Tag: Frank Kaminsky

Wisconsin basketball legend Frank Kaminsky reacts to Badgers’ record scoring output

Wisconsin legend Frank Kaminsky reacts to Badgers’ current offensive form

Over the past decade, the Wisconsin basketball program has been no stranger to developing legends on the hardwood.

During that span, the program has rostered greats like Nigel Hayes, Johnny Davis, Sam Dekker and Ethan Happ. Of all the luminaries, former Naismith College Player of the Year Award winner Frank Kaminsky stands alone.

It’s safe to say the NBA veteran, whose jersey currently adorns the Kohl Center’s rafters, is a fan of what he’s witnessing from Wisconsin’s current team.

This season, Greg Gard’s group averages 82.5 points and 15.3 assists per game off 47.2% shooting from the field and 36.2% from beyond the arc. To put that into context, Kaminsky’s 2013-14 Final Four squad averaged 71.9 points and 12.7 assists on 48% from the field and 35.7% from outside.

Wisconsin’s 2014-15 Final Four squad produced similar numbers — 73.5 points and 12.1 assists per bout off 45.8% from the field and 37.3% from downtown.

Statistically, the 2024-25 Badgers are set to surpass both of those historic teams. Here’s Kaminsky’s reaction to that program-best output from this season’s team:

National hierarchies reflect Kaminsky’s feelings surrounding this team. KenPom ranks the Badgers’ offense No. 8 in the nation, the AP Top 25 Poll pegs UW as the No. 17-best team in the country, while the NCAA NET Ranking positions Wisconsin at No. 18.

Wisconsin’s offense, similar to its 2013-14 and 2014-15 squads, is as deep as it gets. All five of Wisconsin’s starters — Tonje, Blackwell, Klesmit, Crowl and Winter — average at least 10 points per game. UW does not boast a player as gifted as Kaminsky, but all signs point to this platoon’s offense being as efficient as almost any team in the nation, plus the best in program history.

Wisconsin Badgers legend dominates for Toronto Raptors G League affiliate

Wisconsin Badgers legend dominates for Toronto Raptors G League affiliate

Wisconsin basketball legend Frank Kaminsky dominated in his second appearance with the Toronto Raptors NBA G League affiliate on Saturday.

Representing Raptors 905, Kaminsky logged 33 points, seven rebounds and five assists in a 112-11 overtime win over the San Diego Clippers. He shot 12-of-19 from the field and 3-of-5 from deep in the one-point victory.

Kaminsky made his Raptors 905 debut on Dec. 19 in a 17-point loss to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. In that game, he tallied six points and five rebounds.

Prior to his stint with Raptors 905, Kaminsky represented USA Basketball at the two-game 2024 AmeriCup Qualifying circuit in Washington, D.C. In his second game representing the red, white and blue, the UW legend scored 14 points, grabbed a team-leading seven rebounds, dished a team-best four assists and tallied a game-high two blocks.

That time with the national team appears to have reignited Kaminsky’s fire to compete at the NBA level. He most recently laced up for the Phoenix Suns training camp roster in late September ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season.

In eight NBA seasons, Kaminsky averaged 8.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists on 43% shooting and 35% from 3. He appeared in 26 games for the Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets in the 2022-23 season.

With the Badgers, the talented 7-footer earned National College Player of the Year nods and was a consensus first-team All-American in 2015. He led Wisconsin to back-to-back Final Four appearances in the best stretch in program history.

At this stage, it appears as if he will look to continue his basketball journey in the G League.

Wisconsin Badgers legend dominates in second USA Basketball appearance

Wisconsin Badgers legend dominates in second USA Basketball appearance

Wisconsin basketball legend Frank Kaminsky dominated in his second appearance with the 2024 USA Men’s AmeriCup qualifying team on Monday night.

In the second leg of his USA Basketball debut, Kaminsky once against started alongside David Stockton, Robert Covington, Paul Watson and Javonte Smart. The UW legend scored 14 points, grabbed a team-leading seven rebounds, dished a team-best four assists and tallied a game-high two blocks in more than 20 minutes of action against the Bahamas.

Kaminsky’s stellar performance helped the Americans secure a 97-74 win. The USA holds the top spot in Pool D of the qualifying window with teams eyeing the AmeriCup Tournament in 2025.

In his first taste of FIBA action on Friday, Kaminsky notched 10 points, three assists and two steals in over 15 minutes against Puerto Rico.

