Pistons rookie Killian Hayes has labrum tear in right hip

Rod Beard
The Detroit News

The news on the injury that Pistons guard Killian Hayes is facing doesn’t appear to be good.

Hayes sustained an injury to his right hip area during Monday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks, but the extent was not known.

Pistons rookie Killian Hayes reportedly has a hip injury.

The Pistons announced Wednesday that an MRI showed that Hayes sustained a torn labrum in his right hip. It's unclear what the recovery time will be for Hayes, who was the No. 7 pick in this year's draft.

"Hayes will continue to be evaluated by team medical staff and further updates will be provided as appropriate," the Pistons said in a team statement.  

The injury is a tough blow for the young point guard, who will miss a big opportunity for development in his first season. Though the Pistons have no timetable for his recovery, there are things he can do to help to stay engaged while the season progresses. 

"It's tough, especially for a young kid to play his seventh game and be injured coming into league and just figuring it out," coach Dwane Casey said Wednesday. "He has to use that as a positive, to study film, sit down with the coaches, watch practice and be there during timeouts with the coaches, and really be a student of the NBA game.

"He can use this as a positive time to learn, to observe and get as much as he can mentally while he's rehabbing and trying to come back."

Choosing the course of Hayes' recovery could depend on how severe the labrum tear is. If it's a serious tear, it could require surgery, which could mean months of recovery and potentially could end Hayes' season, after just seven games. 

It's also possible that the injury is a minor tear, which could entail rehabilitation and would open the possibility of Hayes returning later in the season. 

Hayes, 19, is listed as out on the injury report ahead of Wednesday night’s rematch against the Bucks.

Early in the third quarter on Monday, Hayes was contesting a drive by the Bucks’ Jrue Holiday and without any contact, Hayes fell to the court in pain. He immediately grabbed at his hip and thigh area and received attention from team medical staff on the court. Hayes didn’t return to the game.

Hayes started all seven games for the Pistons and posted 4.6 points and 3.6 assists per game.

Rod.Beard@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @detnewsRodBeard