It’s a sight to behold — yet few get the opportunity to witness the duties of a rookie in the NBA.
In a scene that has played out over and over this season in empty arenas, John Jenkins and Mike Scott scurry to collect basketball shoes strewn about a court following a morning shootaround. There is no pattern to where the footwear lay around the edges of the floor. It is left where each veteran chooses, for part of the torment is in the randomness. The Hawks’ first-year players, with arms full, are always the last to board the bus back to the team hotel.
Following those road games, the rookies make their way around the locker room to collect drink orders and bag bottles of sport drink, water or soda for the late-night plane ride to the next city.
The two make up the entire chorus that must sing Happy Birthday to team honorees. Oh, and don’t forget the doughnuts on mornings when the Hawks are at Philips Arena.
With three games remaining in the regular season, followed by the playoffs, Jenkins and Scott are nearing the end of their good-natured hazing. They have come a long way, on and off the court. Both have turned in impressive off-the-bench performances in the past two games.
In his return after missing four games with a mild concussion, Jenkins scored a career-high 23 points and four assists Saturday in a loss against the Spurs. He followed with 21 points and six assists in Wednesday’s win over the 76ers.
Scott had a career-high 22 points and six rebounds against the Spurs. He had 17 points and a career-high eight rebounds against the Sixers.
“Both John and Mike are really starting to find their niche,” coach Larry Drew said. “I think in watching the both of them play, the thing I really like about them both is they don’t play to try to fit in. They play to show that they belong. Both guys bring a definite NBA skill. John is a terrific shooter. Mike is a really good pick-and-pop guy. He runs the floor well.
“These last few games these guys have played, they have that look in their eye as far as confidence is concerned.”
In the game against the Spurs, with the Hawks down to eight healthy players, Jenkins and Scott combined to score 18 of the Hawks’ 20 second-quarter points. Against the Sixers, when the Hawks made three of their first 14 shots, Jenkins entered the game midway through the first quarter. Scott entered before the opening period ended. The rookies provided a spark as the Hawks overcame an early eight-point deficit en route to the easy victory.
“Those guys have been working hard all year, and I felt like they should have gotten an opportunity earlier,” Al Horford said. “For whatever reason they didn’t, but now they are making the most of it. We need them to keep playing confident.”
Drew said he expects to use both players during the postseason. They have indeed come a long way from the start of the season. Neither saw action in the team’s first four games. Jenkins made one and Scott made two trips to the NBA Development League early in the season in order to get playing time. Before his concussion, Jenkins appeared in 45 of 47 games.
“We are trying to earn a lot of minutes right now,” Jenkins said. “You work so hard throughout the whole season and the offense for times like this when you can showcase your ability in front of everybody. I’m just trying to take advantage of it.”
Before long, it will be another’s responsibility to make that doughnut run.
Note: Johan Petro re-joined the team for Thursday's practice. The center left Sunday to be with his expectant wife and missed Wednesday's game.
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