Tag: Auburn in the NBA

Walker Kessler leads the NBA in this stat

Walker Kessler is already one of the shot blockers in the NBA.

It has not taken [autotag]Walker Kessler[/autotag] to start making an impact for the Utah Jazz, the rookie center is averaging a solid 6.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

While he is a capable scorer and rebounder, anyone who watched him at Auburn will tell you that the strength of his game is his defense and his ability to block shots is what made him a first round pick.

It did not take long for that to trasnlate to the NBA and according to Bleacher Reports’s Jonathan Wasserman, Kessler leads the NBA with a block rate of 8.4%, counting players who have played at latest 500 minutes. This was also the strength of Kessler at Auburn, he set an NCAA record last season in block rate.

He is not just an advanced stat darling either, his 1.9 blocks per game are tied for the 5th most in the NBA and his 60 total blocks are third most in the league, despite him playing over 200 less minutes than the players ahead of him.

Kessler has thrived in the Jazz’s scheme as a defensive anchor and being an efficient role player on offense and he should continue to improve with more playing time.

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Watch: Walker Kessler blocks Isaac Okoro’s shot in Cavaliers win over Jazz

In Monday night’s game between the Utah Jazz and Cleveland Cavaliers, there was a classic case of “Auburn on Auburn” crime.

Is there anything wrong with a little “Auburn on Auburn” crime?

That situation took place on Monday night, as [autotag]Walker Kessler[/autotag]’s Utah Jazz traveled to Ohio to face [autotag]Isaac Okoro[/autotag] and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

The battle of the former Tigers featured a great matchup between the two, which resulted in a stellar highlight. During Monday’s game, Okoro drove toward the basket and appeared to fake-out Kessler. Okoro then took advantage of the lane that he created by going up for the shot. However, after resetting his footing, Kessler was successful in blocking Okoro’s shot, causing the possession to end.

Despite losing the battle, Okoro and the Cavaliers ultimately won the game, 122-99. Okoro ended the evening with 12 points and four assists in 30 minutes of action while Kessler scored 11 points and pulled down six rebounds.

Kessler will meet former teammate Jabari Smith Jr. on January 5 when the Jazz travel to Houston to meet the Rockets. The next time that Okoro will face a former Tiger will be on Jan. 10, when he gets a rematch with Kessler and the Jazz.

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Walker Kessler records double-double in 1st career start

He is starting to become one of the top shot blockers in the NBA as a rookie.

[autotag]Walker Kessler[/autotag] has played in just 24 games but he is already one of the top shot blockers in the NBA.

The former Auburn Tiger is averaging 1.8 blocks per game which is tied for the fifth most in the NBA. This is despite him playing just 16.2 minutes per game, which is at least 10 minutes fewer than everyone ahead of him.

Kessler made his first career start Wednesday night and made a strong case for getting another one. He recorded his third career double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. He also provided excellent rim protection, blocking five shots as the Utah Jazz beat the Golden State Warriors 124-123.

He has become one of the top rookies in the league, averaging 6.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in his debut season.

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Former Auburn hooper posts career-high numbers in G-League contest

After a performance like this, Sharife Cooper may be getting a call to join the NBA soon.

Last offseason, [autotag]Sharife Cooper[/autotag] signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers after spending his rookie season with the hometown Atlanta Hawks for the 2021-22 season.

Prior to this season, Cooper was waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers but found a way to be included in the organization’s G-League club, the Cleveland Charge. In Tuesday’s game against the Grand Rapids Gold, Cooper posted numbers that may get him noticed by the Cavs.

In a 122-116 loss to the Gold on Tuesday, Cooper went 16-of-29 from the field, scoring 42 points. It marks the second straight game for Cooper in which he scored at least 30 points. He also recorded 12 assists.

Cooper spent one season on the Plains, where he earned SEC All-Freshman honors for the 2020-21 season. In 12 games, Cooper averaged 20.2 points and 4.3 per game for the Tigers.

During his rookie season with the Hawks, Cooper saw minimal action. He appeared in 13 games, averaging 3.0 minutes per outing.

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Okeke shines in Magic’s win over Golden State

The former Auburn forward had a lights-out performance against the defending NBA champions on Thursday night.

One former Tiger held his coming out party in Orlando on Thursday night.

Former Auburn forward [autotag]Chuma Okeke[/autotag] played a key role in the Orlando Magic’s win over Golden State. He scored a season-high 16 points while pulling down nine rebounds while going 3-for-5 from beyond the arc in Orlando’s 130-129 win over the defending NBA Finals champions. 

Okeke made the most noise in the first quarter. He scored 12 points by going 4-for-4 from the field and secured four rebounds.

Okeke has found a groove over the last two games. In two games since the month of November began, Okeke has shot 66.7% from the field and has gradually increased his points and rebounds.

The Magic seem to play better the more that Okeke is on the floor. His 27 minutes of game time during Thursday’s win was the second-highest amount of time that Okeke has played this season. His longest outing came on Oct. 28 at home against the Charlotte Hornets. He played 29 minutes and scored 10 points against fellow former Tiger JT Thor’s squad.

The next game for Okeke and the Orlando Magic is set for Saturday evening at home against the Sacramento Kings.

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Kessler vs. Smith: Round two goes the way of Kessler, Jazz

Walker Kessler and the Utah Jazz bounced back Wednesday after suffering their first loss of the season to the Houston Rockets and Jabari Smith on Monday.

Former Auburn first-rounders [autotag]Jabari Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Walker Kessler[/autotag] squared off for the first time as NBA Western Conference rivals for the first time in their young careers on Monday night.

