The cousins had their numbers retired from Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and New Orleans Pelicans guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker were honored over the weekend by their high school academy.
The cousins had their numbers retired from Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The two were teammates at Hamilton Heights for their junior and senior years and even stayed with head coach Zach Ferrell at his home in Chattanooga.
Of course, Gilgeous-Alexander went on to play one season at Kentucky before he was selected 11th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2018. Alexander-Walker played two seasons at Virginia Tech and was the 17th overall pick last year.
Led by Gilgeous-Alexander and Alexander-Walker, Ferrell estimated, via The Oklahoman, that his team went 60-10 with the two cousins and emerged as a top-25 program in the country. Gilgeous-Alexander played as the primary ballhandler while Alexander-Walker played off of the ball.
The two recently hosted a Q&A on Instagram Live as part of the “NBA Together” campaign and spoke about a number of different topics as Alexander-Walker detailed how Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson inspired him growing up.
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.
🇨🇦 Canadian duo Nickeil Alexander-Walker x Shai Gilgeous-Alexander get together for an IG chat to discuss food, sneakers, styles, influences & much more.#NBApic.twitter.com/ZJfwghqlPb
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]
The Pelicans rookie said Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson were inspirational to him growing up as a youngster.
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Over the years in the NBA, there have been several players that have served as inspirational figures to the younger generation that is beginning to rise up through the ranks.
From Michael Jordan to LeBron James, and dozens of others, there has been plenty of inspirational figures to play the game. New Orleans Pelicans rookie Nickeil Alexander-Walker offered up a couple of his own: Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson.
Alexander-Walker joined his cousin, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, during an Instagram Live session on Tuesday to answer some fan questions and spoke about why Bryant and Iverson inspired him.
“I would definitely say Kobe Bryant inspired me. Allen Iverson inspired me,” Alexander-Walker said. “In our house, you had to 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.”
A lot of players have pointed to Bryant and Iverson as inspirational figures given their playing styles. Both players were cutthroat on the court and were touted as helping change the game to some degree each time they stepped onto the court.
As Alexander-Walker continues to adjust to playing in the NBA, taking bits and pieces of their games to adapt to his should give him a solid foundation to build upon.
From reading the scouting reports to buying into the system, the Pelicans rookie was fully committed to his stint in the G League.
As the 17th overall pick, Nickeil Alexander-Walker entered the 2019-20 season as one of three players the New Orleans Pelicans selected in the first round and was, of course, overshadowed by No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson.
Williamson was labeled as a once-in-a-generation talent and viewed as the perfect player to help usher in a new era of basketball in New Orleans after the departure of franchise mainstay Anthony Davis. A knee injury suffered during the preseason saw his debut delayed until January, which opened the door for Alexander-Walker and Jaxson Hayes, the eighth overall pick.
Alexander-Walker was viewed by most as a player that could potentially step in and immediately contribute with the Pelicans. He was highly touted coming into the draft for his ability to shoot and score after averaging 16.2 points as a sophomore at Virginia Tech while converting on 37.4% of his shots from 3-point range. Alexander-Walker also had a great showing with the Pelicans in the Las Vegas Summer League, finishing third in scoring among all players.
The 6-foot-5 guard started off the year as a key player in the rotation and had shown flashes in a couple of games. He recorded a career-high 27 points on Nov. 16 against the Miami Heat and followed that performance up by scoring 19 points against the Golden State Warriors.
Shortly after that, Alexander-Walker received a few DNP-CDs and saw inconsistent playing time over the course of the next few months. By the end of January, Alexander-Walker only saw the floor in mop-up duty and had completely fallen out of the rotation.
The decision was eventually made in February to send Alexander-Walker to play with the Erie BayHawks, the G League affiliate of the Pelicans. Instead of viewing the assignment as a demotion, Alexander-Walker embraced the opportunity and fully committed to playing with the BayHawks.
“I think a lot of times with the G League, guys come down there and it’s alright, ‘I’m going to shoot 40 shots,'” BayHawks head coach Ryan Pannone told Rookie Wire. “He didn’t have that mentality and instead viewed it as how can I help this team win, which we desperately needed. How can I be a good teammate? How can I make an impact? How can I have leadership and also how can I improve on my own game?
