“As the draft went, I didn’t understand why they didn’t pick me,” Jok said. “But afterward, it made sense.”
Jok indicated he had a good path at a two-way deal with the NBA champion Golden State Warriors, but he and Emens surmised the best shot at a full-season roster spot was with New Orleans.
After his junior year at Iowa, Jok tested the NBA waters without hiring an agent. He was only able to work out for one team that spring before hurting his wrist. He doesn’t remember exactly how many 3-pointers he made in that workout, but it was somewhere around 80 out of 100.
That team was the Pelicans.
This year, Jok worked out for 13 NBA teams. New Orleans wasn’t one of them.
But, he said, he remembered having a strong interview with Pelicans leadership at the NBA Draft Combine in May.