Siena’s Jalen Pickett drives to the basket against Iona’s Isaiah Washington during a basketball game at the Times Union Center on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Lori Van Buren/Times Union
Siena guard Jalen Pickett (22) passes the ball against Rider during the first half of an NCAA basketball game Friday, Feb.14, 2020, in Albany, N.Y. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union)
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Hans Pennink/Times Union
Denver Nuggets guard Jalen Pickett (24) gestures after hitting a 3-point basket in the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
David Zalubowski/Associated Press
Even in his new home of Los Angeles, former Siena University point guard Jalen Pickett bumped into a reminder of his Saints past.
When Pickett arrived at the Los Angeles Clippers facility last week, he ran into Paul Hewitt, who coaches their NBA G League affiliate, the San Diego Clippers.
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“He told me he coached at Siena,” Pickett said.
Indeed, Hewitt led the Saints from 1997 to 2000. He took them to the NCAA Tournament in 1999, two decades before Pickett starred for Siena from 2018 to 2021. Pickett transferred to Penn State, where he became an All-American.
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They also share a background in Rochester, where Pickett grew up and Hewitt went to college at St. John Fisher.
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“We talked a little bit about Siena times and upstate New York,” Hewitt said. “He’s looked very good so far.”
Pickett spent his first three NBA seasons with the Denver Nuggets, who chose not to pick up his option for a fourth season. Pickett signed a two-way contract with the Clippers that allows him to split time between Los Angeles and San Diego.
However, Hewitt said he doesn’t expect to be coaching Pickett much in the G League this season.
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“He’s going to be fine,” Hewitt said. “I don’t anticipate seeing him much in San Diego, but you never know. We’ll see how it plays out. Just the fact that he’s got playoff experience and he’s put up good numbers in NBA games, I would think he’s got a chance.”
Pickett, a former second-round draft pick, played in 50 games and started 18 for the Nuggets last season. He averaged 5.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 16.1 minutes per game.
“We talked with Denver about the same role, going back and it didn’t really work out,” Pickett said. “But then (we were) talking to some other teams, because I had some good games last year, had some good games my second year, had some big games. I just think (it’s) going to be the best fit, whether it’s as a two-way, where you compete for a roster spot, going forward with a team that kind of wanted you and is excited to have you.”
He joins a Clippers roster that has two-time All-Star Darius Garland as its only true point guard. Los Angeles also chose combo guard Keaton Wagler with the fifth overall pick in this year’s draft.
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“They also see me as a combo guard because I shot the ball really well from 3 (38.7% career) the last couple of seasons,” Pickett said.
Hewitt said the Clippers were surprised Pickett was available.
“He defends, he can make shots, plays hard,” Hewitt said. “High IQ player. Physically, he’s strong.”
Pickett received a one-year contract with a $678,882 salary, according to spotrac.com. A player on a two-way contract can play a maximum of 50 games with his NBA team and only players in their fourth season or earlier can sign a two-way contract, according to the G League.
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Pickett joined the Nuggets for the 2023-24 season, when they were the defending NBA champions. He appeared in 76 games with four starts over his first two seasons and went down to the Grand Rapids Gold of the G League to play in 15 games.
“It started off slow,” Pickett said. “Being a rookie, coming in second round, trying to carve out minutes. But being around great players, especially at your position like (Denver point guard) Jamal Murray, like Russell Westbrook, seeing the work they put in daily, I think Denver overall was a success. I think it helped my game. I think it showed me how to be a pro, how to approach the game.”
When Pickett scored a career-high 29 points against Philadelphia last season, he received texts from just about every teammate from his three seasons at Siena.
“I felt really special in that moment, too,” Pickett said. “That really was a family.”
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Pickett won Metro Rookie of the Year in 2019 and Player of the Year in 2020.
He followed Siena’s run to the Metro Conference championship under former head coach Gerry McNamara last season, including the near-upset of Duke in the NCAA Tournament. During Pickett’s sophomore year of 2019-20, the regular-season champion Saints had their NCAA Tournament bid end when the COVID pandemic canceled the league tournament.
“It was great to be able to see them get there and do something I wanted to do,” Pickett said. “We didn’t get a chance because of COVID and everything. It was good watching them play Duke and competing. They had a chance down the stretch. They probably needed one or two more bodies.”
He lives in Houston in the offseason, where his trainer, Stephon Martinez, is based. While looking for a new NBA team, Pickett worked on his conditioning, shooting and ballhandling.
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He goes home to Rochester once or twice a year. His mother, Gwen, still lives there and Jalen Pickett bought his grandmother a house in the suburbs.
The Clippers open their season Oct. 21 at home against the Sacramento Kings, the day before Pickett turns 27. Though he’s prepared to play in the G League, he’s aiming for much more. He’s one of only two Siena alumni to appear in an NBA regular-season game, along with Edwin Ubiles.
“I don’t mind, but the goal is to be up there with the NBA team,” Pickett said. “Whatever the Clippers need me to do, I’ll be able to do and compete at the highest level. It’s a dream for me to even be at this stage.”
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