He was amazing to coach. I think he is going to be a very, very good player in the NBA because he is talented and his work ethic is incredible but he also has a care factor. He cares. He cares about the scouting report. He cares about getting things right. He cares about being coachable. He cares about being held accountable. He wants to be held accountable.
Alexander-Walker made two appearances with the BayHawks before re-joining the Pelicans on March 1. He scored 23 points, four rebounds and four assists in his debut, leading the BayHawks to a win over the Long Island Nets. Alexander-Walker tallied 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists in his second game with the BayHawks.
The brief stint in the G League allowed the rookie to stay fresh on the court and learn how to play through mistakes. He committed 11 turnovers in his two games with Erie but it also gave him an opportunity to be coached and improve his game as a whole.
“The Pelicans don’t want guys to just come down to the G League and shoot it 40 times a game and get up as many shots as possible,” Pannone said. “They want guys to come down there and actually improve and get better. The big message with him was to hold him accountable, coach him hard and get him to play consistently offensively and have fun. Fortunately, Nickeil, number one, his work ethic is amazing and two, he is a phenomenal kid.
He came down there and we had a seven-hour bus ride and he is on the bus, playing video games, choppin’ it up with the guys, having a good time. He knew the scouting report of every player. He knew the offensive plan and the defensive plan. You can tell he was studying all of the personnel reports we sent out to all of the players before we met up as a team.
While most of the scouting behind a potential prospect occurs on the court, teams also look for high-character players with a commitment to working hard and improving on the court.
With Alexander-Walker, it is certainly clear he checks all of the boxes as a first-round pick in the NBA given his skill set on the floor and willingness to learn.
Jamal Murray, R.J. Barrett and Oshae Brissett were among the basketball players set to play in the qualifying tournament this summer.
The Canadian Olympic Committee announced on Sunday that they will not send athletes to compete in the Olympic Games set to be held in Tokyo this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“With COVID-19 and the associated risks, it is not safe for our athletes, and the health and safety of their families and the broader Canadian community for athletes to continue training towards these Games,” the Canadian Olympic Committee said in a statement. “In fact, it runs counter to the public health advice which we urge all Canadians to follow.”
Canada is the first country to pull out of the 2020 Tokyo Games due to the coronavirus outbreak and they also called upon the International Olympic Committee to consider postponing the Games until 2021. The IOC announced last week they will make a decision within four weeks on the status of the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Canada sent 314 athletes across 27 sports to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio where they collected 22 medals, including four gold. Athletes Penny Oleksiak (swimming), Rosie MacLennan (gymnastics), Derek Drouin (high jump) and Erica Wiebe (wrestling) all took home gold medals.
Canada was set to make a strong run in basketball this summer with several of the top countrymen committing to play in the qualifying tournament in June, including Jamal Murray, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, R.J. Barrett, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Oshae Brissett among others.
Alexander-Walker averaged 16.5 points, six rebounds and four assists in two G League assignment games.
After two games in the G League, Nickeil Alexander-Walker re-joined the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday as they prepare to host the Los Angeles Lakers.
Alexander-Walker scored 23 points, four rebounds and four assists in his G League debut with the Erie Bayhawks on Thursday in a win over the Long Island Nets. The rookie followed that performance up by recording 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists on Saturday night.
The Pelicans announced on Sunday that J.J. Redick will miss two weeks after suffering a left hamstring strain, likely paving the way for Alexander-Walker to re-join the team. Alexander-Walker had not logged significant minutes prior to his assignment but that could change with the injury to Redick.
Kenrich Williams (right lower back soreness) is out for tonight’s game vs. the Lakers…Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who was recalled from @ErieBayHawks earlier today, is available.
After dealing with a few injuries, Alexander-Walker could see an expanded role in the immediate future as the Pelicans battle for playoff positioning in the Western Conference.
The game vs. the Lakers is the fourth and final meeting of the season.
The Pelicans rookie logged his first game in the G League on assignment Thursday night, leading the Erie Bayhawks to victory.
New Orleans Pelicans rookie Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23 points in his first G League assignment with the Erie Bayhawks on Thursday during a 125-124 win over the Long Island Nets.
