{"id":71132,"date":"2024-03-29T22:03:49","date_gmt":"2024-03-30T02:03:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=71132"},"modified":"2024-03-29T22:03:49","modified_gmt":"2024-03-30T02:03:49","slug":"nets-kevin-ollie-responds-lonnie-walker-iv-playing-time-question","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/03\/29\/nets-kevin-ollie-responds-lonnie-walker-iv-playing-time-question\/","title":{"rendered":"Nets Head Coach Responds to Scorer\u2019s Playing Time Question"},"content":{"rendered":"

Just days after Brooklyn Nets wing Lonnie Walker IV<\/a> was lamenting his diminished role<\/a>, interim head coach Kevin Ollie has responded to the question that was ultimately posed by the 25-year-old:<\/p>\n

What does he have to do to get more playing time?<\/p>\n

Kevin Ollie Responds to Lonnie Walker IV\u2019s Playing Time Question<\/h2>\n

\u201cAll the little things<\/a>,\u201d Ollie answers, per the New York Post\u2019s Brian Lewis.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlaying defense. Rebounding. Making the right plays. That’s just how it is. So have him understand that and when your shot’s not falling, doing the other things to make an impact on the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

There\u2019s nothing amiss about Ollie\u2019s comments in and of themselves. However, as noted in a separate article, Ollie may be moving the goalposts for Walker. Before former head coach Jacque Vaughn was removed from his post, one of his issues was focusing on Cam Thomas<\/a>\u2019 weaknesses to the point where he undermined his development with relatively playing time.<\/p>\n

Notably, Thomas recently discussed his growth<\/a> as a facilitator, citing his increased opportunities as the reason for it. Thomas also points out that most players have a score-first mindset when they\u2019re not getting in much. A chicken-and-egg conversation can be had about players proving their worth when they get playing time and needing reps to develop.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, the 22-year-old\u2019s message rings true for many players:<\/p>\n

\u201cIf anybody doesn\u2019t really play much, then they get in for a few spurts \u2014 I mean, let\u2019s be real \u2014 nobody\u2019s looking to pass when they first get in, they\u2019re looking to get some buckets.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cI\u2019d say I\u2019ve grown as a passer because I\u2019m playing more,\u201d Thomas says.<\/p>\n

Better Than Given Credit For<\/h3>\n

Thomas has shown greater offensive potential<\/a>\u00a0so his development is being prioritized. Still, the approach to developing Thomas and Walker should be similar given the latter\u2019s scoring upside.<\/p>\n