NBA: Top 10 candidates for 2019-20 NBA Rookie of the Year

Nickeil Alexander-Walker was taken at No. 17 overall, but his play in the Las Vegas Summer League gave some indication that he might be one of the biggest steals in the 2019 NBA Draft class before it’s all said and done.

The Canadian combo guard who played two years at Virginia Tech was dazzling in Las Vegas, stealing a bit of the thunder from more-heralded new teammate Zion Williamson.

As a sophomore for the Hokies, Alexander-Walker averaged 16.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.9 steals in 34.3 minutes per game and shot 47.4 percent overall and a respectable 37.4 percent on 4.6 3-point attempts a game.

But he was a beast in Vegas.

NAW put up 24.3 points, 6.0 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 steals in 30.4 minutes per game, shooting 41.2 percent overall and hitting 40.6 percent on 8.0 triple tries a night.

Small sample size, yes, but between his solid stroke from behind the arc, his skills as a potential secondary ball-handler/second-unit point guard and his defensive chops, it’s could be hard for coach Alvin Gentry to keep Alexander-Walker off the floor.

His most likely path to minutes appears to be as the backup to Lonzo Ball at the point, because the Pelicans have a full house of players at the 2-guard spot, with incumbent Jrue Holiday, newly signed J.J. Redick and another piece from the Anthony Davis trade in Josh Hart needing to eat.