Jordan Bone had a draft party Thursday night, and it looked like that party was going to fizzle out. 56 picks had been made and Bone's name had yet to be called.
Things looked so bleak that one of the members of the party grabbed the mic and began delivering a consolation speech as the draft played out on a TV behind him.
"I'm hurt right now," he said. "Probably more hurt than he is -- well, I doubt it. But hey, man, from this day forward, if you're in this room, man --"
The speech was interrupted by a single shout. That was followed by a collective roar. With the 57th overall pick, the Pistons drafted Bone, via a trade with the Pelicans.
The party was instantly back on.
This reaction when Jordan Bone and his family found out he was drafted is everything --(via @NextUpRecruits) pic.twitter.com/AWUFxB9ejc
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) June 21, 2019Bone, a junior guard from Tennessee, had a break-out season in 2018-19, averaging 13.5 points and 5.8 assists per game. He impressed scouts with his athleticism at the NBA combine, where he recorded the fastest lane agility, shuttle run and 3/4 court run of all prospects.
He will provide depth for the Pistons behind point guard Reggie Jackson.
"I felt (the combine) was something that helped me because you study film on me, the college game is much different than the NBA game in a lot of aspects. Spacing, physicality, pace, everything," Bone said. "I feel like my athleticism and my speed doesn't really show as much on my college film because there's not a lot of space. The lane is always clogged up.
"But at the NBA level, it's much more open. I feel like having the athleticism and speed and decision-making that I have is going to be much more evident at the NBA level."
Bone was Detroit's third pick of the night, after the team Sekou Doumbouya at No 15. and Deividas Sirvydis at No. 37. All three players are developmental pieces for a Pistons team starting to build for the future.
