Rookies are fun because they give us players we don’t know much about in a league that we already know a lot about. They are a breath of new life. And New Orleans Pelicans first-round draft pick Jordan Hawkins is no exception.
Pelicans’ fans across the land are itching to see him on the court to see how his game will translate at the NBA level. As of right now, we know that Hawkins is a great shooter (both stationary and off of movement) and that he’s a relentless off-ball mover. But in an interview with team reporter Erin Summers, Hawkins shared something with us about his game that we might not know yet.
https://twitter.com/PelicansNBA/status/1674432786352963584?s=20
"“I do have an off-the-dribble game. My team was just so good last year that I didn’t have to [use it.] I just adjust to winning. I’m a winning player. I love winning.”"
Obviously, every player at this level is very confident in their game and their abilities. So, him saying that he has an off-the-dribble game doesn’t necessarily mean that he can score off-the-dribble against NBA-caliber defenders.
However, if he’s able to use his off-the-dribble skills he’s been hiding in his bag to put the ball on the deck and drive closeouts, that increases his value to this Pelicans team. In today’s game, being able to shoot isn’t enough in and of itself. Nowadays, you also need to be able to drive closeouts when the defense runs you off the 3-point line in order to maintain/capitalize on the advantages created by your teammates.
Another positive part about that quote is that it illustrates that Hawkins has no problem conceding touches when playing on more talented offensive teams. As a team that touts the likes of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum, Hawkins will have to be ready to spend most of his time off the ball playing off of them. And judging by that quote, he seems more than ready to do so.