During the Detroit Pistons’ film session Saturday, Killian Hayes was asked what he could share with the team about France. The third-year guard gave advice about navigating Paris, and some of his favorite things to do in the city.
The Pistons (12-35) took a late flight to Paris on Sunday night, where they will play the Chicago Bulls at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday. Leading up to the game, the team will enjoy several days of sightseeing, shopping and dining. Most of Hayes’ teammates will be exploring Paris for the first time.
For Hayes, the trip is a homecoming. He was born in Lakeland, Florida, but raised in Cholet, France, more than 200 miles south of Paris. As a youth, he and his friends would hop on a train to Paris and hang out. Hayes started his professional career in France, playing for Cholet Basket from 2017-19 before signing a contract with ratiopharm Ulm in Germany.
Because of his French roots, Hayes will be a de facto tour guide for his teammates this week.
“I’m going to tell them places to go, good spots to eat at,” Hayes, 21, said Saturday. “I’m going to let them explore as well. I know a lot of guys are going to go shopping, myself included. It’s going to be a good time.”
“He’s proud of the fact that he’s able to go out in front of his city and country, and we want to make sure we represent him in the right way,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said before the trip.
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On Thursday, Hayes will have family and friends at Accor Arena to watch him play. The timing of the trip couldn’t be better for him, returning home while playing the best basketball in his young career.
His modest averages this season — 10 points, 5.7 assists, 39.6% overall shooting, 33.5% from 3 in 44 games — are all career bests. Hayes had already proven himself a skilled passer and defender before this season, but his efficiency has improved despite taking more shots per game than he ever has. And while his shooting needs significant improvement — his 45.6 eFG% (which adjusts for a 3-pointer being worth one more point than a 2) is 209 out of 211 qualified players — his season-long numbers undersell his growth compared to his first two seasons.
Since Nov. 9, Hayes is averaging 12.3 points, 6.6 assists and 1.5 steals, shooting 42.7% overall and 35.7% from 3 in 33 games. Perhaps not coincidentally, Nov. 9 was Cade Cunningham’s final game before a hairline shin fracture ended his season. Hayes has taken on more responsibility in Cunningham’s absence, and is thriving. In the Pistons’ 36 games without Cunningham, Hayes has arguably been the best player.
He spent significant time this offseason reworking his 3-point shooting mechanics. He entered this season shooting 26.8% from 3 on 2.6 attempts per game for his career. His 33.5% clip this season is nearly seven percentage points better, and he’s doing so while taking a career-high 3.6 3’s per game. That shot has slowly become a bigger part of his diet — since Nov. 9, he’s taking 4.2 attempts.
Hayes had a difficult NBA journey to get to this point. Drafted seventh overall in 2020, he didn’t have the benefit of a full training camp and preseason thanks to a COVID-shortened rookie season. He tore his labrum seven games into his first season, which cost him 41 games in a 72-game season. He missed 18 games last season, and a left thumb injury negatively impacted the lefty shooter’s ability to shoot.
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The Pistons were patient with Hayes’ development, and that patience has paid off this season. He’s in the midst of the best month of his career, averaging 14.6 points and eight assists through seven January games, shooting 45.7% overall and 38.2% from 3.
“We have to give him grace,” Casey said. “People disparage him and it’s not fair, because he has to grow into the game. No matter where you drafted him, there’s still a growing period of all players at that age coming into the NBA. He’s done an excellent job of growing, and like I said, he’s not a finished product yet. Let’s see where that takes us.”
Hayes said regardless of how he plays Thursday, he’s excited to play in his home country. He has established himself as an NBA-caliber point guard this season, and will be one of the most popular players in the arena.
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“Just going back home is really a blessing and being able to play with my family and friends,” Hayes said. “It doesn’t matter, they don’t care if I play good or bad. Just being able to be with them and play in front of them. Of course I want to play well, but they see it differently. They just want to see me out there and hoop.”
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @omarisankofa.
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