Timberwolves’ Nikeil Alexander-Walker sees latest stop as an opportunity to learn
DALLAS- Nickelil Alexander Walker finished his pregame routine with the Jazz on Wednesday night with about 40 minutes left until game time.
Shortly after getting off the floor, Alexander-Walker found out that Utah was selling him to Wolves, the team on the other end of the floor. So Alexander-Walker showered, dressed, and headed down the hall to greet his new teammates.
“I went from thinking about the game plan to final goodbyes and stuff like that, so it was a lot and it all happened quickly for me,” Alexander-Walker said. “I was excited because everything is an opportunity and a chance for me to get better and grow.”
Alexander-Walker, who is in his fourth season at Virginia Tech, isn’t putting himself in an entirely alien situation. Wolves is training in his rookie year with the Pelicans Chris Fink was an assistant there. Alexander-Walker said he used to ask Finch a lot of questions, who he said is “very patient” with him. Finch joked he wasn’t sure if anyone ever referred to him as a patient.
With the perspective of the times, Alexander-Walker said many of the things Finch told him about life in the NBA have come to light for him since Finch left New Orleans and Alexander-Walker went from there to Utah and now back went to Minnesota.
“It’s something I’ve thought about a lot since my rookie year,” said Alexander-Walker. “How much I’ve grown and learned – the little things he said that carried over, I had to realize I was a little bit stubborn.”
Finch said he views Alexander-Walker as a “utility infielder” who can do a little bit of everything on the floor. He can play all three backcourt positions and Finch said his defense has grown since that rookie season.
“Nicheil is very cerebral,” said Finch. “He’s also inquisitive. He wanted to learn as much as he could about it, not just what we do but the league. He’s a pleasure. He wants to learn, put it into play and know we did it right “With every rookie he’s just going through the ups and downs of a rookie learning how to play in the NBA. Now I see a man who’s a lot more confident about who he is as a player.”
Alexander-Walker is a restricted free agent after this season, and Finch said he was confident Alexander-Walker would find a role with Wolves, especially since all the moves in his career haven’t allowed him to, either settle for a place long.
“For me it’s how I help the team?” said Alexander Walker. “One of the big leaps I made this year was on defense. It’s a chance for me to come in and be another asset. I know jaden [McDaniels] has a lot to do to protect the best players for many teams. I come to relieve him and help him, add another presence, stuff like that, little things that can help me put it into the game.”
Ticket prices go up
The Wolves sent out their season ticket renewal orders with COO on Monday Ryan Tanke He said Wolves had raised ticket prices for the first time in five seasons. The average increase is 8%, Tanke said. Tanke noted that 82% of the seats would go up $5 or less.
The Wolves are extending the 50% retail and arena discount for another season for those who renew their season tickets, while those who buy them for the first time receive a 25% discount. Tanke said Wolves have had 14 sellouts in 32 games this season, with six of the last seven being sold out.
Wolves have averaged 16,492 fans per game this season. That’s 27th in the league, ahead of the Rockets, Pacers and Thunder. Their average attendance is up slightly from 16,028, which finished 21st in the league last season.