Former basketball players from Alabama and Michigan State Universities are making their mark in the NBA playoffs. These players have shown the world their strength and skill by taking their teams to victory in various games.
Five Alabama basketball roots players eligible to play after NBA’s 2022-23 regular season
Players with Alabama roots have been showing exceptional performances in the NBA’s ongoing postseason. Among these are Herb Jones and Kira Lewis Jr., who qualified for the play-in tournament with New Orleans Pelicans. Jones was a second-round pick in the 2021 draft and has impressed on both ends of the floor as a multi-positional defender. Lewis, a 2020 first-round pick, is an explosive guard with excellent ball-handling skills.
JaMychal Green, Davion Mitchell, and Isaac Okoro are also playing for teams preparing for the NBA playoffs. Okoro suffered a left-knee injury that kept him out for a while, but the Cleveland Cavaliers’ coach is hoping to have him back in the lineup for the postseason. The playoffs begin after the play-in tournament where Cleveland Cavaliers are seeded fourth, and Knicks are seeded fifth in the Eastern Conference playoff field.
Seven former Indiana University (IU) basketball stars performance in the NBA playoffs
Seven former IU basketball stars played in the 2022-23 NBA season, with five continuing to be part of their respective teams’ journey into the NBA playoffs. Victor Oladipo played for Houston Rockets before joining Miami Heat, where he could play a crucial role off the bench during the playoffs.
Eric Gordon, who was traded to Los Angeles Clippers from Houston Rockets, is 20th all-time in NBA history with 1,878 made three-pointers. He will be making his sixth appearance in the NBA playoffs this season.
OG Anunoby led the NBA in steals when he played for the Toronto Raptors and is likely to be named to the league’s all-defensive team. He will have to continue his strong play on both ends of the floor if the Raptors want to make a run in the playoffs.
Thomas Bryant suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during the previous season with Washington Wizards, and he only played 10 games. Later, he was traded to Denver Nuggets.
Romeo Langford made 21 starts in his fourth NBA season with San Antonio Spurs, but injuries continued to limit his progress. The Spurs finished last overall in the West.
Noah Vonleh opened this season with Boston Celtics but was waived during the year after playing in China a year ago; he has only played in 34 NBA games over the last four seasons.
Former Michigan State basketball players’ performance in NBA and international leagues
Several former Michigan State basketball players are participating in the NBA postseason, including Jaren Jackson Jr., Xavier Tillman Sr., Max Christie, and Draymond Green. All of them have shown their excellent skills and strength throughout the season.
Jaren Jackson Jr. had a successful season with the Memphis Grizzlies and is a favorite for the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Tillman also played for the Memphis Grizzlies this season and had a good showing.
Max Christie played for the Los Angeles Lakers this season and saw significant playing time for a while. On the other hand, Draymond Green finished his 11th NBA season for Golden State Warriors with impressive stats.
Gary Harris played in 48 games for Orlando Magic this season, where he had a career high 43.1 percent shooting from 3-point range before being traded to Denver Nuggets.
Moreover, several former Michigan State players are playing in international leagues, including Denzel Valentine, Gabe Brown, Cassius Winston, Matt Costello, Travis Trice, Deyonta Davis, and Gavin Schilling.
Cassius Winston is currently playing for Bayern Munich in Germany and has missed a few recent games due to injury. Matt Costello has been helping Baskonia to the first-place spot in Spain’s Liga Endesa and into a tie for the final playoff spot in the Euroleague standings. Gavin Schilling moved to Turkey midseason, where he is currently playing for Konyaspor.
In conclusion, former basketball players from Alabama and Michigan State Universities have continued to excel in the NBA playoffs, proving their worth on the court. They have shown their excellent skills, strength, and talent throughout the tournament, making it a delight for basketball fans worldwide.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
