Report: Pistons Scout, Samson Kayode, to Join USA Mens Basketball as Team Assistant Director
The Pistons are losing a very talented scout in Samson Kayode. Kayode, after spending the last two years with the Pistons, will be joining the USA Mens Basketball Team as their Team Assistant Director. Kayode had been working with Team USA part-time in a support staff role. He was working with many of the Junior National Teams in his support role. He will be joining Team USA on September 6th.
From USA Basketball's announcement:
“It's an outstanding privilege to be a part of such a well-respected organization as USA Basketball,” Kayode said. “I'm honored and eager to embark on this journey and continue the excellence USA Basketball has created for its Junior National Teams.
Kayode had high praise for Pistons head coach, Stan Van Gundy, and Mark Jackson, who Kayode worked under when he was with the Golden State Warriors from 2012-2014.
“It is my utmost priority to maintain the winning attitude, humility and team-first mentality that’s instilled within this organization. In addition, my goal is to implement some of the leadership qualities I attained over the last four years under the tutelage of coach Mark Jackson and Stan Van Gundy, which is to work smart, hard, build honest and effective relationships and deliver the right results while working with staff, families and, most importantly, our players.”
Kayode worked with the Pistons as a college scout and a video coordinator. His input over the last two seasons helped the Pistons make their decisions to draft Stanley Johnson and Darrun Hilliard in the 2015 NBA Draft and Henry Ellenson and Michael Gbinije in the 2016 NBA Draft.
Kayode is another member of the Pistons to leave this year. Assistant GM Brian Wright also left Detroit this offseason, as he joined the San Antonio Spurs as their Assistant GM. Another Detroit Assistant GM, Ken Catanella left the Pistons in April to join the Sacramento Kings front office.
“The benefit to the organization is when that starts to happen is that people look at your organization in a good light.”
The Pistons have lost some key members of their front office this offseason but that is not a bad thing as Van Gundy mentioned. This means that Detroit's front office is doing things right, and the results show as Detroit made the NBA Playoffs for the first time in six seasons last year.
Detroit is in the position to be a contender in the Eastern Conference thanks to the likes of Samson Kayode and the rest of the Pistons front office.
Image: Carlos Osorio/Associated Press