Kaminsky’s performance reminded onlookers of what he’s capable of. The big man can stretch the floor, defend down low and execute in the painted area with swift footwork.

His most recent taste of professional action was when he joined the Phoenix Suns training camp roster in late September. The Suns, however, waived Kaminsky on Oct. 12 ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season.

Still, he has proved his worth on several NBA teams. In eight NBA seasons, Kaminsky averaged 8.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists on 43% shooting and 35% from 3. He most recently appeared in 26 games for the Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets in 2022-23.

At Wisconsin, the 7-footer pocketed the 2015 National College Player of the Year award and was a consensus first-team All-American with the Badgers. As nearly every Badger hoop fanatic knows, he was UW’s go-to option on consecutive trips to the Final Four in 2014 and 2015.

Wisconsin Badgers legend makes USA Basketball debut

Wisconsin basketball legend makes USA Basketball debut

Wisconsin basketball legend Frank Kaminsky made his USA Basketball debut with the 2024 USA men’s AmeriCup qualifying team on Friday night.

As a member of the starting lineup alongside David Stockton, Robert Covington, Paul Watson and Javonte Smart, Kaminsky registered 10 points, three assists and two steals in just over 15 minutes in his first taste of FIBA action.

Last November, Kaminsky was named to the 2024 squad, which boasts a combination of NBA, NBA G League and international talent. Kaminsky’s crew is one of three teams representing USA Basketball from February 2024 to February 2025 with hopes of qualifying for the AmeriCup tournament in 2025.

After averaging 8.9 points and 3.4 rebounds with Serbia’s Partizan Belgrade in the 2023-24 EuroLeague season, Kaminsky joined the Phoenix Suns training camp roster in late September. The Suns, however, waived Kaminsky on Oct. 12 ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season.

The former UW star appeared in 26 games for the Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets in 2022-23, logged three seasons with the Suns from 2019-22 and played four seasons with the Charlotte Hornets from 2015-19. In eight NBA seasons, Kaminsky has averaged 8.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists on 43% shooting and 35% from 3.

The 7-footer was arguably college basketball’s most dominant player during his stint at UW. As a senior, he pocketed the 2015 National College Player of the Year award and was a consensus first-team All-American with the Badgers.

In the postseason, he was the go-to option on consecutive trips to the Final Four in 2014 and 2015.

Kaminsky’s next game for the red, white and blue is slated for Nov. 25 against the Bahamas in Washington, D.C.

Wisconsin basketball legend is back in the NBA

Wisconsin basketball legend is back in the NBA

Wisconsin basketball legend Frank Kaminsky signed a training camp contract with the Phoenix Suns this week, according to his representation at Priority Sports.

Kaminsky is back in the NBA, at least for the time being, after playing the 2023-24 season with Partizan Belgrade in Serbia. He played 57 games during the team’s EuroLeague season, averaging 8.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists.

Related: Big Ten basketball teams ranked by returning production entering 2024-25 season

The former Badger played three seasons in Phoenix (2019-22). He played a consistent reserve role on the Suns team that lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 NBA Finals.

This season would be Kaminsky’s 11th in the NBA if he makes the Suns’ regular-season roster.

His career averages are 8.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists on 43% shooting and 35% from three. His best seasons came with the Charlotte Hornets in 2016-17 and 2017-18: He eclipsed 23 minutes and 11 points per game in each season.

Kaminsky’s college career needs no explanation. The 2015 National College Player of the Year and consensus first-team All-American was the driving force behind back-to-back trips to the Final Four and the program getting on the doorstep of winning a national title. His No. 44 is retired in the Kohl Center rafters.

The Badger great joins Johnny Davis (Washington Wizards) and Micah Potter (Utah Jazz) as the only former Badgers in the NBA. All three are looking to carve out significant roles entering the upcoming season.

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On This Date: Wisconsin’s Bronson Koenig nails buzzer-beating to push Badgers into Sweet 16

Favorite Wisconsin March Madness memory?

In just two days, Greg Gard’s No. 5 Wisconsin Badgers will look to generate some magic against No. 12 James Madison in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

Ahead of its 27th tournament appearance in program history, Wisconsin has experienced its share of electricity during March Madness. Whether it be Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker leading the charge in 2015 or the unexpected Final Four appearance under head coach Dick Bennett in 2000, the Badgers have traditionally known what it takes to win.

