New Orleans Pelicans: 3 Players that improved the most in training camp
By Nick Alvarez
After a year of development, Nickeil Alexander-Walker looks poised to make a second-year leap for the New Orleans Pelicans
#2- Nickeil Alexander-Walker
The 2019 NBA draft gave the New Orleans Pelicans a star in Zion Williamson, yet for some reason, I’ve always been focused on the combo guard they selected with the 17th pick in that draft, Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Alexander-Walker just looks like the prototype for the next wave of NBA guard, a big, athletic, scoring threat. He didn’t get to show us that skillset a lot last year because he spent a lot of time on the bench and in the G-League but so far in training camp, he seems like a player on the rise from working with Van Gundy’s staff.
When speaking to the media, Nickeil even said that Van Gundy spoke with him and asked him what guard position is he more comfortable playing, and when Nickeil said shooting guard, Van Gundy ran with that. However, don’t be surprised if the young guard takes some minutes at point guard or wing during the season.
All the content we’ve seen from Nickeil Alexander-Walker in training camp so far has indicated that he’s playing a scoring and attacking role, using his 6’5″ frame and crafty left hand to attack the basket. Given some of the go-to offensive plays that Stan Van Gundy likes to run, it’s safe to say that this season Alexander-Walker will be in the rotation as a lethal scoring threat off the bench.
Not bad for a second-year player who’s still ascending. So what about another player in that mold?