Sign up here<\/a><\/p>\nThey also share a background in Rochester, where Pickett grew up and Hewitt went to college at St. John Fisher.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe talked a little bit about Siena times and upstate New York,\u201d Hewitt said. \u201cHe\u2019s looked very good so far.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
However, Hewitt said he doesn\u2019t expect to be coaching Pickett much in the G League this season.<\/p>\n
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\u201cHe\u2019s going to be fine,\u201d Hewitt said. \u201cI don\u2019t anticipate seeing him much in San Diego, but you never know. We\u2019ll see how it plays out. Just the fact that he\u2019s got playoff experience and he\u2019s put up good numbers in NBA games, I would think he\u2019s got a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe talked with Denver about the same role, going back and it didn\u2019t really work out,\u201d Pickett said. \u201cBut 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\u2019s) going to be the best fit, whether it\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s draft.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThey also see me as a combo guard because I shot the ball really well from 3 (38.7% career) the last couple of seasons,\u201d Pickett said.<\/p>\n
Hewitt said the Clippers were surprised Pickett was available.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe defends, he can make shots, plays hard,\u201d Hewitt said. \u201cHigh IQ player. Physically, he\u2019s strong.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt started off slow,\u201d\u00a0Pickett said. \u201cBeing 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\u00a0Westbrook, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt really special in that moment, too,\u201d Pickett said. \u201cThat really was a family.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Pickett won Metro Rookie of the Year in 2019 and Player of the Year in 2020.<\/p>\n
He followed Siena\u2019s 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\u2019s sophomore year of 2019-20, the regular-season champion Saints had\u00a0their NCAA Tournament bid end when the COVID pandemic canceled the league tournament.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was great to be able to see them get there and do something I wanted to do,\u201d Pickett said. \u201cWe didn\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
The Clippers open their season Oct. 21 at home against the Sacramento Kings, the day before Pickett turns 27. Though he\u2019s prepared to play in the G League, he\u2019s aiming for much more. He\u2019s one of only two Siena alumni to appear in an NBA regular-season game, along with Edwin Ubiles.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t mind, but the goal is to be up there with the NBA team,\u201d Pickett said. \u201cWhatever the Clippers need me to do, I\u2019ll be able to do and compete at the highest level. It\u2019s a dream for me to even be at this stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
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