Wolverines in the NBA: Jordan Poole back in the Warriors' starting lineup, shining alongside Steph Curry, Klay Thompson
Former Michigan Wolverines basketball guard Jordan Poole was moved to a bench role for the Golden State Warriors once star Klay Thompson returned from his injury, but he was brought into the starting lineup for the first time alongside Thompson and Steph Curry against his hometown Milwaukee Bucks March 12 in San Francisco.
He scored 30 points on five made three-pointers and added six rebounds, five assists and one steal in the 122-109 win. That marked the former Michigan guard’s seventh 30-point outing of the season and eighth of his career. In a six-game stretch from March 3-12, Poole averaged 24.8 points and shot a red-hot 63.6 percent from long range. He’s now scored 20 or more points in six straight, which is the longest such streak of his career.
Poole’s classmate at Michigan, Isaiah Livers, is in a different situation, but he’s finding a groove as well. The Detroit Pistons forward was recovering from a foot injury he suffered last March but is finally in the lineup and carving out a role for himself with his young but talented squad.
Livers scored nine points on 3-of-6 shooting from long range in a career-high 25 minutes in an overtime win over the Atlanta Hawks March 7, and posted nine points and five rebounds in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers a few games later March 13, setting a new career-high with 27 minutes.
Here’s a look at every former Michigan basketball player in the NBA, specifically honing in on the last week of action
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Ignas Brazdeikis (Played at Michigan from 2018-19), F, Orlando Magic
Is currently down on a G League assignment … Seeing 9.1 minutes of action per game in 31 appearances for the 18-51 Magic … Averaging 3.2 points and 1.3 rebounds per contest, while shooting 40.7 percent overall and 30.8 percent from beyond the arc.
Trey Burke (2011-13), G, Dallas Mavericks
Shoulder injury held him out from early Feb. to early March, before he returned March 5 … Put up four points (1-3 FG, 0-1 3PT), one rebound and one assist in a 107-77 loss to the New York Knicks March 9 … Posted 15 points (6-11 FG, 1-2 3PT), one rebound and one assist in a 113-100 victory over the Houston Rockets March 11, marking his seventh double-digit scoring night of the season … Registered two points (1-4 FG, 0-1 3PT) and one assist in a 95-92 win over the Boston Celtics March 13.
Played in 36 clashes for the 42-26 Mavericks, posting 5.6 points, 1.4 assists and 0.8 rebounds per night while shooting 41.6 percent from the field and 32.4 percent from long range.
Tim Hardaway Jr. (2010-13), G, Dallas Mavericks
Suffered a foot injury Jan. 25 and had surgery … No timetable for the former Michigan guard’s return, which is unlikely to be this season … Started 20 of his 42 games for the 42-26 Mavericks … Averaging 14.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per outing, while connecting on 39.4 percent of his overall looks and 33.6 percent of his triple tries.
Caris LeVert (2012-16), G, Cleveland Cavaliers
The former Michigan guard competed in four contests with one start for the 38-29 Cavaliers, before he was sidelined by a right foot injury Feb. 15 … Expected to return soon … Averaged 18.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game while starting 39 tilts for the Pacers before being traded.
Isaiah Livers (2017-21), F, Detroit Pistons
Drained three triples on six attempts and registered nine points in a career-high 25 minutes during the Pistons’ 113-110 overtime win over the Atlanta Hawks March 7 … Scored two points (1-2 FG, 0-1 3PT) and added three rebounds in a 114-108 loss to the Chicago Bulls March 9 … Contributed three rebounds and one block in a 114-103 loss to the Boston Celtics March 11 … Posted nine points (3-5 FG, 3-4 3PT), five rebounds and one assist in a 106-102 setback to the Los Angeles Clippers March 13.
The former Michigan forward made nine appearances, averaging 3.7 points and 1.9 rebounds in 13.3 minutes per game for the 18-50 Pistons … Shooting 37.5 percent from the field and an identical mark from long range.
