The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Eight former Longhorns set for NBA Playoffs
04.14.2017 | Men's Basketball
Aldridge, Bradley, Durant, Joseph, Thompson, Tucker and Turner on active playoff rosters; Ivey serves as assistant coach with Oklahoma City Thunder.
AUSTIN, Texas — A total of eight University of Texas former men's basketball players will be involved in the upcoming 2017 NBA Playoffs beginning this weekend. LaMarcus Aldridge (San Antonio Spurs), Avery Bradley (Boston Celtics), Kevin Durant (Golden State Warriors), Cory Joseph (Toronto Raptors), Tristan Thompson (Cleveland Cavaliers), P.J. Tucker (Toronto Raptors) and Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers) are all currently on their team's active postseason rosters, while Royal Ivey serves as an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Aldridge, currently in his 11th season in the league and second with the Spurs, averaged 17.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in 32.6 minutes per contest during the regular season. He converted 47.4% from the floor and 81.2% from the free throw line this year. San Antonio (61-21) earned the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference and opens its First Round series against No. 7 seed Memphis on Saturday (7 pm Central, ESPN).
Bradley, currently in his seventh season in the league (all with the Celtics), averaged 16.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 33.4 minutes per contest during the regular season. He converted 46.3% from the floor, including 39.4% from three-point range, and 73.1% from the free throw line this year. Boston (53-29) earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and opens its First Round series at No. 8 seed Chicago on Sunday (5:30 p.m. Central, TNT).
Durant, currently in his 10th season in the NBA and first with the Warriors, averaged 25.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 33.5 minutes per contest during the regular season. He converted 53.5% percent from the floor, including 36.7% from three-point range, and 87.9% from the free throw line this year. Golden State (67-15) earned the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and opens its First Round series against No. 8 seed Portland on Sunday (2:30 p.m. Central, ABC).
Joseph, currently in his sixth season in the league and second with his hometown Raptors, averaged 9.3 points, 3.4 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 25.3 minutes per contest during the regular season. He converted 45.4% from the floor, including 35.6% from three-point range, and 77.0% from the free throw line this year. Toronto (51-31) earned the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference and opens its First Round series against No. 6 seed Milwaukee on Saturday (4:30 p.m. Central, ESPN).
Thompson, currently in his sixth season in the league (all with the Cavaliers), averaged 8.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 30.1 minutes per contest during the regular season. He converted 59.6% from the floor this year. Cleveland (51-31) earned the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and opens its First Round series against No. 7 seed Indiana on Saturday (2 p.m. Central, ABC).
Tucker, currently in his sixth season in the league, played the first half of the year with the Phoenix Suns and was traded to the Toronto Raptors on Feb. 23. He averaged 6.8 points and 5.9 rebounds in 27.9 minutes per contest during the regular season. He converted 41.5% from the floor and 77.4% from the free throw line this year. Toronto (51-31) earned the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference and opens its First Round series against No. 6 seed Milwaukee on Saturday (4:30 p.m. Central, ESPN).
Turner, currently in his second season in the NBA (both with the Pacers), averaged 14.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 31.4 minutes per contest during the regular season. He converted 51.1% from the floor and 80.6% percent from the free throw line this year. Indiana (42-40) earned the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference and opens its First Round series at No. 2 seed Cleveland on Saturday (2 p.m. Central, ABC).
Ivey is in his first season as a full-time assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Oklahoma City (47-35) earned the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference and opens its First Round series at No. 3 seed Houston on Sunday (8 p.m. Central, TNT).
In addition, former Longhorn Isaiah Taylor is with the Rio Grande Vipers in the NBA Development League and currently competing in the Western Conference finals. In four games with the Houston Rockets this season, Taylor averaged 13.0 minutes per contest.
