Trail Blazers' Jabari Walker: Healthy, producing well in Vegas
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Walker (knee) has suited up in all four of the Trail Blazers' Las Vegas Summer League games to date, averaging 12.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 three-pointers in 24.7 minutes per contest while shooting 58.3 percent from the field.
Walker exited the Trail Blazers' April 9 season finale versus the Warriors due to a left knee strain, but the second-year forward received a clean bill of health heading into the summer. The Colorado product's $1.72 million salary for 2023-24 won't become fully guaranteed until next week, but based on how he's fared thus far in Las Vegas, Walker seems likely to retain his roster spot heading into training camp.
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Trail Blazers' Jabari Walker: Won't return Sunday
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Walker won't return to Sunday's game due to a left knee strain.
Walker will end the day with nine points (4-6 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 1-2 FT), three rebounds and two turnovers across 21 minutes. Portland's season is done, so Walker will have plenty of time to rest up and recover from this knee injury in advance of training camp.
Walker chipped in 16 points (6-11 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 1-2 FT), six rebounds and one assist across 20 minutes during Tuesday's 119-109 loss to the Grizzlies.
Walker popped for a season-high 16 points, notching his third double-digit performance over his past four games. During that stretch, the rookie second-round pick has averaged 11.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 21.5 minutes, and he figures to continue taking advantage of elevated playing time with multiple Trail Blazers shut down for the remainder of the regular season.
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Trail Blazers' Jabari Walker: Another double-figure performance
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Walker amassed 14 points (5-12 FG, 4-6 3Pt), two rebounds, three assists and one block in 20 minutes during Friday's 138-114 loss to the Kings.
Walker got hot from deep and connected on a season-high four triples en route to his second consecutive game in double figures. The rookie second-round pick has seen an increased role over the past five contests, posting 9.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 22.0 minutes during that stretch.
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Trail Blazers' Jabari Walker: Scores 12 points off bench
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Walker chipped in 12 points (5-9 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 1-1 FT), five rebounds and one assist across 27 minutes during Wednesday's 120-80 loss to the Kings.
Walker played at least 20 minutes for the third time over his past four appearances and scored in double figures for the second time during that stretch. As long as Portland continues to have a long injury list, Walker should have plenty of opportunities off the bench during the final weeks of the regular season.
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Trail Blazers' Jabari Walker: Plays 25 minutes off bench
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Walker closed Monday's 124-90 loss to the Pelicans with seven points (3-9 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-1 FT), three rebounds and one steal over 25 minutes.
With Portland banged up, Walker has found his way back into the rotation lately and saw a season-high 25 minutes Monday. Over his past three games, Walker has totaled 23 points, eight rebounds and three steals in 21.0 minutes per game.
Walker finished with 11 points (5-7 FG, 1-2 FT), six rebounds, one assist and one steal across 15 minutes in Friday's 108-99 loss to the Pacers.
Walker has logged double-digit minutes in four straight games and has effectively taken over as the Trail Blazers' backup power forward in place of Trendon Watford, who has been out of the rotation the past two contests. Though he's shown the ability to grab rebounds at a decent rate, Walker won't warrant much intrigue outside of deeper leagues unless an injury to Josh Hart or Jerami Grant opens up more playing time.
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Trail Blazers' Jabari Walker: Double-digit minutes in loss
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Walker supplied zero points (0-3 FG, 0-1 3Pt), three rebounds and one assist over 12 minutes during Friday's 130-110 loss to the Mavericks.
Walker saw some extra minutes in Friday's loss, but he failed to take advantage, missing all three of his shot attempts and producing no defensive stats. He can still be safely kept off fantasy rosters in almost all formats.
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Trail Blazers' Jabari Walker: Playing small role
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Walker closed Thursday's 106-95 win over New Orleans with four points (2-4 FG, 0-2 3Pt) and two rebounds in eight minutes.
Walker had seen double-digit minutes in his previous two appearances due to numerous injuries in the Trail Blazers' rotation, but that increased action subsided a bit in this one and could decrease further as the team gets healthier. The rookie's production is nothing to write home about, and he's well off the fantasy radar.
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Trail Blazers' Jabari Walker: Decent in limited run
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Walker registered two points (1-1 FG), three rebounds and two assists across eight minutes during Wednesday's 119-98 loss to Miami.
A second-round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Walker predictably hasn't obtained a significant rotational role early in his career. The two blowouts over the last two games mark the first times he's seen the court. Walker did perform reasonably well in his brief runs, averaging 2.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists over six minutes. Still, it's unlikely he will claim a consistent role unless the depth chart gets barren due to absences.
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Trail Blazers' Jabari Walker: Signs rookie deal
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Walker signed a three-year, $4.76 million contract with the Trail Blazers on July 13, Michael Scotto of USA Today reports.
According to Scotto, the first year of the deal is guaranteed, giving Walker an inside track to open the season as a member of the Blazers' 15-man roster. Walker, a 6-foot-9 power forward who was a second-round pick out of Colorado in June, is unlikely to be a regular part of Portland's rotation as a rookie.
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Trail Blazers' Jabari Walker: Drafted by Portland
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Walker was selected by the Trail Blazers with the No. 57 pick of the 2022 NBA Draft.
Walker concluded his sophomore campaign at Colorado last year with averages of 14.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 28.1 minutes. The 6-foot-9 forward also shot 39.9 percent from deep on 148 attempts during his freshman and sophomore years. He was named to the 2022 All-Pac-12 First Team.
