DALLAS — Fans at Little Caesars Arena spent much of their time on their feet, cheering for the Detroit Pistons during their 124-112 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 6. At the 4:13 mark of the fourth quarter, those fans welcomed back Marcus Sasser, who substituted in for Caris LeVert.
“It just feels good to be able to be back on the court and moving well again, having no pain,” Sasser said ahead of his season debut. “It just feels really good to be back on the court playing basketball again.”
Sasser’s appearance was the result of a long and “frustrating” journey back from a right hip injury that sidelined him for the first 23 games. He played only four minutes and finished with two assists, but the moment was a monumental one for Sasser and the Pistons.
“It was hard,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “The things that he had been through, the ups and the downs. There was a time when he started to ramp back up, the injury wasn’t responding in a way that we hoped, and we had to reset.
“He is one of those guys who just put the work in. Last year, he was always ready when his number was called. You have a chance to be that way when you put in the work. It’s a great moment for him. It speaks to the work that he has put in.”
Sasser sustained a right hip impingement midway through training camp. The expected recovery wasn’t supposed to take an extended period; however, the Dallas native continued to experience pain as his on-court workouts increased.
The ongoing uncertainty regarding the injury was an experience Sasser had never encountered. Even more than when he missed nearly his entire junior year at the University of Houston due to a toe injury, which required season-ending surgery.
Before the Pistons announced his four-week absence on Nov. 9, Sasser’s return date was unclear. It wasn’t until his G League assignment with the Motor City Cruise that Sasser was able to go through his rehab and play without pain. The Cruise lost 114–112 to the Wisconsin Herd at Wayne State Fieldhouse on Dec. 3 during Sasser’s lone appearance, where he scored 20 points on 7-of-16 shooting off the bench.
“I felt really good when I played. No injuries. No knick-knack or anything like that,” Sasser said. “I just hope to continue with no pain. … (I never had) anything like this. Being in and out. Being up in the air on whether I could play or not. I’m just glad it is over with, and I am able to move on.”
Sasser watched from the sidelines as the Pistons started 18-5. They are now 21-5 – their best start in 20 years. His absence also meant he missed out on the Pistons’ record-tying 13-game winning streak.
Sasser’s teammates supported him during the difficult time, but he found his strongest ally in Jaden Ivey, who suffered a knee injury around the same period. Sasser and Ivey spent much of the first quarter of the season rehabilitating their injuries together at the Henry Ford Pistons Performance Center. They managed to strengthen their bond while keeping each other’s spirits up.
“We just care about our guys. … You just feel for the guys who had to go through these types of things,” Bickerstaff said. “What Sass had to go through had not been easy. What J.I. had to go through had not been easy. We are just happy for those guys that they get the opportunity to get out there and compete with their teammates. We know that is what matters to them the most.”
Sasser’s work ethic during rehab highlights the resiliency that made him a standout for the Pistons last season. His playing time decreased when compared to his rookie year, as he played in 57 games and had several DNPs due to Bickerstaff’s use of a tight rotation.
However, in the 14 games he played 20 or more minutes, Sasser averaged 13.1 points on 50.1% shooting from the field, 45.2% on 3-point shooting and 3.5 assists.
In the two games he has played since his return, all of Sasser’s minutes have come when the game was already decided in favor of Detroit. The setback has made it difficult for him to establish a meaningful role in Bickerstaff’s rotation this season.
Sasser’s role and playing time with the Pistons remain uncertain, but Bickerstaff trusts that when the moment arises, the third-year guard will be ready to contribute.
“He brings the ability to score the ball. Teams have to find another point of attack,” Bickerstaff said. “Obviously, he has the ability to catch and shoot. But defensively, all of the things he can do as well. He can pick guys up full court. He can guard bigger guys. He can be a pest on that end of the floor for us also.”