averaged 17.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and two assists in 26.1 minutes per game, coming off the bench in three games before starting Sunday’s win vs. New Orleans. Bey, who scored in double figures in each contest, shot 25 of 35 (71.4%) and a scolding 69.6% from 3 (16 of 23) for the week.

“It was a blessing for sure,” Bey said Monday, as he thanked the Pistons’ coaching staff.

TRENDING: Pistons, Blake Griffin looking to part ways through buyout or trade

PISTONS STOCK WATCH: Three players are scorching hot right now

The No. 19 overall pick in November’s draft out of Villanova, Bey started the week by scoring all 15 of his points in the fourth quarter of an upset win over the Brooklyn Nets.

Then on Friday, he dominated the Celtics in scoring a career-high 30 points and hitting all seven of his 3s with 12 rebounds in the 108-102 win.

Bey’s stat lines from the week:

• Feb. 9: 15 points (6-for-6, 3-for-3 on 3s), three rebounds, two assists in 122-111 win over Nets.

• Feb. 11: 10 points (3-for-6, 2-for-5 on 3s), three rebounds in 111-95 loss to Pacers.

• Feb. 12: 30 points (10-for-12, 7-for-7 on 3s), 12 rebounds in 108-102 win at Celtics.

• Feb. 14: 16 points (6-for-11, 4-for-8 on 3s), four rebounds, six assists, three steals in 123-112 win over Pelicans.

[ Want more Pistons news? Download our free mobile app on iPhone & Android! ] 

The 6-foot-7, 21-year-old forward is shooting 42.2% from 3 this season (49 of 116), and became the only rookie in league history to make seven 3s in a game without a miss. He’s the fourth Pistons rookie to score at least 30 points in game over the past 35 seasons (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Grant Hill, Allan Houston).

Bey joins Kelly Tripucka (March 14, 1982) as the only rookies in franchise history to earn player of the week.

[ Subscribe to the Free Press during our Presidents’ Day Sale: Take advantage of our special offer at $1 for six months. ]

In 25 appearances (eight starts), Bey is averaging 9.1 points and 3.5 rebounds in 19.9 minutes per game. He should see more playing time with Blake Griffin on the way out.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker was named Western Conference Player of the Week.

NO GAME: Pistons vs. Spurs for Tuesday postponed due to positive COVID-19 test

 

Articles You May Like

Final: Jaden Ivey and whatever’s left of the Pistons dismantled by the Knicks in NYC
The Pindown: Ivey & Duren’s Future in Detroit

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *