Mavericks guard Jenkins visits ‘visitors’ locker in Atlanta

John Jenkins experienced something Monday night that he’s never experienced.

He went to the “visitors” locker for the first time.

Jenkins played his first three NBA seasons for the Atlanta Hawks. So after he joined the Dallas Mavericks last summer, it afforded Jenkins an opportunity to venture into the visitor’s locker room at Philips Arena for the first time.

“’I’ve never been in this locker room before,” Jenkins said before Monday’s Mavericks-Hawks game. “So just being in here is weird.

“Staying in a hotel in the city was different, but not too bad. Just being around and driving to the city, it brings back good memories.”

Jenkins was a Hawks’ first-round draft pick — the 23rd overall selection — in 2012 out of Vanderbilt. The Mavs signed the 6-foot-4 shooting guard July 24 because they like his shot-making abilities.

However, with veteran guards Wesley Matthews, Deron Williams, Devin Harris, J.J. Barea and Raymond Felton on the Mavs’ roster, playing time for Jenkins has been scarce.

So scarce that Jenkins is averaging only 3.1 points in 9.1 minutes while playing in 20 games. But Jenkins knows why meaningful minutes haven’t trickled his way.

“I’m just behind a lot of veteran guards who play a ton of games in this league, and some guys a ton of games with this team,” he said. “I’m trying to learn as much as I can from all the vets.

“I’m not exactly surprised [by the lack of playing time], but I use that as a learning experience.”

In the second game of the season on the road, Jenkins played 35 minutes and scored 17 points against the Los Angeles Clippers. Both are his season highs.

“He can play,” owner Mark Cuban said. “It just hasn’t worked out where he’s gotten a shot.”

And whenever that shot comes, Jenkins has to be ready to deliver. Anything less would likely mean more time collecting dust on the bench.

“It’s tough, but I just come in every day and try to be professional and work as hard as I can, be a good teammate, and just stay engaged,” Jenkins said. “I was in the same situation here in Atlanta where I had to do the same thing, and I got called up a few games and was able to go out there and play well.

“You’ve got to stay ready in this league. Not everybody gets to play, so when you go out there you’ve got to give it your all.”

Carlisle on Hornacek

Phoenix fired coach Jeff Hornacek on Monday, a day after the Suns dropped to 14-35 after they were beaten by the Mavs in Dallas 91-78.

Coach Rick Carlisle sounded like Hornacek was a victim of his own success.

“When he went there two years ago, that year they won 48 games and they came within one game of the playoffs,” Carlisle said. “It was one of the best jobs of coaching I’ve ever seen in this league.

“The fact that they did so well that year probably ramped expectations up a bit too high.”

This story was originally published February 1, 2016 at 9:10 PM with the headline "Mavericks guard Jenkins visits ‘visitors’ locker in Atlanta."