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New Orleans guard/forward Herbert Jones has achieved an NBA rarity this season, leading the Pelicans in total minutes despite being a rookie. It wasn’t clear how much the University of Alabama product would contribute when the 2021-22 season began, but the 23-year-old has proven to be a spectacular choice as a second-round pick, selected No. 35 overall. Jones discussed his hoops background and a few other topics with Pelicans.com for the final weekly “24 Seconds” article of the campaign:

Pelicans.com: When did you know that playing in the NBA was a possibility for you?

Jones: I would have to say going into my junior year of college. People had me on mock drafts before, but mentally and physically, I just didn’t think I (was ready). Then going into my junior year, I just worked on my body a lot and played against some guys that were in the NBA. That’s when it kind of set in, (that) I could play in the NBA.

Pelicans.com: How would you describe what you’re like away from basketball?

Jones: I’m a pretty simple guy. I don’t do a whole lot off the court besides fishing. I play my video games. I just hang out with friends. I don't have too many hobbies and I’m super laidback and chill.

Pelicans.com: What’s it like being on a team with Kira Lewis Jr. again?

Jones: It’s fun. It kind of gave me a sense of relief to know I was going to be a teammate of someone I was already in school with. Coming down to New Orleans, being in a new state, being in a new place, I could reach out to him about anything if I had any problems. Reach out to him for advice.

Pelicans.com: What’s it like to play for Willie Green?

Jones: I love him. The way he coaches, he expects everybody to play hard and connected and together the whole game. I like that about him.

Pelicans.com: Defense is obviously one of the things that you do very well. Is defense a state of mind or is it just continued effort? Is it easy to say “I’m tired, I don't feel like playing defense”? Do you have to always be in it emotionally, mentally and physically?

Jones: I feel that it's a mixture of both the mentality and just wanting to do it. And I feel like defense is a part of the game, so why not want to be able to play defense and offense? But, it is easy to say, you know what, I'm tired, I don't want to play defense. You’ve got to have the mindset going in every night that you're going to give it your all on the defensive end. Not saying you might not come out victorious, but if you know you gave it your all, then you just live with the results.

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24 Seconds presented by Ibotta: Herbert Jones on hoops career, defense

Young players looking to carve out a lengthy NBA career would be wise to stick closely to New Orleans veteran Garrett Temple, who’s spent a dozen years in the league, among 13 as a professional player (he spent the NBA’s 2011-12 lockout season in Italy). When you add his 30 playoff games, the LSU product and Baton Rouge native has appeared in over 700 NBA contests since debuting with Houston in February 2010, two days after Temple’s beloved New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl.

The 35-year-old sat down with Pelicans.com as the subject of this week’s “24 Seconds” Q&A article, presented by Ibotta:

Pelicans.com: When did you know you were going to play in the NBA? Was there a moment you knew you were going to make it, or has it been a steady increase over time of getting better?

Temple: I think it’s a little bit of both. There was a moment when I knew I belonged in the NBA, and it was actually when I played summer league and then I got cut, but my first call-up to the NBA was with the Houston Rockets my rookie year, playing in the game and realizing, “I can play in this league.”

Then, when I got cut by the Miami Heat, the year after I came back from (playing a season overseas in) Italy, I really just had a great confidence about, “I’m supposed to be in the NBA right now.” Nine games in the D-League later, I got called up again by the Wizards and haven’t been back to the D-League since, and that was in 2012.

I think, steadily, during that process since then, though, continuing to get better at certain things that allowed me to stay in this NBA because the cliche is true, it’s easier to get in than it is to stay in. The amount of attrition through this league is a lot. I’m just blessed to have been able to stay pretty healthy and get the breaks that I’ve gotten.

Pelicans.com: For Trey Murphy, for example, his story was that he was a good player, but he knew he needed to get better at defense. So he went and played for Tony Bennett in Virginia. Is it that the kind of mentality you must have if you’re going to be a success in the NBA?

