Tag: Frank Kaminsky

The Wisconsin Badger family reacts to the Milwaukee Bucks’ NBA title

Some of the best reactions from current and former Badgers to the Bucks’ Game 6 win last night:

The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns 105-98 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals last night, completing their quest for the franchise’s first championship in 50 years.

The Wisconsin Badger and Milwaukee sports family and fandom parallel each other in so many ways. And with this late-summer quest for a championship, we’ve seen numerous members of the Wisconsin Badger family express their support for the Bucks.

Some are Wisconsin natives, some just gained a Wisconsin identity through playing football or basketball for the Badgers. But in either situation, the feeling of elation was clear after last night’s win.

From Melvin Gordon, to Josh Gasser, to Tyler Beach and more, here are some of the best reactions from current and former Badgers to the Bucks’ NBA title:

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WATCH: Wisconsin legend Frank Kaminsky scores his first NBA Finals points

Wisconsin legend Frank Kaminsky just scored in the NBA Finals

For the first time in 14 years, a former Wisconsin Badger has scored in the NBA Finals.

Michael Finley did it with the San Antonio Spurs back in 2007. But this time, it’s Frank Kaminsky getting on the board with the Phoenix Suns.

For Bucks fans, this won’t be a highlight that brings as much joy as it normally would. But the long drought of no Wisconsin impact on the NBA Finals is officially over.

With tonight already being Game 3, we’ll see how much longer we get to watch Kaminsky play on this stage. Or with that, focus can turn to who will have the next shot at this accomplishment.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

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WATCH: Frank Kaminsky discusses his journey from Wisconsin to the NBA Finals

Watch Wisconsin legend Frank Kaminsky talk about his journey from the Kohl Center to the NBA Finals

For Wisconsin fans, the story of the NBA Finals up to this point is probably two disappointing performances by the Milwaukee Bucks and the importance of Game 3 in Milwaukee.

But for Badger fans who don’t have a rooting interest in the series, the fun has come from watching Wisconsin legend Frank Kaminsky become the first former Badger to play in the NBA finals since Michael Finley in 2007.

Kaminsky hasn’t done much in the series, playing just five total minutes and not recording a statistic. As I laid out a few days ago, however, an injury to Dario Saric may bring more minutes to the former Badger as the series continues.

Related: Photos: Wisconsin legend Frank Kaminsky throughout the 2021 NBA Playoffs

Aside from his minutes situation, Kaminsky spoke before the Suns’ Game 2 victory about his journey from the Kohl Center to the NBA Finals.

Kaminsky and the Suns will be back in action Sunday night in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

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An injury on the Suns could give NBA Finals playing time to a former Badger

We may soon see a Badger legend play significant minutes in this year’s NBA Finals

The Wisconsin basketball program hasn’t been known recently for producing NBA All-Stars and seeing their players play on an NBA Finals stage.

That still isn’t the case this season, with Wisconsin legend Frank Kaminsky still sitting as the only former Badger in the league. Well, even so, his Phoenix Suns have put quite the run together this season and now sit up 1-0 in the NBA Finals.

Kaminsky saw action in his team’s 118-105 Game 1 victory last night, playing 4 total minutes and not recording any stats.

His playing time was largely due to an injury sustained by backup big man Dario Saric. It was announced today Saric suffered a torn ACL and would miss the remainder of the series.

What does this mean for Kaminsky? Well, the Suns are thinned at the big man position and there are significant bench minutes now up for grabs.

We could see SF Abdel Nader, SF Torrey Craig and others take much of those minutes if the Suns decide to go small and counter the Bucks’ Brook Lopez-less lineup. But if the team wants to stay big and find a Deandre Ayton backup, Kaminsky may end up being that guy.

The image will become clear tomorrow night when the two teams take the court for Game 2.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

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Suns forward Frank Kaminsky is quietly having his most efficient NBA season for a contender

The former Badger is having a career year in efficiency

The numbers may not jump off of the page at you when it comes to per game averages for the lone Wisconsin Badger in the NBA. In his second year with Phoenix, Frank Kaminsky has put up 6.5 points and 3.7 rebounds while carving out a bench role.

While the per game averages are nowhere near career-highs, this has been one of Kaminsky’s most productive seasons in the association. The 2015 Wooden Award winner is playing on the best team of his NBA career, and helped Phoenix end their playoff drought and hover in the western conference’s top three all year long. The Suns currently sit at 47-19, just one game back of first place behind Utah.

Could the former Badger average double-digit scoring on a number of losing teams? Sure, but so could many rotation players on winning NBA franchises. It’s been a more impressive feat to solidify consistent minutes on a top-five team in the league all while having his most efficient year as a pro.

While playing with a number of high-level scorers in the valley, Kaminsky has taken advantage of his open looks. The former Badger is shooting a career-high 39% from three. He also currently has career-highs in effective field goal percentage and standard field goal percentage.

