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Tourney

Gators in the Pros: Basketball

Written by Chris Canada
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
With the 2009-10 NBA season in full swing, we at Gatorsfirst.com wanted to give an update on the performance of former Gator Basketball stars in the pros. Many players are shining in their new roles, and this has to be the greatest era for former Gator stars in the NBA. Here is the list... You can find an extended list of Gators in the NBA here Matt Bonner (Class of 2003, Forward, San Antonio Spurs) - 22.3 mpg, 8.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.3 apg As a role player for much of his early career, he now starts for the Spurs on a loaded team. He's started 5 of 8 games this season, an started a career high 67 game last season. He's also one of the goofiest humans ever, as shown here and here... Corey Brewer (Class of 2007, Forward, Minnesota Timberwolves) - 32.8 mpg, 12.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.3 spg After a brutal ACL tear early last season, Brewer has returned in fine form averaging career bests across the board. Unfortunately he's starting for the dreadful T-wolves. Udonis Haslem (Class of 2002, Forward, Miami Heat) - 31.4 mpg, 11.7 ppg, 9.6 rpg Although he's not starting anymore, he's still getting big minutes and pulling down almost 10 boards per game. The Heat are lucky to have him as their sixth man. Al Horford (Class of 2007, Center, Atlanta Hawks) - 34.3 mpg, 13.5 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.9 bpg What else could be said about Horford? Of the famed Oh-Fours, he's the most important to his team. He's currently averaging a double-double (one of only ten in the NBA). His numbers keep rising across the board. He's a beast. And, he has huge biceps, which he'll show you... David Lee (Class of 2004, Forward, New York Knicks) - 33.3 mpg, 17.3 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.0 spg He's arguably the best former Gator in the NBA today. He's averaging a career high in points and leading the Knicks in rebounding. He's easy the most exciting player in Mike D'Antoni's offense, and he's a member of Bill Simmons' &White Players Who Play Like Black Players Team&. Unfortunately I'm morally obligated to root for his team to lose (hate the Knicks). Mike Miller (Class of 2000, Forward, Washington Wizards) - 29.7 mpg, 10.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.2 spg Now starting for his 4th team, he's playing well for a Wizards team trying to make it back to the playoffs. Under the radar, he's carved out a pretty nice career so far, averaging almost 14 points and 5 boards per game. I'm currently reading Bill Simmons' new basketball book and he says &Mike Miller has the most technically sound jump shot in the history of the NBA&. That's some high acclaim. While I agree that it's a pretty shot, is it really better than Ray Allen or Larry Bird? That's up for debate. I'm sure it's better than Shawn Marion, who should probably watch this instructional video by JJ Redick... Joakim Noah (Class of 2007, Center, Chicago Bulls) - 33.0 mpg, 12.1 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 2.1 apg, 2.0 blg Noah has made the leap from grade-A goofball (this link doubles as my favorite photo ever taken) to bonafide NBA star. He is currently leading the association in rebounding, and is averaging a double-double (along with Horford). He's the heart and soul of the young Bulls nucleus, especially on defense. He leaves everything on the court, and does the all the little things you need to do to win games, including always hustling, playing superb defense, not hogging the ball, taking charges in the lane, and pumping up the crowd after a big play. Of course, Gator fans already knew this was gonna take place! Watch out for the Adolescent Bulls (they have to be past the whole &Baby Bulls& phase by now, right?). Marreese Speights (Class of 2008, Forward, Philadelphia 76ers) - 23.4 mpg, 13.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg Speights has been a pleasant surprise for the 76ers this season, coming off the bench and provided an instant offensive spark. I had always thought he was too weak to play in the NBA, but he is proving me wrong. At this pace, he could be an offensive force for years. We'll have to wait and see... Jason Williams (Class of 1998, Guard, Orlando Magic) - 18.4 mpg, 5.4 ppg, 4.0 apg Now just a backup to Jameer Nelson, he makes the Magic a deeper team at guard and spells Nelson when needed. Nelson just got injured, so we may see White Chocolate get a few more touches. Here is the latest on other former Gators outside of the NBA: Donnell Harvey (Class of 2000, Forward, Puerto Rico/China) - Played for five different NBA teams, last seeing action in 2005. Currently splitting time in the Chinese & Puerto Rican Pro Leagues Anthony Roberson (Class of 2004, Guard, Free Agent) - Played for four different NBA teams, last seeing action in 2009. He was waived by the Bulls in July, and is currently a free agent. Chris Richard (Class of 2007, Forward, Free Agent) - Has played for the T-wolves, and was the #1 overall pick in the D-League draft last season. Waived by the Bulls in October, and is currently a free agent. Taureen Green (Class of 2007, Guard, AEK Athens) - Played sparingly in 2007-08, but has played mostly in the European leagues. He's currently playing for AEK Athens of the Greek A1 Ethniki. Matt Walsh (Class of 2004, Guard, Union Olimpija) - Played for the Miami Heat for a few games in 2005 before being cut. Moved to the European leagues and had a bit of success in the Greek league. He's currently playing for the Slovenian team Union Olimpija. Lee Humphrey (Class of 2007, Guard, Ratiopharm Ulm) - Although he has never played in the NBA, we has found a home in Europe as a sharpshooter for the German team Ratiopharm Ulm. Nick Calathes (Class of 2009, Guard, Panathinaikos Athens) - Nick left Gainesville to join the Greek team Panathinaikos Athens. He was then drafted by the T-wolves and traded to the Mavericks. Dallas will have his rights for the next year, at which point he can leave for the NBA.
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 18 November 2009 )

