Jordan 'Jelly' Walker Confident Ahead of Mavs Training Camp: 'I Know What I'm Capable Of'

Two-way contract hopeful Jordan "Jelly" Walker might be at a disadvantage when it comes to his size, but he makes up for it with his shooting ability, energy and heart.

Barring an unexpected trade in the next 24 hours, the Dallas Mavericks' roster is set as training camp opens on Wednesday. Not only will young guaranteed-contract guys like Jaden Hardy, Josh Green, Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper be jockeying for higher spots in head coach Jason Kidd's rotation, but several camp invitees will be competing for Dallas' third and final two-way contract as well.

Former UAB guard Jordan "Jelly" Walker is among those players looking to impress the Mavs enough to earn that contract. After going undrafted in this year's NBA Draft, Walker, who stands at just 5-11, is on a mission to prove he can be a valuable asset despite having a disadvantage when it comes to size.

"I never was 'the guy' when I was younger. I never was the main guy," Walker told DallasBasketball.com. "I always had to continue to work and work and work, because I was always talented, but there were other people more talented than me when I was younger. But I understood that talent only lasts for so long, and I had to continue to work, and I never stopped working. And the people who were so-called better than me when I was younger, I ended up really passing them by a mile as I got older."

Jordan “Jelly” Walker brings the ball up the court for the Dallas Mavericks at the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League in July / Mavs.com

During his final year at UAB, Walker averaged 22.3 points and 4.2 assists while shooting 40.3 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from deep. In four Summer League games in Las Vegas, ended up being the Mavs' second-leading scorer after Hardy at 13 points per game, shooting a sizzling 48.1 percent on 6.8 attempts from deep per game.

Walker has some stiff competition for the Mavs' final two-way contract, including Dexter Dennis, Greg Brown III and Joe Wieskamp, but he also believes that he has what it takes to come out on top when the dust settles.

"Not to sound arrogant, but I know how good I am … I know what I’m capable of,” Walker said. "So if I don't get on the floor, that's okay, because there's gonna be a time when I do ... then it's [time] to step up."

Regardless of whether Walker ends up with that Mavs' two-way contract or not, he should still wind up with the Texas Legends for this season with more opportunities to make the Mavs' official roster later down the road. Walker hopes he's able to make the official roster now, though, because he believes this year's team is going to be 'really, really good.'

"In my opinion, I really do believe the Mavs are gonna be really, really good [this season]," Walker said. "Obviously, starting with Kyrie [Irving] and Luka [Doncic], that's gonna trickle down to the rest of the team. In my opinion, I think they can go really, really far. And God's willing, I'm on that [ride] too, and I can say 'we' can go really, really far."

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