One other NBA season is upon us. The 2024-2025 NBA season begins Tuesday and 9 alumni Virginia basketball gamers are on NBA groups’ opening day rosters, second highest amongst Atlantic Coast Convention packages.
Two UVA recruits hope to make their NBA debut as Ryan Dunn joins the Phoenix Suns as a first-round choose and Reece Beekman tries to search out a chance with the Golden State Warriors on a two-way contract sense. In the meantime, Sam Hauser and Trey Murphy III each earned main payouts this offseason, as Hauser signed a four-year, $45 million contract extension to stay with the Boston Celtics and Murphy signed an extension this week four-year, $112 million contract with the Boston Celtics. New Orleans Pelicans. We additionally noticed two former Cavaliers be part of forces this offseason, as Malcolm Brogdon headed to the Washington Wizards to reunite along with his former UVA teammate Anthony Gill.
See beneath for extra data on every of the 9 former UVA basketball gamers within the NBA earlier than the beginning of the 2024-25 season.
NBA expertise: 4th season
Statistics 2023-2024: 57 video games, 23 begins, 14.8 ppg, 4.9 RPG, 2.2 apg, 38.0% 3pt FG, 29.6 mpg
Depth map projection: Sixth man, backup small ahead or energy ahead
Outlook: Murphy was paid simply earlier than the beginning of the season, signed a four-year contract extension value $112 million this can hold him in New Orleans by the 2028-29 season. The Pels have proven an excellent dedication to the sharpshooting wing regardless of some latest damage points, as he missed 25 video games final season and is predicted to overlook time early this season with a hamstring damage. -legs suffered earlier this month. By including Dejounte Murray to a core of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum in addition to stable function gamers like Murphy and Herb Jones, the Pelicans hope to win their first playoff collection since 2018. Murphy could have an enormous function to play. in these efforts upon his return, as he seems to be to indicate that he has the potential to turn out to be a star on this league by making his sport a bit of extra full to enrich his strengths in capturing the three and throwing down dunks.
NBA expertise: sixth season
Statistics 2023-2024: 57 video games, 37 begins, 15.6 ppg, 3.9 RPG, 1.5 apg, 38.5% 3pt FG, 29.5 mpg
Depth map projection: Begin small first
Outlook: Hunter averaged 15.6 factors per sport final season, however the Hawks narrowly missed the playoffs and had been unable to recapture the magic of their run to the Japanese Convention Finals in 2021. Trae Younger is Trae Younger and nonetheless is. of the league’s greatest offensive playmakers, however critics have questioned whether or not his fashion of play immediately brought about co-stars like Hunter, Jalen Johnson and (final 12 months) Dejounte Murray to not fairly attain their potential whereas sporting the Hawks uniform. Hunter will as soon as once more be tasked with guarding the opposing staff’s prime wing, however the Hawks ought to as soon as once more battle defensively as a staff and can probably must scrap and claw simply to make the playoffs.
NBA expertise: ninth season
Statistics 2023-2024: 39 video games, 25 begins, 15.7 ppg, 5.5 apg, 3.8 rpg, 41.2% 3pt FG, 28.7 mpg
Depth map projection: Start line Guard (upon return from damage)
Outlook: This summer time, Brogdon was traded from the Portland Path Blazers to the Washington Wizards, the fifth completely different staff Brogdon has performed for in his profession and his fourth completely different staff within the final 4 seasons. The transfer reunites him with former UVA teammate Anthony Gill and Brogdon appears enthusiastic about his new staff, however a number of weeks in the past it was reported that he suffered a torn ligament in his proper thumb that required surgical procedure on the pulling hand. Brogdon might be out for as much as a month to start out the season and even when he returns, the Wizards aren’t anticipated to be playoff contenders for the fourth 12 months in a row and Brogdon might very effectively turn out to be a commerce merchandise halfway by the season. season if he comes again and performs effectively.
NBA expertise: fifth season
Statistics 2023-2024: 50 video games, 3 begins, 3.8 ppg, 1.9 RPG, 46.9% FG, 9.3 mpg
Depth map projection: Third chain ahead
Outlook: Turns on the market are advantages to being a great man. Wizards of Washington re-signed Anthony Gill to a two-year deal value almost $5 million this offseason, a great wage for a participant who averages lower than 4 factors per sport and can probably by no means have a major function on an NBA staff. However that is completely advantageous for Gill, who’s the proper instance of the best teammate and presence in an NBA locker room. He is good for a number of respectable video games every year, however will not see the courtroom for prolonged enjoying time for the Wizards, who will prioritize youthful gamers this season. Let’s simply hope we see Gill and Brogdon share the sphere at the very least a number of instances this 12 months.
