Braxton Key has officially joined the Detroit Pistons after agreeing to a two-way contract.
Meanwhile, the decision has been made to let go of Chris Smith from the team.
Standing at 6-8 and weighing 225 pounds, Key recently inked a 10-day agreement with Detroit starting March 24. Throughout his appearances with the Pistons this year, he has been posting averages of 6.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in a time span of 20.4 minutes.
Before his stint with Detroit, Key boasted notable stats of 18.9 points (with a shooting accuracy of 48% FG and 39% 3FG), along with 7.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.5 blocks every 28.2 minutes while playing for the Delaware Blue Coats, affiliated with the Philadelphia 76ers. His impressive track record in the NBA G League includes an average of 14.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.3 blocks in 23.7 minutes over 43 games, all with the Blue Coats. Moreover, Key made appearances in two games for the 76ers this year.
Hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina, Key commenced his collegiate journey at the University of Alabama, where he starred for two seasons and earned a spot on the 2016-17 SEC All-Freshman team. He later transferred to the University of Virginia for his final two collegiate seasons, contributing to the 2019 NCAA Championship-winning team. Over 125 career games, Key maintained averages of 8.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists during 26.6 minutes per game.
Meanwhile, Smith secured a two-way contract with Detroit back on August 16, 2021, and showcased his skills in 18 matchups with the Motor City Cruise, the Pistons’ G League affiliate, averaging 8.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists.
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