Temple: No question. You have to seek out people, whether it be veterans, whether it be coaches to talk to, figure out what your niche is. In the offseason, figure out things that you need to get better at and work at that. My story, I didn’t expect to be a 12-year NBA guy, but I steadily continued to take bits and pieces from people and put that work in. At the end of the day, work ethic, you can’t buy that. Somebody can’t give that to you. You’ve got to do it yourself. So I think Trey has that mentality. Obviously he’s shown that he wants to seek out being better at certain things, and that’s going to bode well for him in the league.

Pelicans.com: It’s the 75th anniversary of the NBA. Do you have an all-time starting five?

Temple: I’m going to go with Isiah (Thomas), Jordan at the two. I’m going to coach y’all to be all right together. Jordan at the two. We got LeBron at the three. And then at the four we need some shooting. You all are going to think I’m crazy. We got Dirk (Nowitzki) at the four. And then you got big fella. You got Big Aristotle (Shaquille O’Neal) at the five. That’s a tough squad.

Pelicans.com: Do you have an NBA moment growing up that sticks out in your mind?

Temple: I was a teenager by this time, but Derek Fisher’s shot (with four-tenths of a second left to beat San Antonio in the playoffs). That’s the first thing that pops into my mind. I remember him catching it, shooting it with the left hand, with 0.4 left. I was a Lakers fan at the time because of Shaquille. So wherever Shaquille was at, I was a Lakers fan being an LSU guy.

And I remember, Jordan’s shot, watching that against the Utah Jazz (in the 1998 NBA Finals), the crossover, boom. Not even really thinking is this his last time? Just being like, “Wow. That’s the game.” And his shot in his first round of that series (to beat Cleveland in the 1989 playoffs). Those three moments are fresh in my mind.

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24 Seconds presented by Ibotta: Garrett Temple on his basketball background

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Jaxson Hayes comes from an athletic background – his father played in the NFL and his mother was a standout college basketball player. But the Cincinnati native didn’t realize he might be able to play in the NBA until very late in his career compared to most future pros, not zeroing in on hoops until 11th or 12th grade. The late bloomer discussed his background with Pelicans.com, including a moment from a Thunder-Pacers game in 2013 that helped inspire him to appreciate the game:

Pelicans.com: What was the moment you knew you could play in the NBA?

Hayes: Probably my senior year of high school. I started playing, and I was just playing really well. I was like, “Well dang, I keep (playing well) for a while.” In college, I had a good freshman year and so we are where we are right now.

Pelicans.com: Did you have a welcome to the NBA moment? Anything that sticks out to you?

Hayes: Probably my first game I ever played vs. the Warriors, when they had D-Lo, Steph, Draymond. I came on the court and all of them were out there. And I was like, “Dang, I’m really here.” I’d probably say that was it.

Pelicans.com: Was there a moment where you felt the most comfortable for the first time? Like things slowed down for you?

Hayes: Probably that game. I had a block vs. Curry, it was my first (defensive) stop. And then I was like, “OK, yeah, I could do this.”

Pelicans.com: It’s the 75th anniversary of the NBA. Have you thought about who your all-time starting five would be?

Hayes: Hmm, that’s a good question. I would say Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and then Shaq probably.

Pelicans.com: Do you have a favorite NBA moment when you were growing up that you remember?

Hayes: I don't know if y'all remember when Kevin Durant dunked on Roy Hibbert in Indiana. I don’t even know what year it was, I want to say it might've been like seventh, eighth grade for me. But I was at that game and it was pretty crazy. I was like, “Dang, I want to play basketball.”

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24 seconds presented by Ibotta: Jaxson Hayes on his basketball background

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24 Seconds with Willy Hernangomez presented by Tissot | 2021-22 NBA Season

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Next week Devonte’ Graham will play another game in Charlotte’s NBA arena, but it will be for the first time as an opposing player. The point guard hails from North Carolina, so when he landed with the Charlotte Hornets as an early-second-round pick in 2018, it was a unique opportunity to play relative close to his hometown of Raleigh, N.C. The 27-year-old and four-year University of Kansas product discussed his basketball background and entry to the league with Pelicans.com:

Pelicans.com: When did you know that you had a chance to make it to the NBA, to play in the NBA?

