In a recent Baltimore Sun feature on Jake Layman, the Portland Trail Blazers wing spoke about how important retaining an aggressive mindset was for him regardless of his playing-time.
Jake Layman has won the hearts of many Portland Trail Blazers fans this year with his microwave scoring and high-flying dunks. However, he wasn’t always a part of this club’s rotation. For his first two years, he was more bench warmer than X factor. In a recent Baltimore Sun feature, writer Don Markus catalogues Layman’s first three seasons in the NBA and discusses the mindset Layman’s had to take advantage of his opportunities this year.
Although Markus discusses Layman’s first season as a mostly forgettable affair, he recounts a sort of prophetic quote from Kevin Durant that came after Layman’s debut game. Amidst a 23-point blowout loss, Layman came in to score 17 points in eight minutes.
Durant said:
"“I thought we put together a really good game, other than Layman getting hot in the fourth quarter. Maybe he should be playing more.”"
Two years later, and Layman is finally seeing more consistent time – and he has that same ability to get hot in a hurry. Take his career-high 24-point surge against the Phoenix Suns earlier this year, or his more recent 20-point second quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans as examples. When Layman has it going, the Trail Blazers offense looks more free-flowing, almost playground-like, and the energy is contagious.
Jake Layman is feeling it as he goes a perfect 6/6 in the 1Q 🔥
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) December 7, 2018
The Trail Blazers lead 36-9. pic.twitter.com/qPiYPbOvFM
Layman told Markus:
"“The biggest thing is how much I’ve worked on my game the past two years and now I’ve finally got a chance to really show that and show how much my teammates have seen me work, and trust me out there when I do get hot out there to say, ‘Jake’s hot, let’s keep going to him.'”"
Of course, there are always the nights when Jake can’t get anything going – like his recent 2-for-7 night against the Oklahoma City Thunder or his earlier 2-for-10 performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves. And with a forward depth chart that’s constantly rearranging around Maurice Harkless and his knee, Nik Stauskas, and Evan Turner, Layman’s place within the rotation is hardly secured.
But his consistency is improving. Since becoming a more regular fixture for the Blazers on January 4 against the Thunder, Layman is averaging 11.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. During this stretch, he ranks fifth on the team for three-point percentage (.357), fourth in points, and second in overall field goal percentage (.567). Over his last 12 games, he holds a +6.7 box plus-minus.
To be this regular contributor, even without guaranteed minutes, Layman told Markus that the coaching staff motivates him to stay aggressive:
"“That’s the biggest thing the coaching staff wants from me: always being aggressive. Learning how to attack and make things happen out there. Recently I’ve been playing with our second unit, just always bringing that same mindset. To me, it really doesn’t matter. I’m in the rotation right now and if I didn’t play the next five games, it’ll still be the same for me. I’m prepared for moments like that.”"
Layman has appeared in 39 games this season, the most in his three years, and is averaging 7.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game.
Check out Don Markus’s full story at the Baltimore Sun for a detailed version of Layman’s NBA journey and more quotes from the Turtle himself.