Detroit Pistons guard Killian Hayes. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Pistons might have a breakout star on their hands

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 12/15/22

At first, it didn't appear as if any good would come out of former No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham missing the rest of his season due to a shin injury. When Cunningham went out, though, another former lottery pick stepped up, and now the Detroit Pistons have even more reason to believe that their future is incredibly bright.

With a spot in the starting lineup up for taking and both scoring and leadership needing to come in abundance, 2020's No. 7 overall pick, Killian Hayes, has finally found his shooting touch, confidence and swagger.

Hayes averaged just 6.8 points per game as a rookie and was disappointing in his second season, averaging only 6.9.

The on-the-season averages still look much the same for Hayes this season (8.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists per game), but those numbers don't tell the full story of who the French point guard is becoming for the Pistons.

More telling of his game as of late are his numbers since Cunningham went down in early November.

Hayes is averaging 11.6 points per game in the 16 he's played since that Nov. 11 mark. Even more impressive, he's averaging 13.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game so far in December.

And he's making shots like this:

Killian Hayes WOW

pic.twitter.com/5ohoegpQIt
— Pistons Talk (@Pistons__Talk) December 15, 2022

Not only has Hayes found his three-point range, but he's found the confidence that has unlocked all of the abilities that made him a lottery pick just a few seasons ago. He's a tall, lanky point guard with great speed, elite vision and passing — and now a dangerous touch with the ball in his hands.

Hayes notched 25 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in Detroit's 141-134 overtime win against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night. His night included the beautiful dagger above.

"He made a shot and said something in French to their bench. I don't know what he said. That kind of swag is important for us and for him," Pistons head coach Dwayne Casey said after the win, per Keith Langlois of the team's official website.

Throw in the ability to be a lockdown defender plus some of that swagger and the Pistons may have themselves a rising star on their hands.

More must-reads: