Jaden Ivey is continuing his family legacy in Detroit, as he was selected with the fifth-overall pick by the Pistons in the NBA Draft.
The NBA Draft saw 58 prospects achieve their dreams of playing professional basketball. For Purdue guard Jaden Ivey, he had the chance to achieve his dream and continue his family’s sports legacy.
Ivey was selected with the fifth-overall pick by the Detroit Pistons, and he was overcome with emotion as he hugged his family and walked onto the stage to shake the hand of NBA commissioner Adam Silver. The reason being is that Ivey’s mother, Niele, played for the WNBA’s Detroit Shock and his grandfather, James Hunter, as a defensive back for the Detroit Lions.
Jaden Ivey's mom, Niele, played for the Detroit Shock.
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 24, 2022
His grandfather, James Hunter, played for the Detroit Lions.
Full-circle moment for Ivey to get drafted by the Pistons ❤️ pic.twitter.com/bF6jTsSsd6
The @DetroitPistons selected @IveyJaden with the 5th pick of the 2022 @NBADraft.
— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) June 24, 2022
His grandfather, James Hunter, was selected by the @Lions with the 10th pick of the 1976 @NFLDraft.
Hunter spent his entire 7-year career with the Lions & ranks 7th in team history with 27 INTs. pic.twitter.com/k0PMZKctNJ
Jaden Ivey continues family legacy in Detroit sports
The Pistons had a surprise for Ivey during his and Jalen Duren’s introductory press conference on June 24, as they presented him with the jerseys of his mother, grandfather and father Javin, the latter of whom played for Detroit Country Day high school in Beverly Hills, Mich.
https://twitter.com/RealBullyBall/status/1540422215530938369?s=20&t=N4TXTuDaTqbR5fGguoYcWA
Niele Ivey, who played for the Indiana Fever (2001-04) and the Phoenix Mercury (2005), joined the Shock in the 2005 season. Ivey is currently the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish women’s basketball program.
Hunter was a former 10th-overall pick by the Lions in 1976 out of Grambling State, and he spent his entire with the team until the 1982 season. In that span, Hunter recorded 27 interceptions, which is the seventh-most in Lions franchise history. Additionally, Hunter recorded five fumbles, four fumble recoveries and four sacks.
Now, Ivey has the chance to continue his family’s legacy in Detroit. Not only that, but he is nwo part of the young core of Cade Cunningham and Duren to help the Pistons return to their former glory.