DETROIT -- The spirits of Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey remain high as the 2022 No. 5 pick continues to make progress in the recovery of his broken left fibula.
Ivey remains day-to-day but hasn't ruled out a potential return this season, while leaning on his faith.
The 23-year-old has now transitioned out of a walking boot and has begun weight-bearing strengthening exercises, running progression activity and stationary shooting. He will be updated in another four weeks as he continues to progress in the rehabilitation phase, the team said.
"I'm just targeting day-by-day. That's it," Ivey said Thursday while speaking to reporters for the first time since his injury. "The time will come when my body says get ready. I don't have a thought of when that could be but just taking it day-by-day for sure."
However, Ivey did say, "hopefully" it's this season. Before the injury, Ivey was off to his career-best season in Year 3, averaging 17.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 30 games, and he is looking to contribute to the team's success.
His red-hot Pistons (37-29) have won four of their past six games and are 12-5 since the start of February -- which is the 3rd-best record in Eastern Conference during that span, trailing only Cleveland (15-1) and Boston (13-3).
"It's definitely motivating. I want to be out there so bad," Ivey said. "And I'm putting in the work to get back so just seeing those guys go out there and compete hard, that's all I want to do is compete and play the game of basketball so it's definitely encouraging and exciting to see."
Ivey's leg injury occurred during the fourth quarter of a Jan. 1 victory over the Orlando Magic. He was carried out on a stretcher after Magic guard Cole Anthony slipped and fell into Ivey's planted leg while going for the ball.
His teammates, including Pistons All-Star guard Cade Cunningham, have continued to console and uplift him during his rehabilitation, which has been meaningful.
"When [Cade's] in the game, and they call a timeout, I just talk to him and he's always like, 'Man, when you get back, it's going to be a different level' and that encouragement and just that belief of when you come back, things are gonna continue to rise means a lot to me," Ivey told ESPN. "Because they're winning without me and you kind of get in your head, like, 'What if I get back and it doesn't?'
"There's all these different ideas and emotions that you kind of carry as a basketball player with an injury ... but the encouragement that I've gotten from him has really encouraged me a lot and has kept me consistent with my work so I'm looking forward to playing alongside him."