Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the 17th overall pick from the 2019 NBA draft, begins his rookie season with a lofty goal of immediately breaking into the Pelicans regular rotation – and he stated his first case Monday night in New Orleans preseason opening victory against the Atlanta Hawks.
“I would tell you it’s news to Nickeil that he’s not going to play,” Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin said on Media Day when asked about the development of rookies not seeing many minutes. “A lot of young guys approach the summer in different ways.