30 former Kentucky players took part in the NBA preseason
NBA preseason just wrapped up in preparation for meaningful games beginning Tuesday. With opening day rosters due by Monday, teams are whittling down the list of who gets to stay in the league not prefaced with a G.
Kentucky had 30 former players take part in the 2023 NBA preseason ranging from All-Stars to rookies to fringe roster guys hoping to make the team. Let’s take a quick look at how former ‘Cats performed before the real games start.
The Rookies
Two of Kentucky’s four rookies got a little banged up during their first NBA preseason. Chris Livingston sat out the Bucks’ first game with a tweaked ankle and Cason Wallace hit the sidelines early with a sprained toe. Thankfully, both injuries are minor and should not rule either one of them out when the season begins.
Wallace, who could be in line for meaningful minutes this year for the Oklahoma City Thunder, averaged 7.3 points in four games. It is just a matter of time before he gets comfortable enough to be a major contributor in this league. Until then, he is already coming up with the same kind of steals that lead to breakaway dunks that he showcased at Kentucky.
Meanwhile, Livingston averaged five points in a little under 10 minutes per game over three games. He also put together a couple of highlight plays including a nice backdoor cut that led to a dunk and a strong and-one while battling for an offensive rebound.
Jacob Toppin, who was dealing with injuries himself that kept him out of the Summer League, saw some action for the New York Knicks during their exhibitions. The Knickerbockers essentially swapped out one Toppin for another, as older brother Obi is now with the Pacers after spending three years in the Big Apple.
Jacob’s best preseason highlight came in the form of an alley-oop dunk, showing that leaping ability translates just fine from college to the pros.
Oscar Tshiebwe only saw a handful of minutes for the Pacers, but he did dance while wearing a silly onesie, so there’s that.
The Stars
You will probably grow tired of hearing this, but this is Devin Booker‘s year. With a new cast of talent around him during his prime, Booker is set up for a memorable run this season. He averaged 16.3 points in reduced minutes but had a +16.7 while on the court. He is an MVP sleeper candidate.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander keeps doing SGA things. After leading Canada to an historic run in the FIBA World Cup, he is back in action for the Thunder ready to pick up where he left off. ESPN ranks him as the best former Kentucky player this season and the 8th best overall player in the league. There is little doubt he won’t live up to the hype.
Defending NBA Champion, Jamal Murray, has refilled his quiver of arrows and is ready to make a run at a title repeat. He looked on target for the Nuggets as his knee injury is clearly fully healed and then some.
Anthony Davis just wants to stay on the court. The talented big man has had nothing but bad luck after winning a title with the Lakers in Disney World during the pandemic. Now 30 years old with his veteran Laker running mate, LeBron James, turning 38, the window for another ring with this squad is closing. This season, Davis is rumored to take more 3s. He went 6-13 from behind the arc in the preseason to keep that momentum going.
The Fringe Players
Surprisingly, TyTy Washington finds himself on his fourth team in less than a year. Washington was a hot potato this offseason, with his rights bouncing between multiple hands before finally settling with the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks also brought in point guards Cam Payne and a player you may have heard of, Damian Lillard, so Washington is likely fighting for a third-string spot. If he doesn’t make the opening-day roster, he’ll most assuredly ball out in the G-League.
Olivier Sarr is back with the Thunder on a two-way deal. He averaged 4.8 points and 4.3 rebounds during the preseason and while he may not spend much time on the active roster, the coaches in Oklahoma City have confidence in the former Kentucky Frenchman.
Brandon Boston Jr. played just one minute of preseason action due to a knee injury. Now in his third year with the LA Clippers, Boston hasn’t really found a role on this team aside from a rare scoring outburst. He is rumored to be part of a would-be trade for James Harden if the Clippers and Sixers can make a deal.
After a strong outing with South Sudan in the FIBA World Cup, helping his native country advance to the Olympics for the first time ever, Wenyen Gabriel relocated coasts from Los Angeles to Boston as he looks to make the Celtics’ roster. In the preseason, he averaged 8.2 points per game before getting waived.
Finally, shoutout to Mychal Mulder still grinding away. Now with the Grizzlies, the grizzly veteran keeps hanging around looking to make a roster once again.
2023 NBA Preseason Stats
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | MIN | +/- |
| Tyler Herro (MIA) | 3 | 21.7 | 3 | 4.3 | 0 | 0 | 1.3 | 23.6 | 0.7 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN) | 3 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 0.7 | 1 | 2.3 | 20.6 | 3 |
| Devin Booker (PHX) | 3 | 16.3 | 1 | 3.7 | 1 | 0 | 1.3 | 17.8 | 16.7 |
| Bam Adebayo (MIA) | 4 | 16 | 5.3 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 1 | 2 | 27.4 | -4 |
| Tyrese Maxey (PHI) | 4 | 16 | 2.3 | 5.5 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 25.9 | 0.8 |
| De’Aaron Fox (SAC) | 4 | 15.5 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 24.4 | -3 |
| Immanuel Quickley (NYK) | 2 | 15 | 0.5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2.5 | 22.7 | -10.5 |
| Johnny Juzang (UTA) | 1 | 14.7 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 14.5 | 0 |
| Anthony Davis (LAL) | 5 | 14.4 | 5.4 | 2 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 18.1 | 5.4 |
| Shaedon Sharpe (POR) | 4 | 14 | 4.5 | 2.8 | 1 | 0 | 2.3 | 25.2 | -6.3 |
| PJ Washington (CHA) | 4 | 13.5 | 5.5 | 1.3 | 0.8. | 1 | 2.5 | 25.4 | 2.5 |
| Julius Randle (NYK) | 3 | 12.7 | 7.3 | 1.3 | 0 | 0 | 1.3 | 21.6 | 4.3 |
| Jamal Murray (DEN) | 4 | 11.8 | 2 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 1 | 21.5 | 6 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) | 2 | 11 | 3.5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1.5 | 23.3 | 12 |
| Kevin Knox (POR) | 2 | 10.2 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 1.5 | 10.2 | 2.5 |
| Nick Richards (CHA) | 4 | 9.8 | 8.3 | 0.5 | 0 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 21.3 | -8 |
| Malik Monk (SAC) | 5 | 9.4 | 1.6 | 4.2 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 20 | -2 |
| Keldon Johnson (SAS) | 3 | 9 | 5 | 2.7 | 1 | 0.3 | 2 | 22.5 | 11.7 |
| Wenyen Gabriel (BOS) | 3 | 8.2 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 8.2 | -1.3 |
| Cason Wallace (OKC) | 4 | 7.3 | 2.8 | 2 | 1.5 | 0 | 2 | 19.7 | 1.8 |
| Trey Lyles (SAC) | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0.7 | 1 | 0.3 | 0 | 17.2 | -9 |
| TyTy Washington (MIL) | 4 | 6.3 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 1 | 0 | 0.8 | 13.8 | 4.8 |
| Jarred Vanderbilt (LAL) | 1 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 13.5 | 5 |
| Chris Livingston (MIL) | 3 | 5 | 1.3 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 9.2 | -2 |
| Olivier Sarr (OKC) | 4 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 13.5 | -10.3 |
| Jacob Toppin (NYK) | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9.7 | -2 |
| Isaiah Jackson (IND) | 4 | 3 | 3.8 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 12.1 | -4.3 |
| Oscar Tshiebwe (IND) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.7 | -2.5 |
| Mychal Mulder (MEM) | 2 | 1.5 | 1 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | -6 |
| Brandon Boston Jr. (LAC) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.7 | 0 |
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