Almost a year removed from his last NBA appearance, former Detroit Pistons guard Killian Hayes is making a comeback.
After becoming one of the top G League players this season with the Cleveland Charge, Hayes is signing a 10-day contract with the Sacramento Kings, according to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The former No. 7 overall pick in the 2020 draft last played in the NBA on March 1, 2025 for the Brooklyn Nets, scoring four points in a game against the Pistons.
Hayes, 24, might not have lived up to the lottery-pick billing for Detroit — averaging 8.1 points, 5.2 assists and 2.9 rebounds across 210 games with the Pistons — but he’s been thriving in the G League to earn another opportunity.
He’s averaging 23.1 points on 47% shooting, with 8.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game during his time with the Charge.
Hayes was named G League Player of the Week for games played Dec. 19-Jan. 4 and took part in the NBA G League Next Up Game as part of 2026 All-Star weekend.
After Hayes was waived late in his fourth season with the Pistons, he caught on with the Brooklyn Nets’ G-League affiliate before playing six games on a 10-day contract with the NBA club.
Before the season began, Hayes signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers and was waived and moved to the G League squad. Now he should have at least a few opportunities with a crumpled Kings team to try and make his case to stick around the NBA.
Sacramento has lost 16 straight games, sits bottom of the league and recently had three players undergo season-ending surgeries. If there was a team that could offer up some opportunity for a player trying to move up in the league, it would be the Kings.