Kevin Garnett does not hand out flattering comparisons to just anybody. So when he said second-round pick Jaron Pierre Jr. plays like a mashup of Anthony Edwards and LeBron James, people paid attention. But Garnett wasn’t just talking about dunks and chase-down blocks. He was talking about a guy who overwhelms defenders with power and speed and an attack-first mentality. The New Orleans Pelicans saw the same thing when they grabbed the St. Augustine product at pick No. 58.
ClutchPoints spoke with Pierre’s longtime trainer Rory Poplion, who has watched the New Orleans native go from a raw athlete to an actual NBA prospect. Poplion was not expecting that KG shoutout.
“The crazy part about that Kevin Garnett clip, I was blown away by it,” Poplion said. “I had KG’s jersey as a kid. I was big on the Stephon Marbury and Garnett tandem. But Jaron Pierre, if you look at his highlights, it looks like a video game.”
The road to New Orleans wasn’t smooth
Pierre’s path was nothing like the straight line you see for most lottery picks. He started at Southern Miss as a guy with obvious physical tools but questions about his polish. Transfers to Wichita State and Jacksonville State let him answer those questions one at a time. By the time he got to SMU, scouts weren’t asking whether he belonged. They wanted to know if he could thrive as a primary option facing nightly double teams and the pressure that comes with NIL-era expectations.
“Shot 38% from three the last two seasons. He averaged 21.6 points per game at Jacksonville State and 17.6 at SMU,” Poplion said. “That season at Jax State showed he was one of the best players in the country. Dennis Scott, an Orlando Magic great, loved him. Damon Stoudamire said Jaron was the most pro-ready player he’d seen all year.”
The numbers helped his case. But it might have been the New Orleans mentality that sealed it.
Why the Pelicans like what they see
Forget the comparisons to All-Stars for a second. Pierre’s trainer puts it simpler.
“I just think Jaron is a dog. That’s it. And it’s crazy that his game is still growing,” Poplion said. “His Jax State year, you started to see the post-fades. You started to see the Kobe. He loves Kobe Bryant. With his frame, 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, JP is going to punish defenders on those bumps. That’s why he can get to where he wants in transition. And his speed from the corner to the opposite rim is incredible.”
Defense was the knock on Pierre coming out of college. NBA scouts pointed to it as a weakness. Poplion thinks context matters. When you’re the guy carrying the offense every night, defense naturally takes a back seat. The Pelicans seem to believe that with a smaller offensive role, Pierre’s athleticism and competitiveness will show up more consistently on that end.
“When you’re asked to carry a heavy offensive load, defense becomes secondary in your mind because of what everyone is called upon to do,” Poplion said. “It’s about role and ability. You might be in one role, but have the ability that can expand to another.”
League sources told ClutchPoints that Pierre intentionally tried to showcase his playmaking at the NBA Draft Combine, which led to some uncharacteristic turnovers. Instead of hunting his own shot, he looked to set up teammates. That might not have popped on the stat sheet, but it told teams something about his game.
“Jaron is the life of the party but also the worker of workers,” Poplion said. “When it’s time to have a great time with teammates and be a locker room guy, he is going to big up guys. That’s one thing people will see: if someone is having success alongside him, he’d rather that over just being the guy. Every time his teammates did something well, I saw how excited he was. The Pelicans will love him.”
Pierre averaged 21.6 points at Jacksonville State and 17.6 at SMU, but Poplion says the numbers don’t tell the full story. Most of those points came in the second half when the game was on the line. He is not the guy padding stats with late-game free throws. He is the guy who shows up when they need him.
The Anthony Edwards and LeBron comparisons make headlines. But for a kid from New Orleans who went overlooked before earning his shot, the chance to play for the hometown team means everything. That is why Pierre is going to make the Pelicans proud every time he steps on the floor.
Leave a Comment