After a winless 2016 D-League Showcase, it’s clear there are flaws with the Bakersfield Jam. However, head coach Chris Jent has put a foundation in place that starts with a desire to learn.
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Down 50-38 at the half, the Bakersfield Jam were on their way to a second straight loss at the NBA D-League Showcase in Santa Cruz, Calif., where all of the D-League teams play in front of scouts, personnel and media in hopes of earning a call-up to the NBA. However, coming out of the break, the mood wasn’t that bleak.
In fact, before play resumed against the Erie Bayhawks, the players were talking and joking around throughout the layup lines. The jovial nature of the conversations was highlighted by Bakersfield point guard Askia Booker trying to get various teammates to set him up for an alley-oop dunk, hoping to put on a show for those in attendance.
For Booker, playing at events like the Showcase provides a great opportunity. And even though he’s still not the team’s starting point guard — at least at the moment — he’s more than happy to bask in the added spotlight.
“It’s lovely,” Booker said. “It’s great to get some exposure in front of these guys and show them what you can do.”
As second half began Monday, a repeat of a disappointing first half quickly presented itself. Bakersfield was unable to score on its first possession; the other way, Erie guard Jordan Sibert converted a layup off a second chance opportunity.
Back down the court, the Jam committed a shot clock violation, and the team looked all out of sorts, something that’s been the case far too often this year.
However, the tone quickly changed.
Bakersfield coach Chris Jent yelled out some words of encouragement from the sidelines. Before long, he was joined by guard Renaldo Major, who walked over from the end of the Bakersfield bench to share a message with his team.
“Get a stop. Get a stop,” he barked.
That’s exactly what happened.
The Jam finally got a stop and — as a result — a wide open dunk on the ensuing run-out. The energy continued to spread throughout the bench, as several players rose to their feet. The result was another stop and another basket.
Even though it doesn’t always show itself on the court, the Bakersfield players share a bond unlike that of a typical D-League team. The players click, whether it’s in the locker room or somewhere outside the stadium, sometimes even better than they do within the games themselves, according to Booker.
“We’re very close, especially off the court,” Booker said. “Right now, on the court, it doesn’t seem like it. We have a lot of head stuff going on — maybe some selfishness — but at the same time we’re so cool off the court that it shouldn’t show like that.”
In basketball, the point guard is often referred to as an extension of the coach on the court. In this case, that couldn’t be any more accurate.
Related Story: Q&A With Bakersfield Head Coach Chris Jent
Asked about the team’s chemistry, Jent repeated Booker’s message, using nearly the exact same words. However, that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, considering both the frequency and quality of conversations that occur between Booker and his head coach.
Whenever there’s a stoppage in a game or the opportunity presents itself, Booker makes his way over to check in with Jent, asking questions about his performance, the last few plays or just about anything else that crosses his mind.
To Jent, that curiosity is a major positive.
“When players start asking you questions, you hear that they’re understanding what’s going on out there on the floor,” Jent said. “The types of things that he’s asking us show that he’s understanding and evolving as a basketball player.”
While Booker’s attitude represents the desire to learn of some of the younger players on the team, it’s also worth noting the Jam have their fair share of experienced players.
In addition to Terrico White, who Jent describes as having NBA potential despite some “freak injuries,” the team is led in points, rebounds and blocks per game by veteran big man Earl Clark. Clark has spent time at the NBA level with several franchises, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic.
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For Clark, not being in the NBA comes as somewhat of a disappointment, though he said he recognizes the league itself is a business and that can mean things won’t shake out the way he wants. In the meantime, he’s focused on figuring out a way to turn around the season for the Jam, who have crawled to a 9-14 record.
“It’s a good group of guys, and I think we’ve got a good group of young guys,” Clark said. “But we’re obviously not getting it done. That’s what matters most.”
And that’s been the problem all throughout the year.
For Jent, it’d be easy to acknowledge the difference in talent from this year to last and push all of the blame onto that. After all, in addition to occasional visits from Suns players Archie Goodwin and T.J. Warren, the Jam also featured several eventual NBA call-ups, including Elijah Millsap and Earl Barron.
However, Jent isn’t using that as a crutch. He sees the problems with the team, and he’s trying to work through them, even as the losses pile up.
And sure enough, the Jam fell to the Bayhawks 97-87, exiting the D-League Showcase winless just one year after winning the entire event. However, through the entire journey, the team has remained positive. Clark noted that Jent isn’t down on the players, as he reminds them to just “keep plugging away” and “compete” before and after every game, while Jent himself said he sees every moment as an opportunity for growth.
“It’s all learning. It’s learning for us, and it’s learning for them,” Jent said. “Every situation you’re in — you need to take something from it.”
At the end of the day, very few players are satisfied by just making it to the D-League. Many of them have NBA aspirations, regardless of whether or not they view themselves as a future star, or even as a future starter. However, around the team, there’s also an understanding of what it takes to make it at the NBA level, which is something Jent reminds his players of week after week.
“You’re always being judged on your total game,” Jent said. “As a player, you have to bring it at both ends, especially if you’re trying to get an opportunity to be call-up guy … You have to show that on a consistent basis.”