Hoosiers in the NBA: 2018-19 Opening Night Rosters

It is hard to believe, but Tuesday marks the opening night for the 2018-19 NBA season.  Once again, Indiana University will be well represented in the league, with reigning NBA All-Star Victor Oladipo leading the way.

Below are all eight former Hoosiers on opening night rosters, and their stats from the 2017-18 season.

Be sure to scroll down to the bottom as we also highlight other notable names with IU connections and from around the Big Ten to keep an eye out for.

OG Anunoby – Toronto

After a somewhat surprising immediate success story in year one that culminated with Anunoby guarding LeBron James in the NBA playoffs, it will be interesting to see what year two brings for a player who has continued to have a high trajectory since his freshman year at IU.

2017-18 Stats:

Games/Games Started – 74/62
Points – 5.9
Rebounds – 2.5
Assists – .7
Blocks – .2
Steals – .7
FG% – .471
3FG% – .371
FT% – .629

Thomas Bryant – Washington

It is a new year and a new opportunity for Bryant, who moved from the Lakers organization to the Wizards.  Bryant appears to have a more comfortable spot on the roster this year after bouncing back and forth between the NBA and the G-League.

Bryant placed second in the race for G-League Rookie of the Year, shooting a league-high 74.3 percent on two-pointers on the season.  He averaged 19.7 points and hit 36.4 percent from deep for the South Bay Lakers.

Bryant averaged 6.8 points and 5 rebounds in the preseason while playing 13.3 minutes per game.

2017-18 Stats:

Games/Games Started – 15/0
Points – 1.5
Rebounds – 1.1
Assists – .4
Blocks – .1
Steals – .1
FG% – .381
3FG% – .100
FT% – .556

Yogi Ferrell – Sacramento

Ferrell has gone from undrafted to a solid player in the league and he now has a new contract and new opportunity in Sacramento to continue to advance his career.

Ferrell averaged 13.8 points, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game in the preseason while playing 28.8 minutes per contest.

2017-18 Stats:

Games/Games Started – 82/21
Points – 10.2 (career high)
Rebounds – 3.0 (career high)
Assists – 2.5
Blocks – .1
Steals – .8
FG% – .426 (career high)
3FG% – .373
FT% – .796

Eric Gordon – Houston

Gordon completed his 10th season in the league with Houston and is now 55th on the NBA’s all-time 3-point field goals made list.

2017-18 Stats:

Games/Games Started – 69/30
Points – 18.0
Rebounds – 2.5
Assists – 2.2
Blocks – .4
Steals – .6
FG% – .428
3FG% – .359
FT% – .809

You can buy the NBA jerseys of your favorite former IU stars at Fanatics via the links on this page and support The Daily Hoosier in the process.  We will update the page when the jerseys for players that changed teams become available.

Victor Oladipo – Indiana

After becoming an NBA All-Star last season, Victor Oladipo’s meteoric rise continues.  After also being named the NBA’s most improved player and leading the league in steals per game, it will be interesting to see what he can do to top last year’s performance.

2017-18 Stats:

Games/Games Started – 75/75
Points – 23.1 (career high)
Rebounds – 5.2 (career high)
Assists – 4.3 (career high)
Blocks – .8 (ties career high)
Steals – 2.4 (LED NBA, career high)
FG% – .477 (career high)
3FG% – .371 (career high)
FT% – .799

Noah Vonleh – New York

Vonleh is on the move yet again and has landed with the Knicks.  His numbers saw a boost after a midseason trade to Chicago last year, and he’ll have another opportunity in New York.

Vonleh averaged 6.6 points and 6 rebounds per game while shooting 50 percent from the field in 14.3 minutes per game in the preseason.

2017-18 Stats:

Games/Games Started – 54/16
Points – 4.9 (career high)
Rebounds – 5.8 (career high)
Assists – .6 (career high)
Blocks – .3
Steals – .4 (ties career high)
FG% – .444
3FG% – .303
FT% – .621

Troy Williams – New Orleans

Troy Williams appeared to have found a new home in New York.  In 17 games with the Knicks he averaged 17 minutes, 7.5 points, and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 49% from the field.  And then he suffered a fractured jaw and missed the final two weeks of the year.  In a surprise move, the Knicks let him go, and now he is with New Orleans.

Williams averaged 8.5 points in 8.8 minutes per game in the preseason while shooting 48% from the field.

2017-18 Stats:

Games/Games Started – 21/1
Points – 6.3 (career high)
Rebounds – 3.0 (career high)
Assists – .8 (tied, career high)
Blocks – .2
Steals – 1.0 (career high)
FG% – .468 (career high)
3FG% – .289
FT% – .667 (career high)

Cody Zeller – Charlotte

The former Hoosier big man struggled with knee issues for much of the season, and finally shut things down in March.  Zeller will be looking for a fresh start in the 2018-19 season, and will be out from under the shadow of Dwight Howard.

2017-18 Stats:

Games/Games Started – 33/0
Points – 7.1
Rebounds – 5.4
Assists – .9
Blocks – .6
Steals – .4
FG% – .545
3FG% – .667
FT% – .718

OTHER NOTABLE NAMES

(Note:  Some of these players may end up in the D-League after last minute roster changes)

• Jordan Crawford, who also played one season for Indiana before transferring is not on a roster.
• Josh McRoberts (Zach’s brother) is also not on a roster.
• Kevin Huerter (Maryland) is on the Atlanta Hawks roster.
• Miles Bridges (Michigan State), and Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin) join Zeller on the Charlotte roster.
• Denzel Valentine (Michigan State) is back for the Bulls.
• Sam Dekker (Wisconsin) is with Cleveland.
• Gary Harris (Michigan State) returns with Denver.
• Glenn Robinson III (Michigan) is now with Detroit.
• Draymond Green (Michigan State) continues on with Golden State.
• Vincent Edwards (Purdue) joins Gordon in Houston.
• Mo Wagner (Michigan) is with the Lakers.
• Jaren Jackson (Michigan State) and Mike Conley (Ohio State) are with Memphis.
• Duncan Robinson (Michigan) is with Miami.
• D.J. Wilson (Michigan) is with Milwaukee.
• Keita Bates-Diop (Ohio State) is with Minnesota.
• E-Twaun Moore (Purdue) is with New Orleans.
• Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. (Michigan) are with the Knicks.
• Jake Layman (Maryland) Meyers Leonard (Illinois), Nik Stauskas (Michigan), Caleb Swanigan (Purdue) and Evan Turner (Ohio State) are all with Portland.
• Zach Randolph (Michigan State) is with Sacramento
• Danny Green (Devonte’s brother) joins Anunoby in Toronto.

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