Only seven weeks ago did Shelvin Mack secure a roster spot with the Hawks.
He survived a training camp battle with veteran Royal Ivey for the team’s third point guard spot that came down to the final days of October. Mack assumed the backup position behind Jeff Teague by mid-November. He had a career-high 17 points in a 101-92 loss to the Thunder Tuesday.
“I think I’ve been doing a great job of taking advantage of my opportunity,” Mack said.
You could put it that way.
Mack had the 10 fourth-quarter points, including two 3-pointers, in a span of 3:39 as the Hawks trimmed a 10-point deficit to just three. However, Mack’s last basket with 2:02 remaining would be the Hawks’ final points.
Mack, in 20 minutes, also set career highs in field goals made (7 of 9) and 3-pointers made (3 of 5). He also had six assists.
“Shelvin finds a way to help your team – whether it’s scoring or passing or defending,” coach Mike Budenholzer said. “He’s just a really nice complement to our group. He adds a lot of different things.”
Mack, on a contract that won’t become guaranteed until Jan. 10, has come a long way from last season when he played for three teams and was signed to four 10-day contracts. He was waived by the Wizards in January after they selected him in the second round (34th overall) in the 2011 NBA Draft. He signed two 10-day contracts with the 76ers in January. He signed another two 10-day contracts with the Hawks in March before he agreed to a two-year deal.
Mack did not play in five of the Hawks’ first nine games as he was behind rookie Dennis Schroder. On Nov. 16, Mack recorded his first career double-double with 12 points and 12 assists in a win at the Knicks. Teague told coaches to leave Mack in the game down the stretch as he was playing so well. Mack has only missed one game since, that due to a left ankle sprain.
On Dec. 4 the Hawks sent Schroder to the NBA Development League to get playing time. That night, Mack had another solid game with 12 points, five assists and four rebounds playing down the stretch of a win over the Clippers.
In his past 12 games, beginning against the Knicks, Mack is averaging 7.6 points, 3.8 assists, 0.8 turnovers in 19.6 minutes.
Mack, 23, said he is finally getting comfortable in an offense. Under Budenholzer, Mack is working on his fifth system. He watches video with assistant coach Kenny Atkinson almost daily.
“I’ve watched a lot of film to understand when I’m getting shots and when I’m not getting shots,” Mack said. “… It’s either film of me or film of someone else who does something that I can add to my game to help me.”
Battling the odds is not new to Mack. He was on the underdog Butler University team that went to back-to-back finals of the NCAA Men’s Tournament. Then coach Brad Stevens, now with the Celtics, said recently that Mack single-handily got the team to the finals in 2011.
Stevens said he never thought the player he recruited would leave for the NBA after three seasons and earn a spot in the league.
“He proves everybody wrong all the time,” Stevens said.
Mack is at it again.
D-League update: John Jenkins scored a game-high 28 points and Schroder had a double-double of 15 points and 11 assists for the host Bakersfield (Calif.) Jam in a 111-103 loss to the Santa Clara Warriors Tuesday. Jenkins shot 10 of 23 from the field. The guard also had six rebounds and three assists in 38 minutes. Schroder had just two turnovers in route to the double-digit assist total in 34 minutes.
In three games since being assigned to the D-League, Jenkins is averaging 22.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.3 turnovers. Schroder is averaging 15.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 3.3 turnovers. The Jam play again on Thursday.
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