Nine former IU basketball players have or will play the game at the highest level during the 2020-21 NBA season. We will be monitoring their seasons with weekly updates.
Below we summarize their year to date performance with NBA stats and notes through 17 weeks of the season and provide a brief update on each player.
Victor Oladipo – Miami
After struggling to find a rhythm in his first two games played with the Heat when Oladipo averaged 7.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.0 steals in 26.5 minutes per game, he played better in the next two games.
In a 124-112 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Oladipo played 33 minutes and had 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists.
In Miami’s 110-104 win against the Lakers, he had 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in 25 minutes.
Unfortunately for Oladipo, however, he remains out after exiting the game against the Lakers due to a right knee injury.
According to a report on Sunday from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Oladipo is expected to come back this season.
2020-21 YTD Stats:
Games/Games Started – 33/33
MPG – 32.7
Points – 19.8
Rebounds – 4.8
Assists – 4.6
Blocks – 0.4
Steals – 1.4
FG% – .408
3FG% – .326
FT% – .754
Eric Gordon – Houston
The Rockets, who are 15-42, could certainly use Gordon’s scoring ability. Before going out with an injury, he was averaging 17.8 points per game in just over 29 minutes of action. However, Gordon continues to be sidelined for the Rockets.
According to a March 12 report from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Gordon will be out 4-6 weeks with a groin strain.
2020-21 YTD Stats:
Games/Games Started – 27/13
MPG – 29.2
Points – 17.8
Rebounds – 2.1
Assists – 2.6
Blocks – 0.5 (Ties Career High)
Steals – 0.5
FG% – .433
3FG% – .329
FT% – .825
OG Anunoby – Toronto
Anunoby played in two of the Raptors four games this past week.
In a 108-103 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, Anunoby had 15 points and 6 rebounds in 36 minutes of action.
Then, in the Raptors 117-112 win against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, he had 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in 34 minutes.
The Raptors have won three games in row, are 6-4 in their last 10, and are currently the tenth seed in the Eastern Conference.
2020-21 YTD Stats:
Games/Games Started – 37/37
MPG – 33.0 (Career High)
Points – 14.8 (Career High)
Rebounds – 5.7 (Career High)
Assists – 2.0 (Career High)
Blocks – 0.7 (Ties Career High)
Steals – 1.6 (Career High)
FG% – .473
3FG% – .393 (Career High)
FT% – .765 (Career High)
Thomas Bryant – Washington
Bryant continues to be sidelined, as he suffered a torn ACL to his left knee during the first quarter of a 128-124 loss to the Miami Heat on January 9 that will keep him out for the remainder of this season.
The injury came at a time when Bryant was starting to play consistent basketball and was averaging career highs in both minutes played and points per game.
However, the focus for Bryant now shifts towards coming back even stronger next year.
2020-21 YTD Stats:
Games/Games Started – 10/10
MPG – 27.1 (Career High)
Points – 14.3 (Career High)
Rebounds – 6.1
Assists – 1.5
Blocks – 0.8
Steals – 0.4
FG% – .648 (Career High)
3FG% – .429 (Career High)
FT% – .667
Cody Zeller – Charlotte
Cody Zeller played in three of Charlotte’s four games this past week.
His best game last week came in a 103-90 home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. In 19 minutes, Zeller had 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists. He scored those 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting from the field.
On the season, he is averaging 9.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game.
The Hornets are currently eighth in the East with a record of 28-28 as they look to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
2020-21 YTD Stats:
Games/Games Started – 36/20
MPG – 21.4
Points – 9.1
Rebounds – 7.1 (Ties Career High)
Assists – 2.0
Blocks – 0.4
Steals – 0.6
FG% – .537
3FG% – .120
FT% – .735
Romeo Langford – Boston
Speaking with the media following his season debut on April 4, Langford said it was good to be back out there.
“It felt good to get back out there, get my legs back under me, and just compete with my teammates. I wasn’t too tired, I wasn’t exhausted so it was good,” Langford told the media.
While he is not quite back to 100 percent, he feels as though he is almost there.
“I had pretty good workouts the last couple of days, I feel like I’m just about there. Mainly it’s just now just getting my legs back under me. I got the feel for the game I ain’t lost that but just my legs and my condition that’s the only main thing,” Langford said as he spoke to the media.
After a week in which Langford played in each of the Celtics four contests, including starting in a win against the New York Knicks, he continues to have a role with the Celtics.
Langford played in all three of the Celtics games last week. He played 9, 17, and 9 minutes, respectively.
In the 17 minutes he played in Thursday’s 121-113 win against the Los Angeles Lakers, Langford finished with 2 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists.
Before a Monday loss, the Celtics had won six straight, and were 8-2 in their last 10.
2020-21 YTD Stats:
Games/Games Started – 9/1
MPG – 14.1 (Career High)
Points – 2.4
Rebounds – 2.4 (Career High)
Assists – 0.9 (Career High)
Blocks – 0.1
Steals – 0.4 (Career High)
FG% – .296
3FG% – .333 (Career High)
FT% – 1.000 (Career High)
Juwan Morgan – Utah
Juwan Morgan has appeared in 22 games this season for the Utah Jazz, who are an NBA-best 43-15.
In Utah’s four games last week, Morgan appeared in two of them. One was a brief appearance in Friday’s 119-111 win over the Indiana Pacers, which he played 3 minutes and scored 2 points.
However, in a 127-115 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, Morgan had arguably his second best game of the season, playing 20 minutes. In those 20 minutes, he had 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists.
Still the highlight of this season for Morgan was his January 29 performance against the Dallas Mavericks, which was televised on ESPN. He finished the game with 12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 steals in 21 minutes of action. Also impressive was his efficiency, shooting 5-8 from the field and 2-4 from three point range.
2020-21 YTD Stats:
Games/Games Started – 22/0
MPG – 5,0
Points – 1.3
Rebounds – 1.0
Assists – 0.3 (Ties Career High)
Blocks – 0.0
Steals – 0.2 (Career High)
FG% – .500
3FG% – .273
FT% – .429
Yogi Ferrell – Los Angeles Clippers
Ferrell appeared in two games for the Cleveland Cavaliers this season. However, his 10-day contract with them ended with him being waived.
However, Ferrell was in attendance for the NBA G League regular season, running from February 10 to March 6 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
He played in and started 14 games for the Salt Lake City Stars. He averaged 15.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game in 28.3 minutes per contest. The Stars went 4-11.
In a report on April 11, according to Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic, the Los Angeles Clippers are planning to sign Yogi Ferrell to a 10-day contract. The Clippers confirmed the news on Monday.
2020-21 YTD Stats:
Games/Games Started – 2/0
MPG – 20.0
Points – 9.5
Rebounds – 3.5 (Career High)
Assists – 2.5
Blocks – 0.5 (Career High)
Steals – 1.5 (Career High)
FG% – .381
3FG% – .333
FT% – .000
Noah Vonleh – Free Agent
Noah Vonleh appeared in four games for the Brooklyn Nets this season after being signed on February 8. He averaged 2.8 minutes per game.
However, according to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Vonleh was waived by the Nets on February 23.
In 339 career games played, he has averages of 4.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game.
2020-21 YTD Stats:
Games/Games Started – 4/0
MPG – 2.8
Points – 0.0
Rebounds – 0.3
Assists – 0.3
Blocks – 0.0
Steals – 0.0
FG% – .000
3FG% – .000
FT% – N/A (Has Not Attempted)
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