When New Orleans signed center Alexis Ajinca in December 2013, the move barely made a ripple on the NBA’s transaction wire. After all, this was a player who flopped during his first stint in the NBA, chalked up as a disappointment who never lived up to expectations. A first-round pick by Charlotte in 2008, Ajinca was out of the league just three years later.
What few could’ve realized at the time of his Pelicans signing, however, was that the 7-foot-2 native of France was returning to North America as a drastically different version of himself. Content to fire perimeter jumpers during his initial NBA stint – squandering much of his considerable size advantage – Ajinca had worked diligently in Europe on playing closer to the basket. He improved his conditioning, fine-tuned his maturing body and added elements to his offensive repertoire. Quietly, NBA teams who closely monitor European pro basketball leagues took notice, with the Pelicans showing the most interest in an Act II.
Sixteen months later, Ajinca has rewarded New Orleans (36-29, eighth in Western Conference) for its belief in his potential. During a recent four-game stretch without Anthony Davis, Ajinca came off the bench to average 15.0 points and 6.8 rebounds, while shooting a blazing 70.6 percent from the field. The Pelicans won all four games.
Even after Davis returned to the lineup March 4, Ajinca has continued to make timely contributions, highlighted by a 17-point game in Tuesday’s blowout win at Brooklyn. Relying on an array of hook shots, turnaround jumpers and a soft mid-range touch, Ajinca put on a low-post clinic, completely changing the momentum in a 20-point victory, after the Pelicans had trailed early by 14.
“He can score. He’s a mismatch problem on the block,” said point guard Norris Cole, who has quickly developed a feel for finding Ajinca in the paint.
“He’s a great player,” Davis said. “He can shoot it, he’s great in the post, defends, hustles. He’s been huge for us, especially in the games that I missed. That’s what we need, with him coming off the bench.”
Ajinca immediately showed he was a different player in his Pelicans debut, when he grabbed 11 rebounds in just 17 minutes at Portland on Dec. 21, 2013, but the foundation for his latest improvement occurred last summer. Working hands-on with Pelicans coaches and former frontcourt pros Kevin Hanson and Michael Ruffin, Ajinca was a regular at the team’s Metairie practice facility in the offseason.
“The whole summer, I was working on my post moves,” Ajinca said. “Shooting hook shots and working on a go-to move, my turnaround jumper. Right now I just feel very confident about doing it. It’s like a routine. I spent a lot of time in the gym. Coach Kev and Michael Ruffin were here with me.
“I’ve changed my game pretty much completely (since his first NBA stint). When I was here from 2008-11, I was pretty much shooting threes. And I could make threes, but I wasn’t that much of a post guy. When I went overseas, I started playing inside more, because that’s what my team needed. But when I got here (to New Orleans), I got more consistent with post moves.”
Pelicans GM Dell Demps, who made a second valuable 2013-14 in-season pickup from overseas when he signed three-point sniper Luke Babbitt, said Ajinca’s initial NBA struggles were based on a series of obstacles. Ajinca was only 20 when he played in his first NBA game for the then-Bobcats, and his frame was still maturing, at 220 pounds. He’s now 26 and weighs 248.
“When he first came to the NBA as a young player, he was trying to figure it out, and his body was still developing,” Demps said. “That’s tough, when you’re a big guy and you’re getting banged and your team wants you to produce. And he had some injuries that made it very difficult. So he was battling so many things. Before he even stepped on the court, it was age, cultural differences. And coming here to the NBA, the physicality (is much greater). It’s all tough. The smart thing he did when he back to Europe was he understood what he needed to do to become a successful NBA player. You can definitely see the improvement.”
“He’s improved a lot,” Pelicans guard Tyreke Evans said. “I always knew he could play when he first came to the team. I saw a big man who had skill. Now he got his chance and he’s been playing great.”
According to Pelicans fifth-year head coach Monty Williams, another key has been Ajinca’s improved conditioning compared to his first season with NOLA. Ajinca had difficulty with foul trouble in 2013-14 and would grow tired quickly on the court, but that’s no longer the case. He’s played 20-plus minutes 14 times this season, including 11 times as a reserve behind starter Omer Asik.
“I just think he’s in better condition this year,” Williams said. “He’s always been a skilled player, but he’s in much better condition this year to handle the rigors of getting up and down the floor and playing against bigger guys. And he’s worked on his game. He’s always been a guy who could shoot the ball, but he’s done so much work down in the post. He’s got good footwork.”
Nearly a year and a half later, Ajinca is very pleased with his decision to sign with New Orleans, after a few NBA teams expressed interest. He’s arguably been the Pelicans’ most improved player, a key reason they’ve been able to remain in the playoff race. A trip to the Western Conference postseason would also mean an NBA playoff debut for Ajinca.
“There was more than one team that was interested, but I knew New Orleans was one of them,” Ajinca said. “Dell was very interested in bringing me over. I feel very good about it, very excited. He was confident I could bring something to the team. Also for me, I thought I could (earn) playing time, to grow with a team. It was the right fit for me.”