IT’S BRACKET MADNESS: Enter USA TODAY’s NCAA tournament bracket contest for a chance at $1 million prize.

Perhaps the most memorable late-game tournament moment arrived on this day eight years ago when Wisconsin guard Bronson Koenig nailed a buzzer-beater to lift the No. 7-seed Badgers over No. 2 Xavier. The corner snipe clinched the Badgers’ spot in the Sweet Sixteen — a round the program hasn’t reached since 2017.

Wisconsin found itself trailing Xavier by nine points with just under six minutes to spare in the contest. The Badgers would go on to tie the game at 63  after a quick run led by Nigel Hayes, Ethan Happ and Jordan Hill. 

Then, with the game tied and two seconds remaining, Greg Gard called an inbounds play to Koenig in the corner. The rest is history.

Badgers big man having quite the season

Steven Crowl is on the verge of something special

The Badgers men’s basketball team is out to a 16-4 start to the season, 8-1 in the Big Ten, and big man Steven Crowl has been having quite the year. Crowl is averaging 11.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game this season.

Brandon Harrison, lead of the Badgers basketball team’s brand communications has pointed out some of the things that that big man has done this year to make his campaign special.

Crowl nearly notched a triple-double in the Badgers 91-79 win over Indiana on Jan. 19, securing 12 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, becoming the third 7-footer in a major conference to reach those numbers since the turn of the century.

On top of that, the big man is just two assists shy of passing Frank Kaminsky (188) for the most career assists for a 7-footer in the Big Ten in over 20 years.

 

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Former Badgers big man signs with Euroleague team

Frank Kaminsky is heading to Europe

Former Badgers big man Frank Kaminsky announced Thursday that he has signed with KK Partizan, a European professional basketball team based in Belgrade, Serbia.

Kaminsky will head overseas after spending eight seasons in the NBA with the Hornets, Suns, Rockets and Hawks. The 7-footer was selected ninth overall in the 2015 NBA Draft after four seasons with the Badgers.

Amongst the many highlights over his time in Madison, Kaminsky led the Badgers to back-to-back Final Four appearances (2014-2015) and a National Title game in 2015.

In 2015, he also won the AP National Player of the Year Award and the Naismith Player of the Year Award amongst other things.

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Former Badger big man ties the knot

After a legendary career at Wisconsin, current NBA player Frank Kaminsky and his bride Ashley Brewer tied the knot this week.

After a legendary career at Wisconsin, current NBA player Frank Kaminsky and his bride Ashley Brewer tied the knot this week. Kaminsky was a member of the Badgers from 2011-2015, leading Wisconsin men’s basketball to heights they had never reached.

Kaminsky really stepped into his own in his junior season in 2014 averaging 13.9 points per game and 6.3 rebounds, helping lead the Badgers to a Final Four birth, losing to Kentucky. Additionally, in November of that 2013-2014 campaign, he set the program record with 43 points against North Dakota.

The next season he went on to win Big Ten Player of the Year as well as the Naismith Award, averaging 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds. The Badgers went on to defeat the unbeaten Kentucky Wildcats in the Final Four and ultimately lose to Duke 68-63 in the 2015 National Championship.

Kaminsky was selected ninth overall in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets and he currently plays for the Houston Rockets.

Congratulations Frank the Tank!

Former Wisconsin MBB coach honored Wednesday

After what felt like far too long, former Badgers men’s basketball coach Bo Ryan is set to be honored Wednesday in Madison.

After what felt like far too long, former Badgers men’s basketball coach Bo Ryan is set to be honored Wednesday in Madison. Ryan along with multi-sport athlete Gary Buss will be inducted into the Madison Sports Hall of Fame Club.

Ryan was the head coach at Wisconsin for 14 full seasons (12 games in 2015) and produced 364-130 overall record, which is good for an all-time program best 73.7 percent win percentage. Additionally, Wisconsin made the NCAA Tournament in all 14 of the campaigns he was the head coach.

Most notably, the Badgers made two consecutive trips to the Final Four in 2014 and 2015, losing in the National Championship to Duke 68-63 in the latter run.

Ryan helped coach some of the best players in program history, namely Alando Tucker, Devin Harris, Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker amongst others. There’s no denying that he left a substantial impact on the program, the university, the city of Madison and the state of Wisconsin as a whole.

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