Smith shot 60% from the field on his way to a 21-point outing as his Houston Rockets squad took down Kessler’s Utah Jazz, 114-108 at Toyota Center in Houston.

These two met again on the court on Wednesday, this time in Salt Lake City. The home-standing Jazz was able to get revenge on the Rockets by earning the 109-101 win in front of the home crowd at Vivint Center.

Kessler, who recorded four fouls in eight minutes of Monday’s loss, scored four points in the win all from the free-throw line. Smith was limited to just 10 points in 32 minutes of action, shooting just 3-of-10 from the field.

Kessler and Smith will meet on the hardwood one final time during the 2022-23 NBA season, that meeting will take place on Jan. 5 at Toyota Center in Houston.

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Smith, Rockets earn first win of season over Kessler’s Jazz

The first meeting between former Auburn teammates went in favor of Jabari Smith and the Houston Rockets.

The much-anticipated matchup between former Auburn first-rounders [autotag]Walker Kessler[/autotag] and [autotag]Jabari Smith[/autotag] resulted in a career day for the latter.

Smith scored a career-high 21 points while shooting 60% from the field in the Houston Rockets’ 114-108 win over the Utah Jazz on Monday night at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. He just missed out on his second-straight game with a double-double, as he pulled down nine rebounds in the win. He was also one of three players for Houston to reach at least 20 points in scoring, joining Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr.

On the other side of the match, Kessler was limited to just eight minutes on the floor for the Jazz after getting into foul trouble. He ended the night with four personal fouls and zero points, but he was able to grab a rebound and a steal in his short time on the court.

These two will go at it again on Wednesday night, but this time from Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. Tipoff for Wednesday’s rematch between the Rockets and Jazz is set for 8 p.m. CT.

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Kessler vs. Smith: Two former Tigers square off on Monday night

The first meeting between first-rounders Walker Kessler and Jabari Smith in a professional setting will take place in Houston.

[autotag]Walker Kessler[/autotag] and [autotag]Jabari Smith[/autotag] were only college teammates for one season, and it was a season to remember.

The duo averaged over ten points per game and both were instrumental in Auburn’s rebounding department. Their great performance during the 2021-22 season at Auburn turned into a first-round draft selection during the 2022 NBA Draft. Smith went 3rd overall to the Houston Rockets while Kessler was selected 22nd overall by the Memphis Grizzlies, but would ultimately find a home with the Utah Jazz.

On Monday night, the former Auburn teammates will play as foes on the hardwood, as the Utah Jazz will take their 3-0 record into Houston to face the winless Rockets at 7 p.m. CT.

Kessler has appeared in all three games for the Jazz this season and has averaged 8.3 points per game while shooting 71.4%. In his pro debut, he recorded a double-double while shooting 5-for-5 from the field.

Smith is averaging 13.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game for the Rockets through three games. His best game to date came Saturday at Milwaukee when he scored 13 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.

This will not be the only meet up that Smith and Kessler will have this week. The Rockets will play their return game with the Jazz on Wednesday in Salt Lake City.

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Rookie Wire makes bold prediction in favor of Jabari Smith

Could Smith set a new NBA rookie record? One writer suggests that it could happen.

[autotag]Jabari Smith[/autotag]’s Auburn career was short but memorable.

Smith scored 16.9 points and pulled down 7.4 boards in his lone season at Auburn. He also shot 42% from beyond the arc. His success shooting the three-ball has one writer believing he could set a new NBA record.

In Rookie Wire’s “10 bold rookie predictions for the 2022-23 season” post, writer Cody Taylor predicts that Smith could break the NBA’s rookie three-point record.

Taylor says that Smith should earn plenty of playing time with the Houston Rockets, which will give him plenty of opportunity to break the record currently held by Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, who shot 34% during his rookie campaign with the Utah Jazz during the 2017-18 season.

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. is viewed as one of the top shooters in the rookie class this year, regardless of position. He set the Auburn record last season for a freshman for points (576) and 3-pointers (79) after hitting 42% of his 5.53 attempts per game.

The third pick struggled a bit in the summer league, converting 25.9% from beyond the arc. However, he bounced back during his lone preseason appearance, recording 21 points, eight rebounds and two assists on 5-of-8 shooting from distance on Oct. 2.

The Rockets’ first-round selection of the 2022 NBA Draft had a solid pro debut on Wednesday. Smith scored 17 points, which is the fourth-most by a Rockets rookie in their first professional game.

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Walker Kessler has impressive NBA debut in Jazz’s season-opening win

Kessler did something Wednesday that no other NBA rookie has ever accomplished.

Wednesday was an exciting night for Auburn Basketball fans, as five former players opened the season with their respective NBA teams.

One former Tiger, in particular, had a night to remember in his professional debut.

[autotag]Walker Kessler[/autotag], who spent the 2021-22 season with Auburn after transferring from North Carolina, had a historic debut with the Utah Jazz.

In Wednesday’s 123-102 Jazz win over the Denver Nuggets, Kessler recorded a double-double and went 100% from the floor. That stat line is one that has never been accomplished by a rookie in NBA history.

Kessler went 5-for-5 from the field, scoring 12 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in the season-opening win. He was one of seven players to reach double digits in scoring for the Jazz.

Kessler has settled down in Utah following a wild journey to open his NBA career. Originally drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies, he was traded on NBA Draft Night to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Then, 10 days later, he was involved in the blockbuster trade that sent Rudy Gobert to Minnesota.

Speaking of the Minnesota Timberwolves, that is the next opponent on deck for Kessler and the Utah Jazz. The Jazz and Timberwolves tip-off Friday night at 7 p.m. CT in Minneapolis.

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