Allen Iverson influenced Pelicans rookie Nickeil Alexander-Walker

New Orleans Pelicans rookie Nickeil Alexander-Walker had high praise for Allen Iverson as an influence.

Everybody has their muse that they try to model themselves after. For young basketball players, they all pick one of the greats. Whether it’s Michael Jordan or LeBron James or Kobe Bryant, whoever. For New Orleans Pelicans rookie Nickeil Alexander-Walker, it was Philadelphia 76ers legend, Allen Iverson.

Alexander-Walker is stuck in quarantine like the rest of us due to the novel coronavirus and he hopped on Instagram live with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to discuss who their major influences were. Alexander-Walker gushed about Iverson as well as Bryant.

I would definitely say Kobe Bryant inspired me. Allen Iverson inspired me. In our house, you hadto watch Allen Iverson. He kinda changed the game but just seeing how they were on that level and what they brought to the game made me feel like I want to play basketball and pursue a career in it.

Alexander-Walker was on the shelf with a hairline fracture in his right wrist before the league hiatus and he was averaging 5.1 points and 2.0 rebounds off New Orleans’ bench. [lawrence-related id=29827,29818,29810]