The Pelicans announced on Wednesday that they were sending Alexander-Walker to the G League after the 17th overall pick had just two appearances during the month of February.
Alexander-Walker responded by helping the Bayhawks to victory after adding four rebounds, four assists and two steals. He shot 8-of-19 from the field, including 3-of-8 from 3-point range in 35 minutes.
While the rookie was successful driving and finishing near the rim, he committed nine turnovers throughout the contest, including four alone in the second period.
The decision by the Pelicans to send Alexander-Walker to the G League was likely made to get him some playing time. He will likely play a few games with the Bayhawks and then re-join the Pelicans in the coming weeks.
The Bayhawks play next on Saturday against the Maine Red Claws.
Alexander-Walker has not played in four games and has made just two appearances with the Pelicans during the month of February.
The New Orleans Pelicans announced on Wednesday that they have assigned rookie Nickeil Alexander-Walker to the Erie Bayhawks, their affiliate in the G League.
The 17th overall pick has not played significant minutes with the Pelicans since last month and has not suited up in four games, only seeing the floor in late-game situations during the month of February. He is averaging 5.1 points, two rebounds and 1.8 assists in 41 appearances.
With playing time at a minimum, the decision to send Alexander-Walker to the G League was likely made to keep him fresh and get some playing time. The Pelicans could elect to keep him with the Bayhawks for a few games before bringing him back up.
The Pelicans have assigned rookie Nickeil Alexander-Walker to the Erie Bayhawks
With the Pelicans in the midst of the playoff race, the team hasn’t been afforded many minutes for Alexander-Walker and will send him to the G League as a result.
The Bayhawks play next on Thursday against the Long Island Nets.
With a record number of Canadian players in the NBA this season, the country will have a large presence in the Rising Stars Game on Friday.
A record four Canadian players will participate in the NBA Rising Stars Game set to take place on Friday during All-Star Weekend in Chicago, the most ever from outside of the United States.
The 26th Rising Stars game will pit 10 first- and second-year NBA players from the United States against 10 first- and second-year NBA players from around the world in the league’s annual showcase.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, R.J. Barrett, Brandon Clarke and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander make up the four players set to represent Canada in the event with Gilgeous-Alexander the lone sophomore.
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Canadian basketball has had an emerging presence in the NBA recently.
Entering the 2019-20 season, there were 108 international players representing 38 countries and territories on opening-night rosters — 16 of those players were from Canada, the most ever from outside the U.S.
The number of Canadians in the NBA expands to 20 with the inclusion of two-way contract players. Of those 20 players, eight are currently in their first year in the NBA.
NBA Rising Stars will tip-off at 8 p.m. ET on NBA on TNT.
After a strong rookie campaign, Pelicans veteran Jrue Holiday didn’t appreciate his rookie teammate was snubbed from the Rising Stars game.
The NBA unveiled on Friday the 10 first- and second-year players selected to participate in the Rising Stars Game at All-Star Weekend next month in Chicago.
Zion Williamson and Ja Morant headlined the rookies chosen to play in the event as selected by the assistant coaches in the NBA. The 26th Rising Stars game features a United States vs. World format with some of the top, young players from around the world.
As Williamson made the cut, New Orleans Pelicans rookie teammate Nickeil Alexander-Walker was also selected to play in the event as the Canadian will suit up for the World Team. While Williamson and Alexander-Walker made it, fellow Pelican Jaxson Hayes was snubbed.
Pelicans veteran Jrue Holiday was not happy Hayes was left off the roster.
We broke the news to Jrue about Jaxson Hayes not making it into the Rising Stars Game.
In 45 games this season, Hayes is averaging 8.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and one assist in 19.2 minutes per game. Prior to the debut of Williamson, Hayes was perhaps the most exciting rookie in New Orleans given his athleticism and ability to sky-high for blocks and dunks.
The U.S. roster for the Rising Stars Game was stacked with several worthy players so Hayes had a tough road to make it ahead of the likes of Williamson, Eric Paschall and P.J. Washington in the frontcourt.
Rising Stars will air live on Feb. 14 at 9 p.m. ET on TNT in the United States.