Kaminsky has filled in wherever the Suns need him, whether it be in his 13 starts where he made up for multiple injuries throughout the roster, or in his now rock solid bench role. This is a golden chance for the Wisconsin legend to get past the first round for the first time in his pro career. After a long drought, the NBA playoffs will finally include a Badger on a true contender.

Wisconsin legend Frank Kaminsky returns to the Phoenix Suns

The former Badger is back in Phoenix

With the NBA season set to tip off tonight, the Badgers have a Wisconsin legend back in the league. The lone Badger on an NBA roster is 2015 Naismith College Player of the Year Frank Kaminsky.

After being let go of by the Phoenix Suns this offseason, “Frank the Tank” signed a non-guaranteed minimum deal with the Sacramento Kings. He was then waived by Sacramento this past Friday, and quickly scooped up by Phoenix.

Back with the Suns for opening night, Kaminsky will look to play a role off the bench for a team that suddenly has expectations out west. With the addition of star PG Chris Paul, who is coming off of a resurgent year in Oklahoma City where he was able to stay healthy and lead a young team to the playoffs, the Suns are expected by many to make the playoffs for the first time since 2009-2010.

The former Badger averaged 9.7 points and over four rebounds per game with the Suns a year ago, and has the chance to help support the stars in leading them back to the postseason this year.

Wisconsin’s new all-time block list after Nate Reuvers surpassed Ethan Happ last night

During the Wisconsin Badgers’ game last night against Rhode Island, senior forward Nate Reuvers recorded three blocks and passed…

During the Wisconsin Badgers’ win last night against Rhode Island, senior forward Nate Reuvers recorded three blocks and passed Ethan Happ for first place on the school’s all-time list.

He moved into possession of first place after passing Happ, Frank Kaminsky and several other Badger greats just this season.

Related: Wisconsin handles Rhode Island in a game dominated by whistles

Here is the school’s updated all-time block leaderboard:

Frank Kaminsky returns from injury for the Phoenix Suns at the Orlando bubble

The former Badger is back in NBA action

The only former Badger currently in the NBA is back on the floor with the Phoenix Suns. Frank Kaminsky returned to action this week in two scrimmage games with the Suns as they get ready for the NBA restart in Orlando.

The former Badger is finally healthy after a year where he battled nagging injuries. Kaminsky last played in an NBA game on December 28, and has been held out since with a right patella stress fracture. In two scrimmages, he was right back in the Phoenix rotation and will certainly be a key part of the Suns bench as they look to steal the final playoff sport in the west.

The former Wooden Award Winner has averaged 9 points in just around 19 minutes per game so far at Disney World. In the first Suns win of the Orlando bubble, a 101-88 triumph over Utah, Kaminsky was plus 10 during his time on the floor. It all starts for real this Thursday, July 30, when seeding games begin.

One of Wisconsin basketball’s all-time greatest players named to the Big Ten Network All-Decade First Team

Frank the Tank with a well-deserved honor

After a tremendous decade of Wisconsin basketball, awards from the Big Ten Network are flowing in. Frank Kaminsky was named to the Big Ten All-Decade First Team this morning. Kaminsky joined Trey Burke of Michigan and Draymond Green of Michigan State as the first three players named to the squad. The Big Ten Network is announcing the other two players later today.

Kaminsky had a legendary career that culminated in his jersey being retired at the Kohl Center. The current member of the Phoenix Suns led the Badgers to back-to-back Final Fours, a national championship game appearance, and was named National Player of the Year in 2015. One of Wisconsin’s greatest players of all time is extremely deserving of such a prestigious honor from the Big Ten Network.

A healthy Frank Kaminsky and the Phoenix Suns have an outside shot at the playoffs thanks to the NBA return format

With the NBA return format, the only former Badger and his team have a new shot at the playoffs

[lawrence-newsletter]NBA fans woke up to exciting news this morning when ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski dropped the the three words every fan has been waiting for: “The NBA’s back.”

Phoenix Suns big man Frank Kaminsky, the lone Badger currently in the NBA, has a new chance to play this season after he had been held out since the end of December with a right patella stress fracture. The former Badger last played an NBA game on December 28, and was having a bounce back season in the valley of the sun before the injury issues.

Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the format will invite 22 teams to Orlando, and the lucky 13th team in the Western Conference happens to be the Suns. Phoenix should have Kaminsky back when the league resumes play in late July as ArizonaSports.com reported he was fully cleared for basketball activity back on March 11. 

So, do the Suns and Kaminsky have any chance of making a playoff run in the new format? The answer is still a slim one, but considerably more of a chance than they did before the NBA suspended his season. The Suns sit 2.5 games outside of the 9 spot with eight regular season games to be played in Orlando. If Phoenix were to land the 9 spot and be within four games of the Western Conference 8 seed, then the Suns would be involved in a play-in tournament for the final playoff spot.

The NBA is all but back, and the only former Badger in the league will be able to play his first games since December. Kaminsky’s Suns will still need a ton of help to get into the NBA playoffs.