They were words John Jenkins needed to hear.
After signing with the Mavericks as a free agent this summer, the guard couldn’t wait for the preseason. The former Hawks first-round pick played all seven exhibition games and averaged 19.7 points per game.
“It was huge,” Jenkins said Wednesday morning before his new team met his old team for the first time in the regular season. “I knew I had that in me. I was just showing everybody else. For me to do that was a lot of fun. They gave me the ball and said ‘Do what you do.’ Which is different. I enjoyed it a lot.”
Jenkins was 48 of 100 from the field in the preseason and also averaged 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 17.0 minutes. He scored in double-figures in each game.
During the regular season, Jenkins has assumed a role off the bench. He has appeared in 10 games for the Mavericks, including one start. He has averaged 4.1 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 10.3 minutes.
“Being patient, of course,” Jenkins said of his role with the Mavericks. “After preseason, I felt like I was in a good spot. Just building off of that. I’ve learned from a lot of guys here, kind of like I did with Kyle (Korver) and them. Wesley Matthews and I’m back with Devin (Harris) again. Those guys have helped me out a lot. I’m just learning really.”
Jenkins said he still keeps in touch with many of his former Hawks teammates. He spent three seasons with the Hawks after he was a first-round pick (No. 23 overall) in 2012. Jenkins had dinner Tuesday night with Dennis Schroder and Mike Muscala and ran into several of his old coaches at the team hotel. The Hawks played an exhibition game at the Mavericks prior to the season. However, Wednesday’s meeting counts.
Jenkins played 98 games for the Hawks in three season and missed considerable time with a back injury his second season.
“It’s definitely weird,” Jenkins said of facing his old teammates. “… It’s really weird doing the scouting report and talking about them. I don’t know if I like it too much. It is what it is. I knew this day was going to come, even in preseason, I was preparing myself for it when we played them. I’m ready to go back to Atlanta just to see everything in a different light.
“I’m still cool with all the players and talk to them all the night. I still talk to Kyle and pick his brain even to this day. He helped me out a lot and I’ll never forget it.”
Jenkins is not the only familiar face the Hawks will see Wednesday. Zaza Pachulia was traded to the Mavericks during the offseason from the Bucks. The center played eight seasons with the Hawks from 2005-13. Harris played the 2012-13 season with the Hawks.
About the Author
