Tag: 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

2 former LSU players to begin play at NBA Salt Lake City Summer League

Javonte Smart and KJ Williams will be in action this week.

A pair of former LSU basketball players are beginning their runs at the NBA Salt Lake City Summer League.

[autotag]Javonte Smart[/autotag] and [autotag]KJ Williams[/autotag] will compete in games on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday before the league moves to Las Vegas next week.

Smart, who went undrafted in 2021, will play for the Philadelphia 76ers. He spent the 2022-23 season with the G League’s Birmingham Squadron. Williams, who went undrafted in this year’s draft after earning All-SEC honors at LSU, is playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The two will face off against each other when the 76ers play the Thunder at 6 p.m. CT on Thursday night. That game will be televised on ESPN2. The games Monday and Wednesday will be on NBA TV.

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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.

See Cam Thomas’ interesting response to LeBron comparison after back-to-back 40-point games

“I would have been a little bit more excited if it was Kobe,” Thomas joked after becoming the youngest player to score 44 in consecutive games after LeBron.

[autotag]Cam Thomas[/autotag] continued to take the NBA by storm on Monday night, pouring in 47 more points against the Los Angeles Clippers.

It’s his second-straight 40+ point game after he dropped 44 on the Lakers over the weekend. Thomas became the second-youngest player to hit the 40 mark in back-to-back games, joining the company of LeBron James.

Thomas was asked about that after the game and had an interesting response. Thomas acknowledged the achievement but said he would have been “a little bit more excited” if it was Kobe Bryant.

 

Thomas’ respect for Bryant comes as no surprise. Thomas wore 24 at LSU and continues to wear it with the Nets.

A former five-star from Virginia, Thomas has now attracted a national spotlight with the Nets. He’s a known commodity now, and his performance over the next few weeks will be interesting.

This could just be a flash in the pan, or Thomas could become the NBA’s next elite scorer. With the Nets’ recent trade of Kyrie Irving, there’s an opportunity for Thomas to make his mark.

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Former LSU basketball star Cam Thomas scores 44 points for Nets against Wizards

The former Tigers standout is emerging as a scoring threat at the pro level.

[autotag]Cam Thomas[/autotag] was known as a “bucket getter” at LSU, and a few years into his NBA career, he’s beginning to make a mark as a pro.

Thomas, a former five-star recruit, was a late first-round pick by the Brooklyn Nets in 2021 following one season at LSU. He’s seen more playing time as of late, and the Nets are being rewarded for it with Thomas dropping 44 on the Wizards Saturday night.

Thomas has played over 20 minutes in three straight games, averaging 28 points per contest in that span.

Thomas came off the bench and helped spark a Nets comeback win.

It was Thomas’ fourth time crossing the 20-point mark this year and the 14th time in his career. In his lone season with the Tigers, Thomas averaged 23 per night and helped Will Wade’s Tigers pick up a win in the NCAA Tournament.

The Nets’ recent trade of Kyrie Irving could create even more opportunities for Thomas.

Thomas told the media he always had the ability that was on display last night. How the Nets use Thomas will be something to watch moving forward.

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