Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey didn’t have it easy working through his rehab on a left fibula injury for almost nine months only to turn around and get sidelined an extra month due to knee discomfort.
After making one appearance in preseason, Ivey required an arthroscopic procedure just a week before the start of the regular season.
Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon revealed more information about the procedure done on his right knee — his injury last season was in his left ankle — during a recent appearance on The Zach Lowe Show.
Langdon said it was a cleanup procedure as Ivey had loose particles of cartilage in his knee and that the operation itself was very swift.
“We’re going to make sure he’s good to go. I think that will go pretty easily. It was very, very simple,” Langdon said. “It was nothing. He was literally in the surgery room for 15 minutes. It was quick.”
Ivey, 23, was already walking again and beginning his rehab according to Langdon, as of the recording of the episode on Oct. 22.
Coach J.B. Bickerstaff previously said that the discomfort developed over the course of Ivey’s rehab as he was getting back into shape hoping to rejoin his team after playing in just 30 games last season and missing the postseason.
The Pistons have a lot of confidence in Ivey getting back into the fold sooner rather than later as an important guard for this year’s team.
Before his injury last season, Ivey was averaging 17.6 points and four assists per game while shooting 46% from the floor and 40.9% from beyond the arc.
“These guys are just ridiculous athletes and he was in really good shape. He had a great summer, so he’s going to get back off this quick,” Langdon said.
“We won’t rush him. Our biggest thing with him is let’s make sure you get back healthy and we keep you back. Obviously, it’s not easy coming back off of the ankle injury he had that was freakish...he worked his butt off and then he has to have this and go back to it. But he’s had a phenomenal mindset with this, he’s going to attack it and be back soon.”
Langdon didn’t have any additional information on a timeline for his return.
In their initial announcement, the Pistons said they planned to re-evaluate Ivey after four weeks and Langdon is sticking to that estimate for the time being.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.