The first half of the NBA season has come to a close, and the second half is underway following All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis.
No former Arizona Wildcats participated in the All-Star Game on Sunday, but Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin and Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, who was an all-star selection last season, were involved in the festivities. Mathurin played in the Rising Stars Challenge and was named MVP of the game after posting 18 points.
Mathurin also participated in the skills challenge with Pacers teammates Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner. Markkanen participated in the 3-point contest for a second straight season.
With the all-star break finished, hereβs a look at how ex-Wildcats are faring this season in the association, along with a look at former UA players in the G League.
Portland Trail Blazers' Deandre Ayton reacts in front of Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard during the second half of a game on Nov. 26, 2023.
Deandre Ayton
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
The rundown: The former No. 1 overall pick was dealt from the Phoenix Suns to the Trail Blazers in a three-team trade that also involved the Milwaukee Bucks. In his first season in Portland, the 7-footer is averaging 13.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Ayton was excused from a Blazers-Nets game due to icy roads near his Portland home. Portland is 15-39 this season and 14th in the Western Conference standings.
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon in the second half of a game Jan. 29. in Denver.
Aaron Gordon
Team: Denver Nuggets
The rundown: Gordon is averaging 13.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 49 games as the frontcourt counterpart to two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. The defending NBA champions are fourth in the Western Conference standings behind the Timberwolves, Thunder, and Clippers.
Dallas Mavericks' Josh Green plays during an NBA game on March 29, 2023.
Josh Green
Team: Dallas Mavericks
The rundown: Green is on pace for a career-high in minutes played (27.3) per game and is posting nine points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game as a reserve wing. Green has started 25 games this season, a career-best for him.
Toronto Raptors' Christian Koloko warms up before an NBA game on March 19, 2023.
Christian Koloko
Team: free agent (started season with Toronto Raptors)
The rundown: The former Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and second-round draft pick has stepped away from basketball due to career-threatening blood-clot issues. Koloko was assigned to the NBAβs Fitness-to-Play Panel, meaning heβs unable to practice or play with an NBA team until he is medically cleared.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen directs his team during the second half of a NBA game on March 18, 2023.
Lauri Markkanen
Team: Utah Jazz
The rundown: After a mandatory six-month service for the Finnish military, Markkanen is averaging 23.4 points and 8.6 rebounds in his second season with the Jazz. Markkanen has tallied double-figure scoring in every contest this season and has scored at least 30 points in nine games. He had 38 points and 17 rebounds in a double-overtime loss to the Suns in November.
Bennedict Mathurin of the Indiana Pacers goes up for a dunk over Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons during an NBA Rising Stars basketball game in Indianapolis on Friday night.
Bennedict Mathurin
Team: Indiana Pacers
The rundown: Before their game against the Suns, Mathurin and the Pacers flew into Tucson last month for his Ring of Honor ceremony at McKale Center β the same day as the UAβs come-from-behind win over UCLA and several members of the football team, including quarterback Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan, announcing their return for the 2024 season. After making the All-NBA Rookie Team last season, Mathurin is averaging 14.1 points and 3.8 rebounds off the bench.
Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell, left, checks Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball during the second half of their Nov. 16 game.
TJ McConnell
Team: Indiana Pacers
The rundown: As the backup to Haliburton, McConnell is averaging 8.2 points and 5.5 assists for the Pacers. McConnell is in the third season of his four-year, $33.6 million contract. McConnell, who was in Tucson for his Pacersβ teammate Mathurinβs McKale Center Ring of Honor ceremony last month, will be eligible for the same UA honor himself following next season. One of the criteria for Ring of Honor status is 10 years playing professionally; the current 2023-24 season is McConnellβs ninth in the NBA.
Denver Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji in the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game on Oct. 15 in Denver.
Zeke Nnaji
Team: Denver Nuggets
The rundown: Nnaji, a former Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, signed a four-year, $32 million contract extension with the Nuggets in October. The reserve forward is averaging 3.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in 9.6 minutes per contest this season.
Chicago Bulls' Dalen Terry smiles after making a 3-point shot in a game against Charlotte on Jan. 5.
Dalen Terry
Team: Chicago Bulls
The rundown: Terry was promoted from the G Leagueβs Windy City Bulls and has appeared in 35 games this season for Chicago, which is three shy from his total as a rookie last year.
G League Wildcats
James Akinjo (Wisconsin Herd): Akinjo, who played for Georgetown, Arizona and Baylor in his college career, has played with both the Stockton Kings and Wisconsin Herd this season. For the Herd, heβs played in 20 games, averaging 14.3 points and 6.8 assists.
Stanley Johnson (Stockton Kings): Johnson, who has seen NBA action in parts of eight seasons so far, averaged 12.9 points and 4.1 rebounds with Stockton in 18 games this season through the early part of February. This month, however, he was selected to be part of the USA Basketball Menβs AmeriCup Qualifying team. Team USA will host Cuba Thursday in Kissimmee, Florida, before returning the matchup in Cuba on Feb. 25.
Justin Kier (Austin Spurs): Kier is averaging 4.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in his second season with Austin. Kier was recently in Tucson for the Arizona-Arizona State game on Saturday night.
Brandon Randolph (College Park Skyhawks): In his sixth season in the G League, Randolph is averaging 11.5 points and 4.1 rebounds for the Atlanta Hawksβ feeder team.
Kobi Simmons (Raptors 905): The combo guard from Atlanta is averaging 13.6 points for Torontoβs G League affiliate. Simmons spent the last three seasons playing for the Greensboro Swarm and Charlotte Hornets.
Brandon Williams (Texas Legends): The former Portland Trail Blazer, whose college career was plagued with knee issues, is averaging 23.6 points, 5.6 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game for the Dallas Mavericks G League team. This is the most productive season of Williamsβ three-year G League career.
Gabe York (G League Ignite): After two seasons with the Indiana Pacers organization, mostly with the G Leagueβs Fort Wayne Mad Ants, York signed with the G League Ignite, a team based in Henderson, Nevada, and isnβt affiliated with any NBA club. Against his former team this week, York scored 45 points, a single-game franchise record, and knocked down eight 3-pointers. York is averaging 16.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game for the Ignite.