Graham: I didn’t believe I had a chance until probably my sophomore year in college. I was just playing basketball, loving the game. At first, I was just happy to be at Kansas. I was supposed to be going to Appalachian State. Then I ended up going to Kansas, I was just happy to be there. Then I had a little breakout season my sophomore year at Kansas, then I really was like, OK man, I can really... I know I’m playing against (future) pros. So if I’m playing the way I'm playing, obviously I could be a pro.

Pelicans.com: When you got to the NBA, was there a moment where you said, OK, I’m in the NBA now?

Graham: I mean, it was literally the first game I played in. You could just feel that intensity, that pressure, the physicality, it was different. The pace of the game, different. You feel that from the jump, for sure.

Pelicans.com: Growing up in North Carolina, what’s high school basketball like there?

Graham: We call it the Hoop State. There’s a lot of people in North Carolina who (are great players) in high school. They might not have made it to the NBA or whatever, but back in the day they definitely were top in the state. It’s good competition. I went to a public school. We (played against) Word of God, where John Wall went to school. So it’s definitely good out there.

Graham: Yeah, I'm going to go with Kareem at the five. I got to have Michael Jordan at two-guard. At my one, I’m going Magic Johnson... I got a big lineup. At the three I'm going LeBron. At the four – do they have to be out of the league? If not, I’m going with Kevin Durant then. That's a lineup right there.

Pelicans.com: You talked about playing high school ball in North Carolina. Was it crazy then for you, playing three years for Charlotte? Being able to play in your home state, I'm sure ticket requests were crazy and stuff like that. What did it mean to you to get to play in the pros there?

Graham: It was definitely a blessing to be at home, two and a half hours away from family, friends, coming up every weekend and coming to the games, like you said, ticket requests were out the roof. I just had to start telling people like, nah, I can’t get 30 tickets to this game, and 40 tickets to this game. But it was definitely a blessing, just to be that close to family, (after) being so far away in Kansas for four years, and people not really been able to come see you as much.

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24 Seconds presented by Ibotta: Devonte’ Graham

Pelicans.com

Following their midseason transactions involving a series of veteran players, the New Orleans Pelicans now have two international players on their roster during the second half of the 2021-22 season, both centers. Jonas Valanciunas (Lithuania) and Willy Hernangomez (Spain) represent the two Pelicans who were born outside the United States, part of a contingent of 100-plus current NBA players who fit that description.

The 29-year-old Valanciunas discussed his initial experiences in basketball and his path to becoming an NBA player from across the globe a decade ago with Pelicans.com:

Pelicans.com: When did you know that you could play professionally in the NBA specifically?

Valanciunas: Well, I probably didn’t believe that until I got drafted. So that was 2011. My dream came true when I scored my first bucket, it was an unbelievable moment for me. Growing up as a kid, the NBA was far, far away somewhere in America. We were small kids just shooting at a hoop in Lithuania, a small country. A basketball country, but still far away from the NBA. Coming over to this side and playing in the NBA was my dream, and the dream came true.

Pelicans.com: Do you have a particular memory from seeing an NBA game as a kid that sticks out in your mind?

Valanciunas: Not an NBA game, but we got selected to the Jordan Brand Classic as a European squad, so I was in America in 2007. In New York City, Jordan Brand Classic. It was my first time in America and it was a crazy difference of lifestyle. Basketball, everything was so different. And probably from that moment I was like, OK, one day I wish to be playing here in the United States, in the NBA.

Pelicans.com: Was there a particular player, someone you idolized or looked up to growing up?

Valanciunas: We had some great players, Arvydas Sabonis, Sarunas Marciulionis, who played in NBA. They were our idols because (in our) small country, basketball was like our second religion.

Pelicans.com: What kind of honor is it to play for your Lithuanian national team?

Valanciunas: I always play for my country when I can. It’s a big honor for me. If it’s not during the (NBA) season and if I’m able to play, I'm always going to say yes to the national team and go play for Lithuania, because it’s a big honor for me representing my country, knowing that it’s such a small country and we can still compete in the highest level of basketball. I’m really proud of it.