Discuss (4 posts)

ryco1234

Gators in the Pros: Basketball
Nov 19 2009 01:21:32

That's a ridiculous amount of Gators in Europe. Do other colleges have this much alumni overseas?

#2756

goose

Re:Gators in the Pros: Basketball
Nov 19 2009 13:57:39

ryco1234 wrote:

QUOTE:
That's a ridiculous amount of Gators in Europe. Do other colleges have this much alumni overseas?

Chris forgot Adrian Moss and Walter Hodge.

It says "Adrian Moss" somewhere in here and there's a picture here.

It says "Walter Hodge" in here.

With Moss, I count 5. I bet several schools have that many, especially many of the basketball powers- which we've sort of become.

If you're wondering why... I didn't necessarily want to go there, but discounting Moss (dinosaur) and Taurean (too short), the other 3 guys can be explained as Walsh (white), Humphrey (white), and Calathes (white). We know from World Cup events/qualifiers and such that some European countries are much more (outwardly, anyway) racist than the US, so maybe Donovan's high number of white alums (probably higher than any consistently good team except Duke, Gonzaga, Vanderbilt, etc.) helps us place more guys over there?
Additonally, they do have limits as far as using american players, so it'd make sense they'd grab a guy their fans wouldn't hate because of the color of his skin (though likely hate because of his nationality).

On a more serious note, it's likely just because of the emphasis on skills like 3-point shooting and passing that Donovan values in recruiting over pure athleticism (which the NBA values more)- I think the skills he covets mean these guys can lead careers in professional basketball, but the less athletic ones get passed over by NBA teams. Which is a much better argument than the race thing above, but throwing "race" and "NBA" into the same article ought to stir things up on this board a little bit.

Finally, it doesn't hurt that Calathes gets to count as a Greek guy (and not aganist the American-born roster limit) because of a loophole similar to his inclusion in the Greek National team program. I also thought it was funny that Wikipedia has Christian Drejer as "retired". And one could bet Nimrod Tishman should have some form of European team to fall back on, unless he turns into a stud in the next 4 years.

#2757

maverick

Gators in the Pros: Basketball
Nov 19 2009 14:11:03

I personally think it's quite amazing that we have SEVEN guys currently averaging over 10 ppg in the NBA. Plus, Matt Bonner is right there at 8 ppg, and Jason Williams is about to start seeing increased minutes with the Magic due to Jameer Nelson's injury...

#2758

goose

Re:Gators in the Pros: Basketball
Nov 20 2009 16:50:26

Bonner has been in and out of the starting lineup for my preseason NBA Champ pick (Spurs). Not sure if his ppg will go down, as they get more healthy and he starts less, but Pop hasn't really settled on a consistent lineup yet, either. But even in limited time the goofy redhead could average 8 points.

#2768

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