There was Alvin Gentry during his rookie season (2019/20), Stan Van Gundy during his sophomore season, then Willie Green and Quin Snyder during his third season, which started with the Pelicans and ended with the Jazz, and finally Will Hardy this season.
The constant is clear: at only 24 years old, Nickeil Alexander Walker has already evolved under the orders of five different coaches, while he is only starting his fourth season.
Nick Nurse, his only point of reference
Instability inherent in the business that is the NBA, but not easy to manage for a young person who is trying to make his mark in the league, since he must constantly re-prove himself and start from scratch with each change of tactician on the bench.
” To say it’s complicated to manage would be an understatement. » thus confirmed the cousin of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. ” It’s not easy to develop consistently when you’ve known five coaches in four seasons. When we observe the progression among the players, we notice that it takes place under the same coach, with a defined system and known roles. Players progress from there. In my case, it’s safe to say that I had a different role each season, so I’m not always clear about my role. I’m still trying to figure that out, and figure out how to progress. »
To put into perspective the chronic instability that characterizes the beginning of the Canadian’s career, it must be understood that the coach with whom he has lived the most is… Nick Nurse, coach of Canada since the summer of 2019, under whose orders the back of the Jazz evolved last summer during the TQO of Victoria, and this summer during the international window for the qualifying matches for the 2023 World Cup.
” I would say he needs a breather, a little stability “The Toronto coach then judged. ” I don’t know how many different coaches he has known. Four ? Five ? He needs to be given a chance, to be in the right place at the right time, to fit into a rotation to capitalize each evening on his efforts the day before. »
All places are to be taken in Utah
But despite this chaotic carousel of coaches which is hampering his progress, Nickeil Alexander-Walker is keeping his spirits up and therefore intends this season, for good, to secure a place in the rotation of his team in the transition phase.
” I learned to be more patient with this whole process. I feel like I barely had time to blink, and here I am already in my fourth season. So I can keep ruminating, or I can go to the gym and work harder than ever, to make sure I’m ready. »
It will be in the rotation of rookie coach Will Hardy, who intends to lay the first foundations of a culture based on work, and then warns that his players will have to earn their minutes. There will thus be no privilege for anyone.
” If they want game time, they need to show they can do the dirty work he announced. ” They must update themselves with the physical level of the NBA, show themselves in defense and more generally tick all the little boxes that we do not see in the stats sheet. »
Last night, against the Blazers, Nickeil Alexander-Walker only played eight minutes…
| Nickeil Alexander Walker | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2019-20 | NOP | 47 | 13 | 36.8 | 34.6 | 67.6 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 5.7 |
| 2020-21 | NOP | 46 | 22 | 41.9 | 34.7 | 72.7 | 0.3 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 11.0 |
| 2021-22 * | All Teams | 65 | 23 | 37.2 | 31.1 | 74.3 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 10.7 |
| 2021-22 * | NOP | 50 | 26 | 37.5 | 31.1 | 72.2 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 12.8 |
| 2021-22 * | UTH | 15 | 10 | 33.3 | 30.3 | 91.7 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 3.5 |
| Total | 158 | 19 | 38.7 | 32.9 | 72.6 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 9.3 | |
