Hoosiers in the NBA: A look at where all seven former IU players stand

  • 12/13/2023 8:29 am in

The NBA regular season is more than a quarter of the way complete and it’s time for our first “Hoosiers in the NBA” update.

Here’s a look at how each of the seven Hoosiers in the NBA are performing through more than 20 games of the 2023-24 campaign:

Eric Gordon – Phoenix

2023-24 stats (21 games): 14.2 points, 2.9 assists, two rebounds in 32 minutes per game

Gordon’s minutes have been more plentiful than expected due to Bradley Beal’s injury. Beal has played in just four games for the Suns, which has thrust Gordon into a more prominent role. The 34-year-old veteran has taken advantage of the opportunity.

Gordon is shooting 39.9 percent on 3s, more than two percent better than his career average. Gordon has already scored in double figures 17 times this season and remains an extremely productive player.

O.G. Anunoby – Toronto

2023-24 stats (19 games): 15.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.1 steals in 32.7 minutes per game

One of the NBA’s most valuable defenders, Anunoby is currently the best player of all of the former Hoosiers in the league. At just 26 years old, he’s just coming into his prime and is the prototypical “3-and-D” wing.

Toronto currently sits in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game out of one of the play-in spots in the standings. It’s clear the Raptors aren’t a contender as constructed, so expect Anunoby’s name to come up as a trade target for contenders. He’s got a player option for next season for $19.9 million, which he would be wise to opt out of.

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. First, 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 to the NBA.

Thomas Bryant – Miami

2023-24 stats (14 games): 4.7 points, 3.6 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per game

Bryant won a championship last season in Denver and then inked a free agent contract with Miami in the offseason.

His role for the Heat has been limited and he’s racked up several DNP’s this season. His best game was a 10-point, seven rebound effort against Cleveland on Nov. 22.

Cody Zeller – New Orleans

2023-24 stats (19 games): 1.7 points, three rebounds and one assist in 9.7 minutes per game

Zeller was a part of Miami’s roster that reached the NBA finals last season. It looked like Zeller might be out of the NBA until the Heat picked up him last spring for the stretch run of the season. Zeller was able to parlay his productive stretch with the Heat to a guaranteed deal with the Pelicans this season.

Like Bryant, his role has been limited with his new team. Zeller has scored more than four points just once this season.

Jalen Hood-Schifino – Los Angeles Lakers

2023-24 stats (5 games): 2.8 points, 1.2 rebounds and .8 assists in 10.4 minutes per game

Injuries kept Hood-Schifino, the No. 17 pick in June’s NBA draft, from making his debut until a Nov. 27 loss at Philadelphia. He’s played a total of five games for the Lakers and he scored 10 points in 11 minutes off the bench in a 133-107 win at Detroit on Nov. 29.

Hood-Schifino has a chance to get some run as Gabe Vincent remains out with an injury, but he just missed last night’s game against Dallas due to back spasms.

Trayce Jackson-Davis – Golden State

2023-24 stats (14 games): 2.9 points, 1.6 rebounds and .6 blocks in 7.8 minutes per game

Jackson-Davis was playing somewhat regularly for the Warriors early in the season, but didn’t appear in the NBA game for almost a three-week stretch from Nov. 24 to Dec. 12.

As the Warriors try to figure out their issues that currently have them in 11th place in the Western Conference, Jackson-Davis has been on the outside looking in for a rotation spot. He’s played in four games in the G-League where he’s averaged 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 blocks per game.

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