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Most everyone enjoys a nice guy-made-good underdog story. From Rudy to the Rocky series, fans go nuts for an overlooked talent finally getting a chance. It is even better if for their team. Fans of the New Orleans Pelicans know the type well.
Willie Green has featured second-rounder Herb Jones in the starting lineup from day one. The first-time coach has given undrafted two-way's Naji Marshall and Jose Alvarado opportunities to become household names. They are all now on guaranteed deals and their Crescent City connections are invaluable to the team's chemistry.
That has not been the case with Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. He has not exactly inspired a lot of confidence when on the court with only nine assists to six turnovers in 13 games played. Missed wide-open three-pointers during clutch moments in the Smoothie King Center probably does not help matters either. Not when Jones, Marshall, and a history-making rookie sharpshooter in Jordan Hawkins watch from the sidelines just like the fans with courtside seats.
Why Pelicans should play Jeremiah Robinson-Earl less
Robinson-Earl had plenty of suitors but chose to sign a two-way deal with the Pelicans in early November. The team was ailing and needed frontcourt depth even with a healthy Zion Williamson. There was a slim chance to stick in an NBA rotation and he took a shot. The Villanova product has logged 153 total minutes, averaging 4.5 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. But with the roster now close to full-strength, there are not many nights ahead where he will be the best matchup or developmental option.
Robinson-Earl will likely play far fewer minutes for the Pelicans now that grizzled veteran Larry Nance Jr. is close to a return. There are higher-priority options for those minutes, including getting Trey Murphy to over 30 consistently. The Pelicans can veer toward development when Jordan Hawkins returns from the Birmingham Squadron or lean on veterans like Nance Jr. or Cody Zeller.
The rotational adjustment for Robinson-Earl is coming sooner rather than later. Nance Jr. (right rib fracture) was upgraded to questionable on Wednesday’s injury list, ahead of Thursday’s home game against the visiting Utah Jazz. Zeller (ankle) is not far behind in the recovery process. Not only should the 23-year-old Robinson-Earl play less, he might have to follow Hawkins and suit up for the Squadron to get live game-action repetitions.
Robinson-Earl previously played for the Oklahoma City Thunder and Oklahoma City Blue (G-League). He was cut by the Houston Rockets days before the 2023-24 season tipped off.
The Pelicans will wait until after the trade deadline to decide on if Robinson-Earl's two-way contract is converted to a guaranteed deal. That's the only way JRE will experience the NBA Playoffs wearing a New Orleans uniform this season.
There is always a chance Robinson-Earl is needed again though. The Pelicans know all about unfortunate injuries and skeleton crew squads. Robinson-Earl was a regular in the Thunder's rotation until an ankle injury derailed his 2022-23 season. A rehab stint in the G-League and a trip around the waiver wire later, JRE finds himself trying to survive another roster crunch.
“You just got to always be ready for any circumstance. Nothing is promised, you got to keep your head down, keep working hard, and just live with the results of that,” Robinson-Earl told ClutchPoints. “I want to be as versatile as possible, that’s kind of what the league is going towards is versatile forwards and bigs. Just being able to stretch the floor, being able to guard one through five is really important for teams to see.”
