The talented Detroit Pistons guard is primed to return from his broken leg injury
Towards the top of the Detroit Pistons 2025 Media Day, President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon delivered an important message to the team’s fanbase– fourth-year guard Jaden Ivey is back.
“We had a lot of guys in Detroit this month,” Langdon said. “I think our guys are excited for the opportunity that presents itself for the season. We're pretty much a full go. We have one guy down, Colby Jones, with a left ankle injury, which isn't bad, but I think he's the only guy that will not start camp. Other than that, we're really excited and looking forward to the season.”
Last season, Ivey was breaking out and easing his way into the No. 2 scoring option on the Pistons before breaking his leg 30 games into the season. Before the injury, Ivey posted over 17 points per game, and his explosive drives were becoming a safe haven for Detroit’s scoring.
“It's been a tough road for him, especially at the beginning watching our season and not being able to be a part of the success that we had,” Langdon said. “I know it was really hard for him emotionally. It would be hard for any player, but he was there supporting his teammates the whole time, which I think meant a lot to those guys. And he's been in the gym. He's been diligent on his rehab protocol, and then for the last couple months, he's been live. He's been going hard in the gym. He's one-on-one, two-on-two, three-on-three, five-on-five. He's been going up and down now for a while, full contact, so there's no restrictions on him. He's looking really good.”
Though Ivey is returning from a major injury, the Purdue product has taken his recovery head-on and has already turned a few heads during workouts this summer. With Langdon issuing a positive review of Ivey’s rehab status, the talented 6-4 scorer is itching to regain his place within Detroit’s starting lineup for the 2025-26 campaign.
Detroit Pistons Release Official Training Camp Roster
On Monday morning, the Detroit Pistons kicked off 2025 Media Day with an update on its roster makeup ahead of training camp. In a formal capacity, the Pistons are set to take hit the gym for the start of training camp on Tuesday, then the pre-season will kick off on Monday, Oct. 6 with a game against the Memphis Grizzlies, so this roster announcement comes in a timely manner.
“Obviously, it will take him some time,” Langdon said. “He hasn't played five-on-five NBA basketball in 10 months. So, by the time he gets going with that, I think there's going to be a rhythm component of it and even a game conditioning component of it, that he'll have to get up to speed so, but we're looking forward to having him back, and he's going to be huge part of this team.”
Of course, Ivey will be motivated to prove that he’s an important piece to the puzzle that will take the Pistons deeper into the playoffs this season. Last year, Ivey had to sit on the sidelines when Detroit lost a six-game series in the first round of the playoffs to the New York Knicks.
“We expected our guys, with the knowledge that we have of them, to have chips on their shoulder heading into the summer and really work on their games at another level,” Langdon said. “We do have a young core, but they attacked the summer. They attacked things that they felt would make themselves better and make us better coming into this season. So, that was fun to see.”
The Detroit Pistons will begin the pre-season on Monday, Oct. 6 with a matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies.
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