Seven former IU basketball players have or will play the game at the highest level during the 2021-22 NBA season. We will be monitoring their seasons with monthly updates.
Below we summarize their year to date performance with NBA stats and notes through six months of the season and provide a brief update on each player.
(Stats are through March 31)
Victor Oladipo – Miami
After a second surgery on his knee, Oladipo returned to the court on March 7 against the Houston Rockets. He played 15 minutes and scored 11 points to go along with four assists.
In the last two games he’s appeared in, he’s played 20 and 25 minutes, respectively. While he isn’t back to his normal self, the former NBA All-Star could play an important role off the bench come playoff time.
The Heat are currently 49-28 overall, a 0.5 game lead over the Milwaukee Bucks for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
2021-22 YTD Stats:
Games/Games Started – 6/0
MPG – 18.3
Points – 6.3
Rebounds – 1.7
Assists – 2.8
Blocks – 0.2
Steals – 0.2
FG% – .375
3FG% – .250
FT% – .667
Eric Gordon – Houston
Eric Gordon is now in his sixth season with the Rockets, who are currently last place in the Western Conference standings with a 20-57 record. Overall he is in his 14th season in the NBA.
In the month of March, Gordon averaged 9.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game in eight games played.
Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle recently reported that Gordon has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
2021-22 YTD Stats:
Games/Games Started – 57/46
MPG – 29.3
Points – 13.4
Rebounds – 2.0
Assists – 2.7
Blocks – 0.3
Steals – 0.5
FG% – .475 (Career High)
3FG% – .412
FT% – .778
OG Anunoby – Toronto
Last season did not go the way the Raptors had planned. They finished 27-45 overall and as the 12 seed in the Eastern Conference.
However, this year has been a different story. Not only are the Raptors in the playoff hunt, as the six seed in the Eastern Conference, but OG Anunoby is putting up career numbers in many of the major statistical categories.
Now in his fifth year in the NBA, all with Toronto, the 24-year-old Anunoby’s strong play on both ends of the floor will have to continue if the Raptors want to make a run in the postseason.
Anunoby played four games in March after returning from a fractured right ring finger. He averaged 16.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.
2021-22 YTD Stats:
Games/Games Started – 46/46
MPG – 36.3 (Career High)
Points – 17.4 (Career High)
Rebounds – 5.4
Assists – 2.6 (Career High)
Blocks – 0.5
Steals – 1.5 (Ties Career High)
FG% – .444
3FG% – .368
FT% – .748
Thomas Bryant – Washington
Last season, Bryant suffered a torn ACL to his left knee during the first quarter of a 128-124 loss to the Miami Heat. The injury came at a time when Bryant was starting to play consistent basketball and was averaging career highs in both minutes played and points per game.
While not an ideal situation, Bryant rehabbed and was able to return to the court this season, seeing time both in the starting lineup and coming off the bench.
While the Wizards have been eliminated from playoff contention, the remaining games are still important for Bryant’s continued development.
In five games played in March, he averaged 10.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in just over 18 minutes per contest.
2021-22 YTD Stats:
Games/Games Started – 23/9
MPG – 17.3
Points – 8.3
Rebounds – 4.0
Assists – 1.0
Blocks – 0.8
Steals – 0.3
FG% – .529
3FG% – .282
FT% – .875 (Career High)
Cody Zeller – Free Agent
After playing the first eight seasons of his career in Charlotte, Zeller became a member of the Portland Trail Blazers this season.
The 29 year-old served as a backup, playing in 27 games, while averaging 5.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in just over 13 minutes per contest.
However, Zeller was waived by Portland in early February and is currently a free agent.
2021-22 YTD Stats:
Games/Games Started – 27/0
MPG – 13.1
Points – 5.2
Rebounds – 4.6
Assists – 0.8
Blocks – 0.2
Steals – 0.3
FG% – .567
3FG% – .000
FT% – .776
Romeo Langford – San Antonio
However, Langford was dealt midseason from Boston to the San Antonio Spurs in connection with a trade involving Josh Richardson, Derrick White and a draft choice.
Langford appeared in one game for the Spurs, a March 7 game against the Lakers, scoring seven points in 16 minutes. However, he has not played since then due to a hamstring injury. There is no timetable for his return.
2021-22 YTD Stats:
Games/Games Started – 45/5
MPG – 16.5 (Career High)
Points – 4.8 (Career High)
Rebounds – 2.3 (Career High)
Assists – 0.4
Blocks – 0.4 (Career High)
Steals – 0.5 (Career High)
FG% – .436 (Career High)
3FG% – .345 (Career High)
FT% – .553
Juwan Morgan – Boston Celtics
On Monday, Morgan signed a 10-day contract with the Boston Celtics. He has not yet made appearance with them.
Morgan had most recently been in the G-League with the Maine Celtics, appearing in 29 games.
He also appeared in one NBA game this season for the Toronto Raptors, a 144-99 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, in which he scored five points and collected four rebounds in 27 minutes of action.
2021-22 YTD Stats:
Games/Games Started – 1/0
MPG – 27.0 (Career High)
Points – 5.0 (Career High)
Rebounds – 4.0 (Career High)
Assists – 1.0 (Career High)
Blocks – 0.0
Steals – 0.0
FG% – .667 (Career High)
3FG% – .500 (Career High)
FT% – N/A
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