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24 Seconds presented by Ibotta: Jonas Valanciunas on his hoops background, Lithuania

Earlier in the 2021-22 season, Pelicans.com detailed how players on the New Orleans roster chose their uniform numbers, but it was not a complete list. After the recent multi-player trade with Portland, here are the members of the Pelicans not covered in the previous edition:

Pelicans.com: How did you choose your current New Orleans uniform number?

CJ McCollum (3): “I’ve had it since I was a kid. My brother wore 3, Allen Iverson wore 3, and I was very small (as a young basketball player), so it was one of the smaller numbers that fit me better. I just liked the way it looked.”

Jose Alvarado (15): “Freshman year of high school, I wanted No. 3, but they didn’t have it available, so I took 15, and then I won the whole thing, the freshman championship game. The next year I went to varsity and an older guy had 15, so I had to change to 10. (In New Orleans my first preference) was 10, but Jaxson (Hayes) has 10. So I went with 15, and hopefully it (ultimately) ends the same, with a championship. [smiles] I wore 10 in college.”

Tony Snell (21): “Twenty-one has been number since Day 1 when I started playing (on organized teams). I really fell in love with basketball playing the game of ‘21’ in Los Angeles. It’s more than a number to me.”

Larry Nance Jr. (22): Nance tweeted last week, “Can’t wait to wear No. 22 again. No other number felt quite right.” His father wore 22 throughout his NBA career, including with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who retired Larry Sr.’s jersey, which hangs in the rafters at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

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24 Seconds presented by Ibotta: Pelicans uniform number selections, part 2

It’s probably not an intentional strategy, but the New Orleans Pelicans have accumulated a large group of players with ties to the Carolinas, including their pair of recent All-Star selections, Brandon Ingram (2020) and Zion Williamson (2021). Guard Devonte’ Graham was born in Raleigh, N.C., while rookie forward Trey Murphy III was born in the nearby sister city of Durham.

In this week’s “24 Seconds” Q&A, Ingram discussed his North Carolina background and initial experiences as a professional player:

Pelicans.com: When did you know you could play in the NBA?

Ingram: (When I was named a) McDonald’s All-American. You hear the people around say, “If you can play with these guys and if you can compete against these guys, then you have a chance to make it to the league.”

Pelicans.com: Is there one moment when you got to the league where you were like, “OK, I belong,” or a moment when you were like, “Oh, maybe it’s a little bit tougher than I thought?”

Ingram: Actually when I got to the league, I knew I was at square one again, just because I know people always say, you may be the best player in high school, you may be the best player in college, but when you get to the NBA, it’s a little different. You’re playing against stronger guys, grown men who have matured throughout this league. And they’ve learned a lot, especially with the years they have. So my first year was definitely like, “Whoa. Yeah, I have to put some extra work in. I have to get stronger. I have to be able to read the game a little bit better. The game is going to have to slow down a little bit more.” So I definitely had a whoa moment coming to the league.

Pelicans.com: What’s high school basketball and the basketball culture like in North Carolina?

Ingram: Well, North Carolina is known as a hoop state. I’ve known a lot of athletes that came from there who are in the NBA right now. It just seems like North Carolina breathes basketball everywhere you go. There’s a gym to go to with some pretty talented players that you can get some good pickup with. You can have some good workout partners. So North Carolina kind of breathes basketball.

Pelicans.com Growing up, did you have a favorite NBA moment or a favorite player you would watch or try to emulate?

Ingram: (I remember) staying up watching Kobe late at night. Because I was on the East Coast, those Lakers games came on at like 10 o’clock. I don’t think there was an exact moment. It might have been one of Kobe's game-winners, but I felt like every time the Lakers needed a shot, he was always there on time and every shot was going in. Every fadeaway, every three-pointer, everything he took to the rim, every free throw was going in. So he was a player I idolized growing up. Of course Kevin Durant, too. But Kobe was the first.

Pelicans.com: Is that something that helped you and your career? You saw that and thought, “OK, if I want to do what he does, I've got to work like he does or at least try to?”

Ingram: Yeah, that’s something that's helping me now. Making sure that I’m ahead of everyone else, especially when it comes to the work. Just making sure that I’m doing the extra. His worth ethic definitely inspires mine.

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24 Seconds presented by Ibotta: Brandon Ingram on his basketball influences

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