As Tidjane Salaün wraps up first season with Hornets, what do we make of Charlotte’s rookie?
A shot falls through the net and Tidjane Salaün can barely contain the enthusiasm, motioning in a manner that looks like he’s ready to give out a few Mike Tyson-like uppercuts.
Fist pumps abound, representing a part of the daily fabric of the Charlotte Hornets rookie forward that’s rapidly become his trademark. The emotions bubble over for the teenager when he’s on the court, raising his excitement to the level of a youngster squaring off against an opponent on NBA2K on Playstation 5.
“For me, it’s still a game,” Salaün told The Observer. “Like I always say, it’s like a video game, something I like to do. So, for sure I Iove it and to have the crowd support you through all the season, that is the best. And you can’t wish for anything better than having the crowd behind you.”
Thrust into the rotation earlier than anticipated due to the Hornets’ inordinate amount of injuries, Salaün’s first year as a professional took an accelerated pace at the outset, speeding at the rate of a fine car traversing the Autobahn. But over the past couple of months, the Frenchman has eased out of the fast lane and is now cruising at a more controlled pace.
In his 12 appearances since March 1 leading into Sunday’s 131-117 loss to the Chicago Bulls at Spectrum Center, Salaün has averaged 7.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. During that span, he’s one of only three rookies to reach those minimum thresholds since March 1, joining Duke product Kyle Filipowski of the Utah Jazz and Washington’s Alex Sarr, a fellow Frenchman.
It’s apparent the whirlwind that engulfed the 19-year-old over the past year is slowing down, and he’s enjoying the prosperity as he settles into his environment on this side of the pond.
“Yeah, like you say, I feel comfortable,” Salaün said. “A lot more comfortable than the beginning. But with all this up and down, these games I’m just growing and keep playing with all this experience. And I’m just grateful. And that’s why I feel more comfortable with my movements, with my teammates, with my English, just everything.”
That continued against the Bulls, when Salaün displayed some of that steady improvement, posting six points, six rebounds and three assists. He’s definitely playing with more control, evidenced when he took his time to convert a layup following an up-and-under move late in the third quarter.
He’s becoming better at understanding when to let it fly off his fingertips. He’s shooting 43.5% overall, including 36.6% beyond the 3-point arc, and 80% from the free throw line since March 1.
“Nothing changed on my mechanics,” Salaün said. “I think the only thing that changed is mentally I feel I trust myself more, my teammates trust me, my coach. And the fact I have all this trust and my confidence, that’s why I’m knocking down some threes and I will continue to play free. And I hope to make more until the end (of the season).”
Salaün’s improvement is noticeable. He’s bulked up from his listed weight of 205 pounds and has veins popping out of his arms, something that wasn’t the case when the lanky 6-foot-9 player initially arrived on foreign soil in June.
That added bulk is helping him on defense.
“He always plays with great competitive joy,” coach Charles Lee said. “I feel like I’ve seen more of that joy and spirit on the defensive end. He’s had a couple of games here where he had a charge, and one game I believe at home where he had two charges. And that fist pump comes out, not even after a 3. It’s after a defensive play and that excites me.
“So, (it’s) him understanding the importance of impacting the game and impacting winning even without making shots. Because I think human nature, and also just being a young player, you identify with offense. It’s like, ‘That’s how I can have my stamp on the game.’ But he can do it in other ways.”
Salaün’s incremental growth can be partially attributed to a couple of trips up Interstate 85. He had a pair of stints in the G League with the Greensboro Swarm, allowing him to get a look at things from another perspective while also providing him with a chance to gain some valuable on-the-job experience at a varied level.
He smiles recalling his five games suiting up for the Swarm.
“Yeah, because the first time I went to Greensboro, that was very cool because I could play more free, keep building up my game, my aggressiveness — everything,” Salaün said. “After my second one, it was difficult because I couldn’t play because I was injured. It was even harder, but I could just watch the game, a different type of game, because the game for me was a little bit different in the NBA when I resumed everything.
“But I could take a step back, watch the NBA from another vision and that developed and helped my vision. My experience was important because now I can understand where my teammates are when they cut, how to play, everything because I watched the game.”
Salaün also learned under the tutelage of DJ Bakker, the Swarm’s first-year head coach. And it didn’t take long for Salaün to leave an impression.
Qualities that impressed Bakker oozed out of Salaün from the very beginning.
“It’s the same thing Coach Lee (says), ‘You’ve got to love his competitiveness,’” Bakker said. ”To me, it’s the foundation of who a player is first, what’s his DNA? And he’s highly competitive. He’s a fierce competitor, he’s extremely coachable. And when I say extremely coachable, he wants to get better.
“He’s hungry to improve. I don’t care if he makes mistakes. But now let’s watch film, let’s work on it, let’s practice it, let’s do an individual workout.”
That’s when Bakker can hone Salaün’s intangibles, sharpening the areas that drew the organization’s attention and got the Hornets’ decision-makers excited enough to select him sixth overall in the NBA Draft in June when few had ever heard of him. The short time Bakker has spent with Salaün already has him convinced he’s going to be just fine as a pro.
“From a skill component, his defensive versatility, he’s got great size, great length, great athleticism, great speed, good body, physical for a young guy,” Bakker said, “and now he’s learning, ‘OK, how do I utilize that to translate into defensive versatility? Can I guard one through four and in the G League one through five and facing those challenges?’ I think from an offensive standpoint, how can you contribute today?
“His offensive rebounding, he’s had some great, great offensive rebounding games and those generate second possessions. Those are really important. And I think more big picture, it’s his reads and decision making is the ultimate. You want to grow a player’s IQ. When do I shoot it, when do I pass it, when do I drive it? And then when I drive it, what’s the right read in the paint?’
It’s an educational process Bakker embraces.
“It’s fun,” Bakker said. “It’s fun because you know how much he puts into it and how cares about it. So, I’m as competitive helping him figure it out as he himself is trying to figure it out. And it’s a partnership at this level. It’s him driving to become a great player and it’s our staff driving him to help him become a great player.
“So, this is a fun process with him.”
One that’s just commencing.
“I would like to continue to develop some winning habits,” Salaün said, “get faster on defense, keep blocking out the player and on offense, play my game, try to develop my ball-handling, some good passes and keep the game simple. And be the most efficient. That’s it.”
