Pistons coach on rookie Jaden Ivey: 'He's got something you can't teach'

If the Pistons have what they think they have — a young and exciting core that could one day contend for the NBA's top prize — No. 5 overall pick Jaden Ivey has to be a big part of things in Detroit.

Make no mistake, the Pistons' climb back up the NBA's mountain will center around 2021's No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham and his ability or inability to grow from an exciting young player to a superstar. Outside of Cunningham, though, perhaps no Piston has that star power of Ivey, who averaged 17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists last season for Purdue en route to second-team All-American honors.

Ivey was one of the most explosive players in college basketball last season, if not the nation's most explosive and dynamic star, and he brings that quick-twitch athleticism and play-making ability to a Pistons team that is raw and full of potential.

Although he's yet to play one regular-season NBA game, expectations are high for Ivey based on his collegiate body of work as well as his status as a top-five pick. Sure, anything goes in a NBA players rookie season and Ivey still has a ton to prove, but Detroit head coach Dwane Casey already believes he sees the potential for greatness in the No. 5 overall pick.

“He’s got something you can’t teach,” Casey told Keith Langlois of NBA.com “We all know that. Now we’ve got to know how to pick our spots to use it. But we’re excited about his future.”

Alongside Cunningham and Ivey, Detroit is hoping for big contributions this season from the likes of small forward Saddiq Bey and newly acquired veteran forward Bojan Bogdanovic. The development of rookie center Jalen Duren will be a must-watch for Pistons fans.

Duren was drafted No. 13 overall by the Charlotte Hornets before a three-team trade between the Hornets, Pistons and New York Nets sent him to Detroit alongside Kemba Walker.