Following his second NBA season with the Charlotte Hornets in 2019-20, Devonte’ Graham finished fifth in Most Improved Player voting, trailing only the star-studded quartet of now-teammate Brandon Ingram, Bam Adebayo, Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum. After playing sparingly as a rookie, Graham quadrupled his scoring average from 4.7 to 18.2.
An extremely talented New Orleans offense probably won’t need Jose Alvarado to make that kind of a scoring jump in Year 2 after he averaged 6.1 ppg in 2021-22, but the Georgia Tech product nonetheless has looked like a more dangerous weapon in training camp and preseason. Alvarado dominated stretches of Friday’s 107-101 preseason win over Detroit, netting 28 points on efficient 12/18 shooting. Pelicans teammates weren’t surprised to see Alvarado erupt in a big way, after watching him excel in practices and develop into a more aggressive scorer. Graham knows from first-hand experience the type of progress a guard can make after learning at a rapid rate during his pro debut campaign.
“You just play with more confidence,” Graham said after Saturday’s practice of any player beginning his second NBA season. “You know what to expect. You’ve been through a season. You get used to traveling, playing and recovery (physically). You get more in a routine. You can just tell (Alvarado) feels way more comfortable.”
Asked what factors are behind Alvarado’s improvement, head coach Willie Green – who’s also starting a second season in his role – noted time spent in the gym and the 24-year-old’s experience playing internationally this summer.
“I think it’s a combination,” Green said. “(Assistant coach) Brandon Demas does a great job with him in player development and watching film. Jose is building on the year he had last season. So he’s coming in with a ton of confidence, playing on the Puerto Rican national team. He just puts his work in and he loves to play. We’re getting a chance to see it on display.”
Alvarado handed out six assists in Tuesday’s win at Chicago, then went into scoring mode Friday vs. Detroit. In both games, he’s repeatedly gotten into the paint to either pass and set up an easy basket for a teammate, or call his own number.
“Jose did a good job of breaking the defense down and getting in the paint,” Graham said of Alvarado’s damage against the Pistons.
Other notes from Saturday’s practice:
Willy Hernangomez is averaging 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in 17.4 minutes over two preseason games. He received “MVP!” chants Friday, a reference from Smoothie King Center fans to Hernangomez being named MVP of EuroBasket this summer (he led Spain to a championship). Asked about Hernangomez’s potential role, a smiling Green responded, “Well, when you’re the MVP, it’s going to be hard to not get him established (in the rotation). He’s been great. He was fantastic all last season and in camp. Every year he comes in and is a professional. He earns the opportunity to play and that’s what he’s doing now.” …
New Orleans starting bigs Jonas Valanciunas and Zion Williamson have now played two games together. Valanciunas said the duo is making progress in terms of recognizing ideal spots on the floor. Valanciunas noted during training camp that the situation may call for him to take more jumpers and three-pointers, in order to improve spacing. He shot 36 percent from beyond the arc last season in 158 attempts.
“We are finding our areas, where to space out,” Valanciunas said of he and Williamson. “It’s the first time together on the court, so it’s not going to be perfect right away. But we’re working toward that and finding areas to not be in the way of each other.”