Jalen McDaniels, the story of an eternally underestimated

In a Hornets team that already has colorful personalities in its ranks, such as LaMelo Ball or Kelly Oubre Jr, he is nevertheless described as ” funniest person on the team by Terry Rozier. ” He is very calm at first sight, but when you really know him, he is very funny. It’s hard to explain, it’s for example his facial expressions. He is hilarious. »

This sentence from the back of the Hornets actually embodies a recurring theme, in Jalen McDaniels. That of a player who has always managed to change the image we have of him, at all stages of his life as a basketball player.

After all, and he confirms it, he was not a star high school student, and was only the 52nd choice of the 2019 Draft, after a discreet career in the NCAA, at San Diego State. And yet, a little over three years after his arrival in North Carolina, he is still there, and the best is even to come since he produced the best basketball of his young career this year (9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 passes in 26 minutes).

” It’s a nice feeling, because I’m not supposed to be there. When looking at stats for chosen players [en 52e position], most are out of the league by their second year. But that’s the story of my life, of always being underestimated » confided the 24-year-old winger. ” In high school, no college paid attention to me, not until my senior year. I always had a long way to go to get where I wanted to be. »

Unwavering family support to keep a cool head

Regularly sent to the G-League throughout his first two seasons, Jalen McDaniels constantly reminded himself of his parents’ message, while waiting for his time to come with the “big boys”: no reward without work.

” When Jalen started playing basketball, I was very clear with him. I told him that I would support him, but that he would always have to give his all “Remembered Angela Jackson, his mother. ” It’s simple: at work, you don’t get paid if you don’t work. Same thing [en NBA] added his father, Will McDaniels. ” [Je lui disais] that it was unimaginable to find oneself in a desired situation without working. Because that’s the mentality of all these kids today. They see the glitter on the surface, but don’t think about all the work and sacrifice involved. »

Then his brother Jaden, who shines at Wolves, two years his junior, to evoke this inspiring journey.

” I am proud of him, of his journey. Second round of Draft, then passage through the G-League, before settling in the rotation of his team. It inspired me a lot. When I saw him go to college and then to the NBA, I said to myself: ‘I want to reach the same point as him.’ His background was a big motivation for me. »

And finally, in the middle of all this, the happiest is undoubtedly the mother, proud of her two sons. ” It’s great that Jalen, as a big brother, has become a role model [pour Jaden]. It’s a very strong relationship between them, and it means a lot to me because I always wanted them to stick together, no matter what life throws at them. concluded Angela Jackson.