Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker (8) drives to the basket against Dallas Mavericks guard Seth Curry (30) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Monday, Nov. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
As the UConn basketball season is now in full swing, let’s check up on how the five former Huskies are performing at the next level.
Kemba Walker, PG Boston Celtics
Walker has been exactly what Boston fans hoped they were getting in the offseason. Following a year that was tainted by the lack of team chemistry and Kyrie Irving’s outbursts, Walker has been a breath of fresh air. He has the Celtics out to their best start since the 2009-10 season with a league-best 8-1 record at the time of writing. Walker has made his presence felt as a dynamic scorer and leader on the court. He is averaging 25 points and 4.6 assists through the first nine games, while shooting almost 44% from 3-point range. In the team’s last game against the Dallas Mavericks, Walker took over, scoring 24 of his 29 points in the second half, including three huge 3-pointers to put the game away in the 116-106 victory. Walker is off to an incredible start this season, and so are the Celtics.
Andre Drummond, C Detroit Pistons
As one of the few remaining true big men in the league today, Drummond does his job and he does it well. He absolutely dominates in the paint and is currently leading the league in rebounding at 16.8 per game. Drummond is also scoring at one of the best paces of his career, currently averaging 19.9 points per game. In the Pistons’ most recent game against the Miami Heat, a 117-108 loss, Drummond had a solid stat line with 16 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals. He has already recorded a few 20-point, 20-rebound games this season, something that has become a specialty of his during his career. He will look to get the Pistons, who are just 4-8 on the young season, on the right track.
San Antonio Spurs’ Rudy Gay (22) beats Boston Celtics’ Daniel Theis for possession during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Rudy Gay, SF San Antonio Spurs
Though not a part of the Spurs starting lineup, Gay has provided quality minutes off the bench this year. In his 14th season, the veteran is averaging 10.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists in just about 23 minutes per game. The Spurs have had a shaky 5-5 start this season, but Gay has been doing his job. In his most recent game against his former team, the Memphis Grizzlies, Gay had his best game of the season, scoring 18 points and grabbing eight rebounds in the 113-109 Spurs loss. He shot the ball very well in that game, including going 3-for-4 from downtown. As the Spurs look to compete for a playoff spot this year, Gay will be a key piece.
Jeremy Lamb, SG Indiana Pacers
Lamb was having a great start to the season before he went down with an ankle injury. He has missed the Pacers last four games and hasn’t played since a 122-120 overtime loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Nov. 5, when he scored 18 points. In just five games this season, Lamb is averaging 17 points and 6.4 rebounds. It’s not clear when Lamb will be back in action for the Pacers, who are 7-4 right now.
Shabazz Napier, PG Minnesota Timberwolves
Lamb isn’t the only former Husky dealing with an injury. Napier has also missed his team’s last four games due to a hamstring injury. The last game Napier played was on Nov. 4, when he played 25 minutes in a blowout loss to the Milwaukee Bucks and scored 10 points. In the six games he’s played for the Timberwolves this season, Napier has averaged 7.8 points and 4.5 assists. He could be back as soon as Wednesday’s game against the Spurs, when the Timberwolves will look to improve on their 6-4 record.
Thumbnail photo of Jeremy Lamb by (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Danny Barletta is a staff writer for The Daily Campus. He can be reached via email at daniel.barletta@uconn.edu. He tweets @dbars_12.
