Category: LSU in NBA

LSU’s Duop Reath named to Australian Olympic basketball team for 2nd time

Duop Reath is heading back to the Olympics after helping lead Australia to a bronze medal in Tokyo.

Former LSU basketball star [autotag]Duop Reath[/autotag] is heading back to the Olympics for the second time as he was named to the Australian National Team for the 2024 Paris Games.

Reath, who was born in South Sudan and raised in Perth, Western Australia, played at LSU for two seasons from 2016-18 as a JUCO transfer. After going undrafted in 2018, he played internationally for several years before making his NBA debut in 2023 with the Portland Trail Blazers, with whom he played in 68 games with 20 starts this past season.

He was also on Team Australia in Tokyo in 2021, helping lead the team to a bronze medal.

Reath will join LSU associate head coach [autotag]David Patrick[/autotag], who will serve as an assistant for the Boomers for the second Olympics in a row.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

Former LSU basketball player Naz Reid finding spotlight in NBA playoffs

Naz Reid has helped the Timberwolves jump out to a 2-0 lead over the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals

Five years after leaving LSU, former Tigers’ basketball star [autotag]Naz Reid[/autotag] is playing a pivotal role in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ NBA playoff run.

The Timberwolves jumped out to a 2-0 series lead over the defending champion Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals. Reid hit double-digits in both games, scoring 16 in game one and following up with 14 more in game two.

Most of that production came from behind the three-point line. Reid is six of 12 from deep to start the series.

But perhaps his biggest impact has been on defense. The Nuggets shot 0-11 from the field when guarded by Reid in game two with Reid recording four blocks. Adding to his block total, Reid’s come up with two steals this series too.

Reid proved to be an impact player the moment he joined the league. After spending one year at LSU, he averaged 9.0 points per game as a rookie before upping that total to 11.2 in his second year.

He posted a career-high this season with 13.5 points per game while shooting 41.4% from behind the arch.

LSU’s Sweet 16 team from 2019 was one of the most talented teams in program history, but so far, Reid is the only one to go on and find sustained NBA success.

Reid will take the floor again when the Timberwolves head to Denver to continue the series with game three on Friday night. You can catch the action on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. CT.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

LSU in NBA: Duop Reath scores career high in Trail Blazers win

Duop Reath scored a career-high 25 points in the win over the Kings on Tuesday.

Former LSU center [autotag]Duop Reath[/autotag] is currently on a two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, but he’s making a case to stick around in the franchise’s long term plans.

He’s appeared in 20 games this season, making four starts, and he’s coming off a career-high in points with 25 in a win over the Sacramento Kings. He also totaled seven rebounds, a steal and a block.

Reath has spent most of his professional career overseas or in the G League since going undrafted in 2018, and the South Sudan-born Australian was a two-year starter with the Tigers. He’s now getting his chance at the big time, and he’s making the most of it.

On the year, Reath is averaging 8.3 points and 3.1 rebounds.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

WATCH: Former LSU player KJ Williams hits game-winning shot in NBA G-League

KJ Williams is making his case to get a shot in the NBA.

Former LSU men’s basketball player [autotag]KJ Williams[/autotag] is making his case for playing in the NBA.

The graduate transfer addition from Murray State was a Second Team All-SEC selection at LSU last season, and despite going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, he landed with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Summer League and ultimately made the opening night roster for the team’s G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue.

Williams is making his presence known in the organization, and on Wednesday night, he hit a last-second, game-winning three-point buzzer-beater to lift the Blue past the Memphis Hustle.

Here’s a video of Williams’ gutsy shot.

Williams was one of the lone bright spots in a bad season for LSU in 2022-23, and he’s now making his case to get a shot at the highest level.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

5 former LSU basketball players on NBA Summer League rosters

Five former Tigers look to prove themselves in Las Vegas this week as the main Summer League action begins.

Early play in the NBA Summer League began earlier this week in Salt Lake City, but the main event is set to begin in Las Vegas on Friday and will run through July 17.

When this year’s Summer League action gets started, it will feature a total of five former LSU players looking to impress their clubs and ultimately earn roster spots: [autotag]KJ Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Javonte Smart[/autotag], [autotag]Tari Eason[/autotag], [autotag]Darius Days[/autotag] and [autotag]Duop Reath[/autotag].

Williams and Smart have already seen some action in the Salt Lake City early games.

Here’s a rundown on each of the former Tigers, how their careers have gone and what they stand to gain this week.

Nets’ Cam Thomas continues hot streak, makes history with 3rd-straight 40-point game

Thomas becomes the youngest player in NBA history to score at least 40 points in three consecutive games.

Former LSU and current Brooklyn Nets guard [autotag]Cam Thomas[/autotag] is in the middle of what could be a breakout campaign.

After scoring 44 and 47 points in each of Brooklyn’s last two contests — becoming the second youngest player to score at least 44 in consecutive games after LeBron James — Thomas delivered another prolific performance in the Nets’ 116-112 loss against the Phoenix Suns, scoring 43.

At 21, he now becomes the youngest player to score at least 40 points in three-straight games.

It’s no coincidence that Thomas’ breakout has come in the wake of the Kyrie Irving trade, and the former 27th overall pick in 2021 is thriving in his expanded role. Only time will tell if he can keep it up, but Thomas is playing truly out of his mind right now.

Here were some of the best snapshots from his history-making night.

PHOTOS: Cam Thomas’ hot-streak continues as he drops 47 on Clippers, joins LeBron in exclusive club

Thomas is the second-youngest player to score at least 44 points in consecutive games after LeBron.

[autotag]Cam Thomas[/autotag] scored a career-high 44 points to lift the Brooklyn Nets over the Washington Wizards on Saturday. Surely, he wouldn’t top that mark any time soon. Right?

Wrong.

Thomas reset his career-best mark two days later when he scored 47 in a losing effort against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night. He’s one of only eight players to score 40 points in back-to-back games this season, and at 21, he’s the second-youngest player to score at least 44 points in consecutive games, behind only Lebron James.

After recently trading Kyrie Irving, Thomas — who has spent most of his two seasons in a rotational role after he was taken with the 27th overall pick by Brooklyn back in 2021 — could be set to see a stark uptick in playing time.

He’s certainly making the most of his minutes right now, and we’ll have to see if he can continue this magical stretch when the Nets return to the court on Tuesday night to host the Phoenix Suns.

Here were the best photos from Thomas’ career game on Monday.