John Jenkins got a little advice from Mark Cuban after the Mavericks owner signed the free-agent shooting guard last week.
“He told me just to make buckets,” said Jenkins, a 2012 first-round pick of the Hawks. “That’s what I do best, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Jenkins played little for the Hawks the past two seasons. After appearing in 61 games as a rookie, he played in only 13 games in 2013-14 because of a back injury that eventually required surgery. He played sparingly last season and appeared in only 24 games. The Hawks declined his option at the start of last season, making him an unrestricted free agent this summer. After interest from several teams, Jenkins opted for a three-year partially guaranteed contract with the Mavericks.
“I feel great about it,” Jenkins said. “I think I needed a fresh start, and the Mavericks are giving me that opportunity. I waited longer than I thought I’d have to wait, as crazy as it was, but it was well worth it going to this team and for their interest in me. It feels good to be wanted and to go out there and be a part of what is going on with their team is great.”
The sharp-shooter out of Vanderbilt averaged 5.6 points in 13.8 minutes in his three seasons and 98 games after the Hawks selected him with the 23rd overall pick. He struggled to get playing time the past two seasons under coach Mike Budenholzer. Jenkins, 24, admitted it took time to adjust to a role off the bench after he led the SEC in scoring his final two years at Vanderbilt and was a First Team All-SEC selection following each season.
“My first time ever sitting the bench was in the NBA,” Jenkins said. “Like Kyle (Korver) told me, I had to learn how to make three minutes extremely effective when I got out there. That was really hard to grasp at first. I was used to in college or high school I might have missed my first five shots, but I knew I was going to get 10 more to make it up. I might have only gotten two or three shots.
“That was tough for me at the beginning. I really struggled with that. I think last year was my best year of dealing with that even though with that. Confidence is so big. In my case, I might sit out for two weeks and then play one game. You have to be ready. Physically, you are going to be ready but mentally you have to be ready. People don’t understand how tough that is. … That prepared me for what is ahead.”
Jenkins said he will cherish his time in Atlanta because of the city and the fans. He said he likely will keep a home in Atlanta and return during the summers. He said he learned from the likes of Korver, Anthony Morrow, Al Horford, Jeff Teague, Elton Brand, Lou Williams, Devin Harris and many others while here.
“I’m just a sponge with anybody,” Jenkins said. “I’ll listen to a 5-year-old if I think there is some knowledge that will help me in my game. Kyle Korver, in my opinion, the best shooter in the world right now, anything that he had to say, do or wanted to tell me, I was all ears. I stopped whatever I was doing to listen to him. I asked him so many questions he probably got tired of answering them.”
Jenkins hoped to play pick-up ball for the first time this summer this week. He had to limit himself to individual workouts while in free agency. He spent time at home in Tennessee and in California, Texas and Georgia after the Hawks lost in the Eastern Conference finals. He spent several days in Dallas last week and asked for a tape of the team’s plays and sets. He thinks there will be plenty of opportunities for him, especially with opponents having to double-team Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki.
Jenkins said proving what he can do in the NBA is important as he moves forward in his career.
“There is a ton of motivation,” Jenkins said. “I’m a competitor at the end of the day. I wanted to be in Atlanta as long as possible. That’s not how it went down. Whatever workout I’ve had so far has been dedicated to show people what I can do.”
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