The NBAβs truncated 72-game regular season came to a close Sunday, and the playoff brackets are nearly set after a week of constant shuffling in the conference standings.
The Arizona Wildcats are well-represented in the playoffs and have nine former standouts participating in the postseason with their respective teams.
Lauri Markkanen (Chicago Bulls) and Stanley Johnson (Toronto Raptors) did not make the cut. Markkanen split time between starting and coming off the bench, and averaged 13.6 points and 5.3 rebounds this season, while Johnson averaged 16.5 minutes off the bench and scoring 4.4 points per game.
For those who are in the playoffs, hereβs a look at how they fared this season β and which teams theyβll face. After this weekβs play-in games to determine the seventh and eighth seeds, the NBA playoffs officially begin Saturday and will run through late July.
Deandre Ayton
Ex-Wildcats center Deandre Ayton is averaging 14.4 points per game and shooting better than 60% for the No. 2-seeded Suns.
Team: No. 2 Phoenix Suns
2020-21 stats: 14.4 points per game on 62.6% shooting; 10.5 rebounds per game
The rundown: Not only are the Suns in the playoffs for the first time since 2011, Phoenix is the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference for the first time since 2007, when their nucleus consisted of Steve Nash, Amarβe Stoudamire and Shawn Marion. The core of Ayton, Devin Booker and veteran Chris Paul has Phoenix in position to compete for the Sunsβ first NBA title.
Opponent: Winner of Wednesday nightβs Lakers/Warriors play-in game
Aaron Gordon
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, right, dunks as Los Angeles Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr. defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, May 1, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Team: No. 3 Denver Nuggets
2020-21 stats: 12.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game
The rundown: βMr. 50β was dealt to the Nuggets at the NBAβs trade deadline, and the high-flying Gordon could be an essential defensive piece should Denver draw the Lakers or Clippers. The athletic power forward plays alongside MVP front-runner Nikola Jokic in the frontcourt, with Michael Porter Jr. moving to small forward.
Opponent: No. 6 Portland Trail Blazers
Josh Green
Dallas Mavericks guard Josh Green (8) reaches in an attempt to knock the ball away from Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Team: No. 5 Dallas Mavericks
2020-21 stats: 2.6 points and 2.2 rebounds per game
The rundown: The rookie started five of the 39 contests he played in this year as a reserve small forward.
Opponent: No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers
Solomon Hill
Solomon Hill spent the 2021-22 season with the Hawks and Knicks.
Team: No. 5 Atlanta Hawks
2020-21 stats: 4.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game
The rundown: After officially scoring the final points of the 2020 season, when the Miami Heat fell to the Lakers in the NBA βBubbleβ Finals, Hill signed with Atlanta. The Hawks have made a miraculous turnaround since promoting Nate McMillan to head coach in March.
Opponent: No. 4 New York Knicks
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Ex-Wildcat Rondae Hollis-Jefferson turned a pair of 10-day contracts with the Trail Blazers into a deal good for the rest of the season.
Team: No. 6 Portland Trail Blazers
2020-21 stats: 2.5 points and 2.4 rebounds per game
The rundown: The versatile βShim Reaperβ spent the first half of the season as a free agent before Portland signed Hollis-Jefferson to a pair of 10-day contracts, then announced heβd stay with the team through the end of the year. Heβll face Gordon and the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.
Opponent: No. 3 Denver Nuggets
Andre Iguodala
Miami Heat's Andre Iguodala in action during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Team: No. 6 Miami Heat
2020-21 stats: 4.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game
The rundown: The only Lute Olson-coached Wildcat remaining in the NBA, Iguodala β a former NBA Finals MVP β is one of few veterans left on a Heat team that went to last yearβs finals. Iguodala is listed as day-to-day with a hip injury.
Opponent: No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks
Nico Mannion
Golden State Warriors guard Nico Mannion (2) dribbles against the Sacramento Kings during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Team: No. 8 Golden State Warriors
2020-21 stats: 4.1 points and 2.3 assists per game
The rundown: The second-round draft pick swapped time between Golden State and Santa Cruz, the Warriorsβ G League affiliate, but played 30 games as a backup point guard this season.
Opponent: Mannion and the Warriors took on the No. 7 seed Los Angeles Lakers in Wednesdayβs play-in game, which was ongoing when the Star went to press.
T.J. McConnell
Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) dribbles past Miami Heat guard Kendrick Nunn (25) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Team: No. 9 Indiana Pacers
2020-21 stats: 8.6 points, 6.6 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game
The rundown: McConnell notched career-highs in points, assists and rebounds this season. His best performance of the season came in March, when he recorded 16 points on 8-for-8 shooting, 13 assists and 10 steals in 36 minutes against Cleveland to become the 11th player in NBA history to have a triple-double with steals, and is the only bench player to accomplish that feat. McConnell might be playing his best ball now: He notched a career-high 17 assists against the Raptors on Sunday, and had 17 points and five rebounds in Tuesdayβs play-in game romp over the Hornets.
Opponent: No. 8 Washington Wizards in Thursdayβs play-in game, 5 p.m. (TNT)
Zeke Nnaji
Denver Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji, left, celebrates after dunking the ball for a basket as guard R.J. Hampton and center Isaiah Hartenstein head down the court in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Denver. The Nuggets won 133-95. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Team: No. 3 Denver Nuggets
2020-21 stats: 3.2 points, 1.5 rebounds
The rundown: The 2020 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year played in 42 games this season, including one start, but has been used in a limited role, playing 9.5 minutes per game.
Opponent: No. 6 Portland Trail Blazers
Coaches
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr looks toward the scoreboard during the first half of Game 4 of the NBA basketball playoffs Western Conference finals against the Portland Trail Blazers, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Steve Kerr, head coach, Golden State Warriors
Jud Buechler, assistant, New York Knicks
Quinton Crawford, assistant, Los Angeles Lakers
Bruce Fraser, assistant, Golden State Warriors
Miles Simon, assistant, Los Angeles Lakers
