On the evening of the Draft, the selection of Jordan Hawkins by the Pelicans was unanimously praised as the club New Orleansin difficulty last season in the exercise of outside shooting (eighth lowest total of awarded shots registered), greatly needed to recruit a player capable of punishing behind the arc with regularity.
A few months later, the observation is unchanged: the Pelicans made the right choice by selecting in 14th position the NCAA champion guard with Connecticut, widely considered to be the best shooter of his vintage.
After 11 games this season, including 7 as a starter to compensate for the absence of CJ McCollum, the Maryland native is actually the leader of his team in total 3-point shots scored, with 32 units (for 13.7 points per game). Second in the standings with 26 3-point shots, Matt Ryan however took… 30 shots less!
Proof of the immense confidence that Jordan Hawkins has in his shooting, even if, inevitably, this “easy trigger” side is also felt in his success percentage, a bit less satisfactory (32/89, or 36%).
Short memory
“ We always wants our players to play with confidence. Jordan, believe me, is one of those guys. No need to ask him to shoot. His confidence is very high “, indeed ensures James Borrego, interim coach of the Pelicans at the moment. “ He plays with good rhythm, especially in transition. In the corners, he is difficult to defend. And we love the confidence he has in himself, in his abilities and in his shooting. That’s why we drafted him. »
Being the shooter who gravitates around CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, the three initiators of the Pelicans attack, and who through his movements offers solutions in this attack limited behind the arc in the past, it is indeed the simple but precious role of Jordan Hawkins, who doesn’t need to be asked to draw his weapon.
“ Every team needs a shooter » sums up the 21-year-old guard. “ I don’t care if I miss a shot, because I know the next one will come up. This is the basic mentality of a shooter, you have to have a short memory. So I don’t worry if I miss a shot, because my team needs me to keep shooting. »
Silence, it’s shooting…
| Jordan Hawkins | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2023-24 | NOP | 11 | 29 | 37.7 | 36.0 | 84.0 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 4.0 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 13.7 |
| Total | 11 | 29 | 37.7 | 36.0 | 84.0 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 4.0 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 13.7 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