NBA expertise: 4th season
Statistics 2023-2024: 79 video games, 13 begins, 9.0 ppg, 3.5 RPG, 1.0 apg, 42.4% 3pt FG, 22.0 mpg
Depth map projection: Small Ahead or Energy Ahead backup
Outlook: Like Trey Murphy III, Sam Hauser signed an enormous contract extension this offseason, agreeing to phrases of a Extension of $45 million over 4 years to stay with the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics by the 2028-2029 season. Hauser earned that cash by capturing 42.4 p.c from three final season, the fourth-best mark within the NBA amongst gamers with at the very least 400 three-point makes an attempt. He proved to be a worthwhile piece within the playoffs, capturing 38.0% from three within the playoffs, scoring 5.4 factors per sport and likewise enjoying stable protection, which was a significant difficulty for him. Now with the Celtics assured of being on the roster for the long run, Hauser will look to repay their religion by taking the following step in his growth as he seems to be to assist Boston defend their crown.
NBA expertise: 1st season
Statistics 2023-2024: N / A
Depth map projectionn: Third string ahead/Bench participant
Outlook: The Phoenix Suns might have gotten the steal of the 2024 NBA draftwhereas Ryan Dunn, chosen for his athleticism and defensive prowess, developed what seems to be a dependable three-point jumper seemingly in a single day. Dunn shot 43.3% from past the arc and made 13 three-pointers in 5 preseason video games, extra triples than he hit in his 65-game faculty profession at Virginia . We nonetheless do not know if he’ll have the ability to crack the rotation early on, however do not be shocked if the Suns give him alternatives, particularly in the event that they battle on the defensive finish. On the very least, if he really sheds his offensive handicap label, then the longer term (and maybe the very close to future) is extraordinarily shiny for Ryan Dunn within the NBA.
Associated: Ryan Dunn Referred to as NBA Draft Steal After 4 Preseason Video games
NBA expertise: sixth season
Statistics 2023-2024: 2 video games, 2.0 ppg, 1.5 apg, 7.5 mpg
Depth map projection: Third line level guard/bench participant
Outlook: It is a massive proving 12 months for Ty Jerome, who signed a two-year, $5 million contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers final summer time however then performed in simply two video games the whole season. 2023-24 season on account of an ankle damage that required surgical procedure. The Cavs are fairly guarded with Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Caris LeVert and Max Strus, however Cleveland president of basketball operations Koby Altman referred to as Jerome the “September MVP” and stated the previous UVA level guard had “performed.” ” in the course of the first preseason practices. Jerome might see alternatives as a backup level guard and it’s as much as him to benefit from these alternatives and notice his potential as a former first spherical choose.
NBA expertise: 1st season
Statistics 2023-2024: N / A
Depth map projection: Bench participant, G League
Outlook: The 2-time ACC Defensive Participant of the Yr will probably spend a lot of his rookie season within the G League, however Beekman will hopefully flip heads at that degree and present he deserves some alternatives with the Golden State Warriors. As a participant on a two-way contract, Beekman can play in as much as 50 NBA common season video games, however shouldn’t be eligible for the playoffs except he’s transformed to a regular contract. Beekman, who would do effectively to observe Ryan Dunn’s lead in immediately growing a light-weight three-point jumper, must earn his likelihood within the NBA by arduous work and persistence.
NBA expertise: 4th season
Statistics 2023-2024: 20 video games, 1.2 ppg, 0.6 RPG, 33.3% 3pt FG, 2.5 mpg
Depth map projection: Bench participant
Outlook: Might this lastly be the 12 months Jay Huff escapes the NBA G League dungeon? The 7’1″ heart has been caught there all through his profession, regardless of continually crushing it at this degree. This preseason, Huff placed on a present along with his standard blocks and slam dunks, however It additionally looks as if his three-point capturing has by no means been higher, as he shot 43% from downtown whereas averaging 10.8 factors and 4.5 rebounds per sport. a really efficient rim runner on offense and rim protector on protection and along with his three-point capturing, the Memphis Grizzlies can be silly to not give him any actual possibilities in his first three years. Within the NBA, Huff solely performed in 31 video games complete they usually had been largely simply pointless appearances. This might be the season that lastly adjustments.
