Dwane Casey: 'I want to help Killian Hayes go to the Olympics' / News - Basketnews.com

"He can be the leader of the France team because he has the talent," Dwane Casey said of Killian Hayes.

Credit: AP, Getty Images via AFP/Scanpix Credit AP, Getty Images via AFP/Scanpix

Before arriving in the French capital for the NBA Paris Game 2023 between the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons, point guard Killian Hayes admitted that he wants to play with the French national team in the FIBA World Cup 2023 and Paris Olympics next year.

Free throws this season

77%20,8Points made:20,8Accuracy:77,2%Place in standings:1Record max:34Record min:10Most made FTs:Bojan BogdanovicTeamNBAStatisticsSchedule

"I feel ready and want to be part of this group," Hayes told L'Equipe. "Still, your place is not given. You have to fight for it. With Nicolas Batum, I discussed my state of mind and the training camp planned for this summer. I want to do it, and I want to train with the France team and try to earn my place."

Pistons head coach Dwane Casey supports his player's desire and wants to help him suit up for the French NT.

"I want to help Killian Hayes go to the Olympics," he said, via BeBasket. "He can be the leader of the France team because he has the talent. Killian arrived very young in the NBA, and he has progressed so much in the last three years. I feel like he is evolving to be a great NBA point guard. And he is not a polished product. He will continue to grow. We are proud to have him in Detroit and help him in his development process."

Hayes, 21, was born in Lakeland, Florida, and was raised in Cholet, France. However, he is yet to make his senior debut with the French NT jersey. Hayes has previously played for the U16 and U17 teams, winning a gold medal and MVP award at the 2017 FIBA U16 European Championship and a silver accolade at the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup.

Killian Hayes went 7th overall in the 2020 NBA draft and now plays a career-best season in the NBA. He averages 10.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists over 44 games.

Thursday marks the first time the NBA has returned to Europe for a global game since January 2020.

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