He is one of the nice surprises of this first part of the NBA season.
And this is great news for spectators of the NBA game on January 19 in Paris between Detroit and Chicago.
A few days before this event, the French leader of Detroit Killian Hayes distinguished himself in the NBA on Sunday by scoring 26 points.
A performance which however did not allow his team to win at home against the Philadelphia Sixers (123-111).
The 21-year-old French player, drafted in 7th position in 2020, confirms his rise to power.
Against Philadelphia, he equaled his personal record for points scored (set in April 2022 against Oklahoma City) with excellent shooting success (11/17).
He also finished the game with 6 assists and 3 interceptions including one to the nose and beard of star James Harden who ended up on the ground.
A remarkable performance for the one who recovered a starting place after the injury of Cade Cunningham (who will not play again for the season) and has not failed since to show his qualities (9.8 pts, 5.6 assists, 2 .9 average rebounds) after having disappointed during his first two years in the NBA, it is true weighed down by injuries.
🇬🇧 Frenchie.
Time.
Killian Hayes
Rudy Gobert
Frank Ntilikina
Nico Batum pic.twitter.com/m0P3S5hS8a
— NBA France (@NBAFRANCE) January 9, 2023
Detroit nevertheless remains a struggling team in the championship, occupying the last place in the Eastern Conference, far from the 5th occupied by the Sixers, who enforced logic, even without Joel Embiid touched on one foot.
In his absence, James Harden multiplied with a triple-double (20 pts, 11 rebounds and 11 assists) and Tyrese Maxey brought offensively (23 pts).
Double double for Rudy Gobert
Another Frenchman distinguished himself in this American night.
Rudy Gobert, for his part, contributed to Minnesota's 4th success in a row on the Houston floor (104-96).
The pivot, particularly skilful (8 of 12 shooting) managed 18 points and took 11 rebounds.
His Timberwolves are now on the heels of Phoenix (8th) with the same record, still slightly negative (20-21).
In Los Angeles, Nicolas Batum started for the reception of Atlanta and although very active (13 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks), he could not prevent the sixth loss (112-108) in a row for the Clippers, encased in 6th place in the West.
Finally, despite the absence of Luka Doncic, Frank Ntilikina had only 12 minutes of play, compiling 6 points and 2 interceptions, during Dallas' defeat at Oklahoma City (120-109).
The Mavs remain 4th.
