Jordan 'Jelly' Walker Speaks on Mavs Summer League: 'Experience of a Lifetime'

Dallas Mavericks rookie Jordan "Jelly" Walker got a taste of the biggest stage in college basketball when he played in the NCAA Tournament with UAB, but he says the NBA Summer League was on an even higher level.

The NBA Summer League might not mean much to casual basketball fans, but it certainly means a lot to the players competing in it – especially the ones who weren't drafted and have to fight tooth and nail just to receive a training camp invitation.

Jordan "Jelly" Walker is one of those guys, as he went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft before landing on the Dallas Mavericks' Summer League roster. The 23-year-old rookie joined our Mavs Step Back Podcast this week to talk about his experience in Las Vegas and how his underdog mentality has helped him throughout his entire life.

"Oh, it was the experience of a lifetime," Walker said. "NCAA Tournament [with UAB] was a huge stage, don't get me wrong. When we played Houston. Biggest stage, especially fans-wise. But when I say the NBA Summer League stage was 10-times that... Maybe not as many people there, but just the type of people that are there. People that could truly change your life with a phone call. Way more pressure and stuff like that. It was the experience of a lifetime."

The joy, passion and gratitude Walker has is the first thing that comes through vibrantly when hearing him talk about the opportunity he's received from the Mavs. He is genuinely grateful that he has the chance to compete at Mavs training camp, and although he's not a lock for the Dallas' final two-way contract, hard work and perseverance are two things he's never shied away from.

"I never was 'the guy' when I was younger. I never was the main guy," Walker said. "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."

Walker ended up being the Mavs' second-leading scorer during Summer League play at 13 points per game, trailing only second-year guard Jaden Hardy, who unfortunately had to miss the last few games in Las Vegas due to a shoulder contusion. Hardy's injury, paired with former Mavs two-way player McKinley Wright IV also enduring an injury, opened the door for Walker to show everybody what he could do, and he didn't disappoint.

"Just having that mindset and understanding that you have to be ready whenever your number's called. It was easy for me because I had that mindset," Walker said of getting his opportunity to play big minutes in Las Vegas.

"Some people, when their mind is so full of, 'oh I should be playing, oh I'm mad about this,' it affects their game. Even the [Mavs] coaches were talking to me about how in the first [Summer League] game I didn't play, and I was like, 'hey listen, I promise you it doesn't hurt my feelings.' Because I know what I'm capable of, and I'm extremely confident in my game."

Before landing with the Mavs, Walker impressed them in a private, pre-draft workout where he says he hit 86-out-of-100 threes in the 'Mavs 100' drill. That shooting stroke certainly translated well to Summer League play, as Walker shot 48.1 percent on 6.8 attempts from 3-point range, helping the Mavs finish with a 4-1 record.

"Not to sound arrogant, but I know how good I am," Walker said. "So if I don't get on the floor, that's okay, because there's gonna be a time when I do. And I don't wish bad on anybody, but obviously McKinley Wright goes down, freak accident, and then [Jaden] Hardy gets hurt too. Then it's like I had to step up. I was ready for it because I was mentally ready for it. Because I knew once I play, I know what I'm capable of."

Walker's next opportunity to put his underdog mentality to the test will come at the end of September when the Mavs begin training camp. Walker, who also tells us his favorite player of all time is Kyrie Irving, will now get to pick his idol's brain as he continues to work toward converting his Exhibit 10 contract to a two-way contract before the season starts.

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