Seven former IU basketball players played the game at the highest level during the 2021-22 NBA season.
Below we summarize their 2021-22 season performances with NBA stats and notes, and provide a brief update on each player.
Victor Oladipo – Miami
After a second surgery on his knee, Oladipo returned to the court on March 7 against the Houston Rockets and played a pivotal role for the Heat down the stretch.
Appearing mostly off the bench during the Heat’s playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals, Oladipo averaged 10.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 24.5 minutes per game during the postseason.
2021-22 YTD Stats (Regular Season):
Games/Games Started – 8/1
MPG – 21.6
Points – 12.4
Rebounds – 2.9
Assists – 3.5
Blocks – 0.1
Steals – 0.6
FG% – .479 (Career High)
3FG% – .417 (Career High)
FT% – .737
Eric Gordon – Houston
Eric Gordon finished his 14th NBA season and sixth with the Rockets, who finished a league worst 20-62.
In 57 games played, he averaged 13.4 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 29.3 minutes per game.
With the Rockets having the third overall pick in the this year’s NBA Draft and looking to rebuild, it’s definitely a possibility that Gordon plays elsewhere next season. Rumors are swirling that he will be traded.
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
After missing the playoffs a season ago, the Raptors found themselves back in the postseason in part due to OG Anunoby putting up career numbers in many of the major statistical categories.
Finishing his fifth year in the NBA, all with Toronto, the 24-year-old Anunoby exhibited strong play on both ends of the floor in the regular and postseason. Various injuries once again limited him during the regular season, however.
Anunoby averaged 17.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 36.2 minutes per game in the postseason.
In the six game first round playoff series in which they lost to the 76ers, Anunoby had three games scoring over 20 points. That included back-to-back 26 point efforts in games two and three.
2021-22 YTD Stats (Regular Season):
Games/Games Started – 48/48
MPG – 36.0 (Career High)
Points – 17.1 (Career High)
Rebounds – 5.5 (Tied Career High)
Assists – 2.6 (Career High)
Blocks – 0.5
Steals – 1.5 (Tied Career High)
FG% – .443
3FG% – .363
FT% – .754
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.
With the Wizards finishing 12th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 35-47, this season was about Bryant continuing to develop and improve for the future.
2021-22 YTD Stats:
Games/Games Started – 27/9
MPG – 16.3
Points – 7.4
Rebounds – 4.0
Assists – 0.9
Blocks – 0.8
Steals – 0.2
FG% – .520
3FG% – .286
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
Langford played well for the Celtics down the stretch of last regular season.
Hoping that good play could carry over, Langford began the season playing important minutes off the bench for a Celtics team that made the playoffs.
However, Langford was dealt to the San Antonio Spurs in connection with a trade involving Josh Richardson, Derrick White and a draft choice.
Langford appeared in four games for the Spurs, averaging 2.8 points, 1.0 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 10.8 minutes per game.
2021-22 YTD Stats:
Games/Games Started – 48/5
MPG – 16.1 (Career High)
Points – 4.5 (Career High)
Rebounds – 2.3 (Career High)
Assists – 0.4
Blocks – 0.3 (Tied Career High)
Steals – 0.5 (Career High)
FG% – .435 (Career High)
3FG% – .341 (Career High)
FT% – .548
Juwan Morgan – Boston Celtics
Morgan appeared in one NBA game this season for the Toronto Raptors and in 29 games with the Maine Celtics in the G-League before signing a 10-day contract with the Boston Celtics.
Then, at the beginning of April, Morgan signed a multiyear deal with the Celtics.
During their run to the NBA Finals, Morgan appeared in nine games, averaging 1.7 minutes per game.
2021-22 YTD Stats (Regular Season):
Games/Games Started – 2/0
MPG – 15.5 (Career High)
Points – 2.5 (Career High)
Rebounds – 2.0 (Career High)
Assists – 0.5 (Career High)
Blocks – 0.0
Steals – 0.0
FG% – .667 (Career High)
3FG% – .500 (Career High)
FT% – N/A
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