How former IU basketball players are performing in the NBA — end of regular season edition

Nine former IU basketball players saw regular season action during the 2020-21 NBA season that ended on Sunday.

Below is our final look at their performance during the COVID-19 shortened 72 game season.

The 2021 NBA Playoffs begin this week, and while some former Hoosiers won’t play due to injuries, six of the nine are with organizations that have advanced to the postseason.

Victor Oladipo – Miami

Victor Oladipo started the season in Indiana before be traded to Houston and then to Miami.  He played in four games for the Miami Heat before suffering another injury to his surgically repaired knee.

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, it is possible that the 29 year old Oladipo will not play during the 2021-22 season after having another surgery on the knee.

“They haven’t announced it, but there’s a good chance Oladipo’s gonna miss all of next season,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on Friday’s edition of the Hoop Collective podcast.

2020-21 YTD Stats:

Games/Games Started – 33/33

MPG – 32.7
Points – 19.8
Rebounds – 4.8
Assists – 4.6
Blocks – 0.4
Steals – 1.4
FG% – .408
3FG% – .326
FT% – .754

Eric Gordon – Houston

Gordon dealt with injuries throughout a frustrating season that saw the Rockets produce a league worst 17-55 record.  Gordon missed the last two months of the season with a groin injury.

In his 13th year in the league, the 32 year old Gordon shot his best overall percentage from the field since 2014.  He is 28th in NBA history with 1,622 3-pointers made for his career.

2020-21 YTD Stats:

Games/Games Started – 27/13

MPG – 29.2
Points – 17.8
Rebounds – 2.1
Assists – 2.6
Blocks – 0.5 (Ties Career High)
Steals – 0.5
FG% – .433
3FG% – .329
FT% – .825

OG Anunoby – Toronto

Anunoby did not play after May 1 as a calf injury effectively shut down his season.  Toronto missed the playoffs after a disappointing 27-45 campaign.

The 23 year old Anunoby entered his fourth season in the NBA with lofty expectations after a contract extension, and he largely lived up to them when he was healthy.  Anunoby has become a reliable perimeter shooter and he continues to be one of the league’s better defenders.  His 2.2 steal percentage was 18th best in the league.

2020-21 YTD Stats:

Games/Games Started – 43/43

MPG – 33.3 (Career High)
Points – 15.9 (Career High)
Rebounds – 5.5 (Career High)
Assists – 2.2 (Career High)
Blocks – 0.7 (Ties Career High)
Steals – 1.5 (Career High)
FG% – .480
3FG% – .398 (Career High)
FT% – .784 (Career High)

Thomas Bryant – Washington

Bryant suffered a torn ACL to his left knee during the first quarter of a 128-124 loss to the Miami Heat on January 9 that cost him the remainder of this season.

The injury came at a time when Bryant was solidifying his place as an everyday NBA starter with an ideal inside-out approach for the modern game.  Although his limited number of games kept him off NBA leaderboards, Bryant continued to be one of the game’s most efficient scorers.

The still only 23 year old Bryant will look to return to form for the 2021-22 season, which will be his fifth in the league.

2020-21 YTD Stats:

Games/Games Started – 10/10

MPG – 27.1 (Career High)
Points – 14.3 (Career High)
Rebounds – 6.1
Assists – 1.5
Blocks – 0.8
Steals – 0.4
FG% – .648 (Career High)
3FG% – .429 (Career High)
FT% – .667

Cody Zeller – Charlotte

The 28 year old Zeller completed his eighth NBA season in Charlotte and he continued to be a productive role player in the league.  Zeller was one of the league’s better rebounders, with a top-20 17.7 total rebounding percentage.  He also shot a career best 59.8 percent from 2-point range.

As has been the case throughout his last four seasons, Zeller struggled with various injuries that cost him a third of the season.

The Hornets will face the Pacers in an NBA Playoff play-in game on Tuesday night.

2020-21 YTD Stats:

Games/Games Started – 48/21

MPG – 20.9
Points – 9.4
Rebounds – 6.8
Assists – 1.8
Blocks – 0.4
Steals – 0.6
FG% – .559
3FG% – .143
FT% – .714

Romeo Langford – Boston

Langford made his first appearance of the season on April 4 after recovering from wrist surgery.  He had his most productive game of the season with 14 points and 4 rebounds in the Celtics’ regular season ending loss to New York.  The 21 year old averaged 27 minutes over Boston’s last two games.

Boston finished the regular season with a 36-36 record.  They will face Washington in a play-in game on Tuesday night.

2020-21 YTD Stats:

Games/Games Started – 18/4

MPG – 15.7 (Career High)
Points – 3.1 (Career High)
Rebounds – 1.9 (Career High)
Assists – 0.7 (Career High)
Blocks – 0.3 (Ties Career High)
Steals – 0.3 (Ties Career High)
FG% – .356 (Career High)
3FG% – .278 (Career High)
FT% – .750 (Career High)

Juwan Morgan – Utah

Undrafted in 2020, Morgan completed his second regular season in the NBA with the Jazz.  He did not see significant action but did produce a 12 point and 7 rebound game in January.  The 24 year old missed some games late in the season due to right heel soreness, but he should be good to go for the playoffs.

Utah finished with the best record in the NBA (52-20) and claimed the No. 1 seed in the West.

2020-21 YTD Stats:

Games/Games Started – 29/0

MPG – 5.1
Points – 1.2
Rebounds – 1.0
Assists – 0.3 (Ties Career High)
Blocks – 0.0
Steals – 0.1 (Career High)
FG% – .467
3FG% – .308
FT% – .429

Yogi Ferrell – Los Angeles Clippers

Yogi Ferrell signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in April on a 10-day contract and the club eventually signed him for the rest of the season.  Ferrell produced season bests of 14 points and 7 rebounds on Sunday to complete the regular season. The Clippers finished with a 47-25 record and claimed the No. 4 seed in the West for the playoffs.

In his fifth season in the NBA, the 28 year old Ferrell also appeared in two games for the Cleveland Cavaliers this season in January after signing a 10-day contract.  He averaged 9.5 points for the Cavaliers but was waived.

Ferrell also played in the NBA G League regular season, running from February 10 to March 6 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.  In 14 games for the Salt Lake City Stars, he averaged 15.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game in 28.3 minutes per contest. The Stars went 4-11.

2020-21 YTD Stats:

Games/Games Started – 10/0

MPG – 13.6
Points – 5.6
Rebounds – 1.9
Assists – 2.2
Blocks – 0.3 (Career High)
Steals – 0.7
FG% – .351
3FG% – .321
FT% – .778

Noah Vonleh – Free Agent

Noah Vonleh appeared in four games for the Brooklyn Nets this season after being signed on February 8. He averaged 2.8 minutes per game.  He was waived by the Nets on February 23.  Vonleh was with the Chicago Bulls but was waived before the season soon after being diagnosed with COVID-19.

In 339 career games played over seven NBA seasons, the still just 25 year old Vonleh has averages of 4.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game.

2020-21 YTD Stats:

Games/Games Started – 4/0

MPG – 2.8
Points – 0.0
Rebounds – 0.3
Assists – 0.3
Blocks – 0.0
Steals – 0.0
FG% – .000
3FG% – .000
FT% – N/A (Has Not Attempted)

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