Jaysean Paige, from Chartres to the NBA

In this time of pandemic, anyone can become an NBA player, as long as you test negative and be employed in the G-League. After the story of Xavier Moon, anonymous rookie of ALM Évreux in 2017 hired by the Clippers (1 point at 17% and 2 rebound in 2 games), French basketball has yet another proof in the person of Jaysean Paige (1.88 m, 27 years old).

Passed by Chartres (Pro B) in 2018/19, he was far from convincing with the CCBM (despite statistics of 13.4 points at 45% and 4.1 assists in 18 games), ending up being cut by the red lantern in February. In his end-of-season report, L’Écho Républicain described him as “too individualistic, incapable of managing the end of the game, sometimes dilettante”. All these factors combined have contributed to return the Eurelian club to National 1.

Also seen in German second division, Macedonia, Great Britain (voted in the best five of the season just before landing in Chartres), G-League, Puerto Rico and Hungary (7.7 points and 2 , 1 assists in 10 games this year), the combo-guard is now an NBA player. He is committed for ten days with the Detroit Pistons, where he will form the back doublet with the former villeurbannais Derrick Walton (4 points and 7.5 assists in 2 appearances with the Michigan franchise), in the absence of Cade Cunningham and Killian Hayes, both affected by the Covid.