Hoosiers in the NBA: Trayce Jackson-Davis continues stellar rookie season

  • 01/23/2024 8:23 am in

The NBA regular season is just past the halfway point and it’s time for our second “Hoosiers in the NBA” update.

Here’s a look at how each of the seven Hoosiers in the NBA are performing through more than 40 games of the 2023-24 campaign:

Eric Gordon – Phoenix

2023-24 stats (21 games): 12.5 points, 2.3 assists, 2.1 rebounds in 30.4 minutes per game

The return of Bradley Beal has impacted the minutes of Gordon, a 15-year veteran who is still productive as a scorer. Gordon missed Monday’s game with a wrist injury. His shooting hasn’t been great lately, as he’s connecting on just 24.4 percent of his 3s over his last seven games.

Still, his overall shooting splits are solid. In 36 games, Gordon is shooting 37.6 percent on 3s and 77.8 percent from the foul line. Look for Gordon to continue to fill a role as a valuable bench piece for the Suns, who are 25-18 and looking to move up in the Western Conference standings.

O.G. Anunoby – New York

2023-24 stats (19 games): 15.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 steals in 34.3 minutes per game

Acquired by the Knicks on Dec. 30 in a blockbuster deal, Anunoby’s minutes are up since his move to New York City. Tom Thibodeau is known for playing his starters a lot of minutes and Anunoby has been no exception.

In 11 games with the Knicks, Anunoby has averaged 14.9 points and is shooting 40.8 percent on 3s. He’s also playing 36.7 minutes per game, up from 33.3 in Toronto. The acquisition of Anunoby figures to pay major dividends in the playoffs, as he’ll be able to guard the opposition’s best wings and guards when it matters most.

Victor Oladipo – Houston

2023-24 stats: Has not played due to injury

Oladipo suffered a season-ending knee injury last season in Miami and was traded twice in the offseason. The Heat sent him to Oklahoma City and the Thunder then moved Oladipo to the Rockets.

He remains out indefinitely and there’s no timetable for his return.

Thomas Bryant – Miami

2023-24 stats (14 games): 4.5 points, 3.2 rebounds in 10.8 minutes per game

The 2017 second-round pick is not in the regular rotation for the Heat and hasn’t played double-figure minutes in a game in over a month. Bryant’s NBA career has been a success, as he’s earned more than $31 million over seven seasons. He also has a player option for next season worth nearly $3 million.

Cody Zeller – New Orleans

2023-24 stats (19 games): 2 points, 2.7 rebounds and one assist in 8.6 minutes per game

Like Bryant, Zeller has played sparingly for the Pelicans this season. But Zeller still has value because he is great in the locker room and teams never have to worry about his professionalism.

The 31-year-old’s time in the NBA may be nearing the end, but he’s earned over $78 million over his 10-year career.

Jalen Hood-Schifino – Los Angeles Lakers

2023-24 stats (5 games): 2.2 points, .9 rebounds and .6 assists in 7.6 minutes per game

Hood-Schifino is not a regular in the Lakers rotation, which isn’t surprising given the title aspirations for one of the league’s most storied franchises.

The 20-year-old guard will need time to develop and getting some reps with the South Bay Lakers in the NBA G-League. In six G-League games, Hood-Schifino has averaged 18.8 points, 4.8 assists, and 2.8 rebounds in 31.9 minutes per game.

Trayce Jackson-Davis – Golden State

2023-24 stats (14 games): 7 points, 4.3 rebounds, one assist and .8 blocks in 14.4 minutes per game

As the second to last pick in the 2023 NBA draft, expectations weren’t high for Jackson-Davis as a rookie. But he’s been tremendous for the Warriors, who are four games under .500 and trying to figure things out with a veteran core with no interest in rebuilding.

Jackson-Davis has earned three starts this season and is shooting a scorching hot 68.8 percent from the field, mostly on dunks and layups. He also has four double-doubles, including a 16-point, 11-rebound performance earlier this month against Toronto. He’s also scored in double figures 12 times with a career-best of 19 against New Orleans on Jan. 10.

Filed to: , , , , , ,