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Interesting UCLA NBA roster depth
by ucla_fan on Aug 20, 2010 8:16 AM PDT
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PrintHi all, I'm a long time BN reader and I thought I would christen my first post about the crazy NBA offseason we've had. I guess this post arose from the UCLA players that moved teams to be precise. As some reserves became starters for their new teams, it triggered a thought about how many former UCLA players are currently playing and who among them are starters and reserves.
After a little research, I found there are 15 former Bruins still lacing them up. Or 14 if Mr. Watson can't find a home. Anyway, I also found it interesting that among those 14, it's split 50/50 for starters and reserves. What's also interesting and a testament to his coaching skills, Coach Howland has now given the NBA 6 starters. That's not too shabby if you ask me. Below is the list for your viewing enjoyment.
Player/ Team/ (S)tarter,(R)eserve/ Coach
Aaron Afflalo/ Nuggets/ S/ Howland
Trevor Ariza/ Hornets/ S/ Howland - ok, so it was just 1 year.
Matt Barnes/ Lakers/ R/ Lavin
Darren Collison/ Pacers/ S/ Howland
Baron Davis/ Clippers/ S/ Lavin
Jordan Farmar/ Nets/ R/ Howland
Dan Gadzuric/ Warriors/ R/ Lavin
Jrue Holiday/ 76ers/ S/ Howland
Ryan Hollins/ Cavs/ R/ Lavin/ Howland
Jason Kapono/ 76ers/ R/ Lavin
Kevin Love/ T'wolves/ S/ Howland
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute/ Bucks/ R/ Howland
Russell Westbrook/ Thunder/ S/ Howland
Earl Watson/ was with the Pacers last season/ S/ Lavin
So Howland has been Coach at UCLA for 7 full seasons going on 8 and he's produced 6 starters so far. Even considering what happened last season, you have to be impressed with that. I'm confident he'll get the program back on track and start producing more top tier UCLA and NBA talent. Just thought everyone would like seeing that.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.
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Raise your hand...
if you ever thought Gadzuric would last 8 weeks in the pros, much less 8 years. (scans entire BN readership) Don’t see too many hands up out there…
Roses are red, violets are blue...f*** $C.
I think at the time
I could have seen Barnes as an 11th or 12th man – but certainly not getting more than a couple of minutes a game, if that. Hollins? As much a shocker to me as Gadzuric.
Roses are red, violets are blue...f*** $C.
after his senior year finished so strong, I thought he would get a shot
he is a genuinely athletic 7-footer. But even half way through his senior season, there was no indication he had enough about him to ever make it onto an NBA court.
by britishbruin on Aug 20, 2010 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions
...and even with all the talk about 'potential,'
it’s a lot easier for an NBA scout to make a claim of ‘potential’ when watching a 17-year-old than a college senior who had been, at best, unremarkable for 3+ years. I still remember wondering where the heck that Hollins had been prior to those last couple of months.
Roses are red, violets are blue...f*** $C.
I think it was easier to envision Barnes in the NBA
if you looked at him as a football player trying to learn basketball. Really that’s what it felt like when you watched him play those first few years. He had all the athleticism, hustle and tenacity, he just had to learn the game. It’s just a guess based on the way his skill set developed but I’d say that by his senior year Barnes had just started catching up to most college freshmen in terms of time committed to playing basketball.
Raises hand for all three!
Matt Barnes was the only surprise for me….in that I felt he would last around 3-5 years, coming off the bench. I might have been right, but Boom Dizzle helped get him to Golden State, where his career really took off.
And he makes more than everyone except BD
He got a sweet deal from the Bucks right before they drafted Bogut.
Possibly this upcoming season
He’s right behind Drew Gooden on the depth chart. At least for right now!
The real question re. Bennett
isn’t “how did he make it in the NFL” it’s “how did Toledo manage to waste his athletic ability.” I graduated in ‘00 and I’d venture to say that Drew Bennett was the best pure athlete I saw during that time.
I remember in ‘00, after winning an intramural basketball championship game, Sigma Chi held an impromptu dunk contest. Seeing as Vince Carter’s memorable dunk contest showing had just happened, Drew Bennett decided to steal the show by replicating all of Vince’s dunks. That’s right, Drew Bennett replicated the most celebrated performance in NBA dunk contest history almost dunk-for-dunk. It was one of the most impressive athletic displays I’ve ever witnessed first hand.
Bennett wanted to be a QB
It happens with kids who want to be one position but are really better suited to another.
I remember a TD...
…in which Drew went up over a number players at the goal line and with height, athletic ability and tenacity made the catch! One of the most incredible catches…for a retreaded QB…or anyone else!!
He could have played VB and been as good as All-American Danny Farmer.
by C.T. in Boston on Aug 21, 2010 12:00 AM PDT up reply actions
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