Jordan Poole (2017-19), G, Golden State Warriors
Exploded for 32 points to tie his season-high on 11-of-19 shooting from the field and 8-of-12 from long range with three rebounds and seven assists in a 131-124 loss to the Denver Nuggets March 7 … Recorded 20 points (8-13 FG, 4-6 3PT), three rebounds and four assists in a 112-97 win over the Los Angeles Clippers March 8 … Put up 21 points (8-13 FG, 4-7 3PT), five rebounds and seven assists in a 113-102 victory over the Denver Nuggets March 10 … Poured in 30 points (9-16 FG, 5-10 3PT), adding six rebounds and five assists, in a 122-109 win over the Milwaukee Bucks March 12.
The former Michigan guard opened 37 of his 62 outings for the 46-22 Warriors, tallying 16.9 points, 3.6 assists and 3.2 rebounds per clash while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 35.9 percent on three-point attempts.
Duncan Robinson (2014-18), F, Miami Heat
Posted 13 points (5-9 FG, 3-7 3PT), one rebound and two assists in a 123-106 win over the Houston Rockets March 7 … Went off for 22 points (7-15 FG, 6-11 3PT) — his highest point total since Jan. 26 — with three rebounds and two assists in a 111-90 setback to the Phoenix Suns March 9 … Recorded nine points (3-6 FG, 3-6 3PT), one rebound and one assist in a 117-105 triumph over the Cleveland Cavaliers March 11 … Put up three points (1-6 FG, 1-6 3PT) and four assists in a 113-104 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves March 12.
The former Michigan sharpshooter started 61 of his 66 games for the 45-24 Heat … Registering 11.2 points, 2.8 boards and 1.7 assists per tilt and shooting 39.9 percent overall and 36.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Nik Stauskas (2012-14), G, Boston Celtics
Did not post any statistics in his Celtics debut that included one minute of action March 9, a 115-101 loss to the Charlotte Hornets … Played two minutes and made one free throw in a 114-103 win over the Detroit Pistons March 11.
The former Michigan guard was signed by the Celtics March 4, after playing in the G League … Appeared in two contests for his new team, which has a 41-28 record … Is 0-of-1 from the field but made one free throw with Boston … Played two games for the Miami Heat earlier in the season, totaling 11 points, three rebounds and one assist in 24 minutes.
Franz Wagner (2019-21), F, Orlando Magic
Put up six points (3-8 FG, 0-4 4PT), one rebound and two assists in a 102-99 loss to the Phoenix Suns March 8 … Posted 15 points (6-13 FG, 1-4 3PT), six rebounds and one assist in a 108-102 win over the New Orleans Pelicans March 9 … Registered eight points (3-10 FG, 0-4 3PT), six rebounds and four assists in a 118-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves March 11 … Tallied six points (2-6 FG, 0-1 3PT), seven rebounds and one assist in an overtime loss to the Philadelphia 76ers March 13.
The former Michigan wing opened all 69 contests for the 18-51 Magic … Second on the squad with 15.2 points per night, and adds 4.7 rebounds and three assists … Shoots 46.5 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from three-point range … Leads all NBA rookies in points and ranks fourth in both rebounds and assists.
Moritz Wagner (2015-18), F/C, Orlando Magic
Tallied 12 points (3-9 FG, 2-6 3PT) and seven rebounds in a 102-99 loss to the Phoenix Suns March 8 … Recorded nine points (3-4 FG), nine rebounds and three assists in a 108-102 win over the New Orleans Pelicans March 9 … Registered 18 points (5-8 FG, 2-4 4PT), six rebounds and one assist in a 118-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves March 11 … Put up 10 points (4-8 FG, 2-4 3PT), one rebound and one assist in a 116-114 overtime loss to the Philadelphia 76ers March 13.
The former Michigan forward appeared in 50 tilts off the bench for the 18-51 Magic, recording 8.2 points and 2.9 rebounds per outing … Connecting on 50.2 percent of his overall shots and 33.8 percent of his three-point attempts.
