Utah Jazz: Alec Burks isn't complaining about playing time, or lack thereof

OKLAHOMA CITY — Rookie Alec Burks wasn't about to make a fuss about his time on the court — or on the bench — during his recent four-game sitting streak.

"I'm good," he said when asked about lack of playing time during that week. "Just whenever I get in, I'm going to be aggressive."

Interesting choice of words — and, quite frankly, a perfect attitude for the youngster to have.

Because the 20-year-old was aggressive when he finally got in again, Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin is more convinced than ever that he needs to find time for Burks.

"I have to rethink it," Corbin said, regarding the shooting guard's diminished role.

Despite his verbal wishes otherwise, for this reason or that one, Corbin stopped putting Burks in as much. Interestingly, Burks' decreased action came after he put together three consecutive double-digit scoring games in mid-January.

After a 22-minute outing at Dallas on Jan. 19, Burks saw 13 minutes on the floor against Minnesota but then fell into the forgotten zone at the end of the bench next to Jeremy Evans and Jamaal Tinsley.

That changed, however, during Utah's three-game road trip in as many nights. He saw five minutes against Memphis, and then really caught his coach's attention with his 14-minute effort at New Orleans, when he was among the group that helped the Jazz nearly dig their way out of a 20-point hole.

At OKC, Burks saw 19 minutes, an upward tick that has to thrill the #FreeAlecBurks Twitter campaign fans.

"I want to give each of the guys minutes to develop and have a chance to get some rhythm, and he's a guy that deserves more minutes than I've given him in the past," Corbin admitted. "So we got to get it worked out."

The majority of Burks' minutes have come at shooting guard — he's played a few as point guard — so it's been a little tricky for Corbin to find chunks of time for him because of starter Raja Bell's improved play. C.J. Miles and Hayward have also gotten some two-spot time ahead of Burks.

Corbin likes that Burks has stayed focused, positive and has worked to refine his skills on both ends of the court. With practice time limited, the coach said he's going to have to allow Burks to work kinks out in games.

"He can score. He's getting better, learning how to defend and be on guy's body," Corbin said. "He's going to continue to get better at that."

Another area of Burks' game that will improve, he added, is his ability to finish.

Corbin loves his rookie's aggression when he gets the ball — something Hayward, Miles and others would be wise to emulate.

Age-wise, Burks should be in his junior year at Colorado. But he sure doesn't act hesitant to aggressively go to the hoop with seasoned veterans and NBA players in his way.

Burks fears nobody in his path.

"It's basketball," he said. "I ain't scared of nothing, so that's what I'm going to play like."

Just what the coach he continues to win over wants to hear — and see.

"He has a knack for it. He's a long, athletic kid that's a little deceptive in his moves," Corbin said. "He has a knack for getting to the basket and getting body contact."

Burks showed that at New Orleans and again in Oklahoma City where he got to the line a combined 16 times (making 11 free throws). Corbin believes those charity-stripe visits will turn into and-one situations as the 6-6, 202-pounder matures and gets used to getting bodied up by bigger guys.

Burks' fearlessness is one of his greatest assets.