Seven former Longhorns set for 2022 NBA Playoffs

AUSTIN, Texas — A total of seven former University of Texas men’s basketball players will be involved in the upcoming 2022 NBA Playoffs. LaMarcus Aldridge (Brooklyn Nets), Jarrett Allen (Cleveland Cavaliers), Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets), Jaxson Hayes (New Orleans Pelicans), Kai Jones (Charlotte Hornets), Tristan Thompson (Chicago Bulls) and P.J. Tucker (Miami Heat) are all on their team’s active postseason rosters.

Aldridge, Allen, Durant, Hayes and Jones will all compete in the NBA Play-In Tournament which will take place April 12-15 (Thursday-Friday). The 2022 NBA Playoffs will begin on Saturday, April 16.

A seven-time NBA All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection, Aldridge is in his second season with the Brooklyn Nets and his 16th year overall in the NBA. In 47 games played during the regular season, he averaged 12.9 points and 5.5 rebounds in 22.3 minutes per contest while hitting 55-percent from the floor and 87.3-percent from the free throw line. Brooklyn claimed the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference and will host Cleveland in the first game of the Play-In Tournament on Tuesday, April 12 at 6 p.m. Central on TNT.

A 2022 NBA All-Star selection, Allen is in his second season with the Cleveland Cavaliers and fifth year overall in the NBA. In 56 games played during the regular season, he averaged 16.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 32.3 minutes per contest while hitting 67.7-percent from the field and 70.8-percent from the free throw line. Cleveland earned the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference and will play at Brooklyn in the first game of the Play-In Tournament on Tuesday, April 12 at 6 p.m. Central on TNT.

A 12-time NBA All-Star, nine-time All-NBA selection and four-time NBA scoring champion, Durant is in his second season with the Brooklyn Nets and 14th year overall in the NBA. In 55 games played during the regular season, he averaged 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists in 29.9 minutes per contest while hitting 51.8-percent from the floor, including a 38.3-percent mark from three-point range, and 91.0-percent from the free throw line. Durant is a two-time NBA Champion and two-time NBA Finals MVP during his time with the Golden State Warriors (2017 and 2018). Brooklyn claimed the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference and will host Cleveland in the first game of the Play-In Tournament on Tuesday, April 12 at 6 p.m. Central on TNT.

Hayes is in his third year in the NBA, all with the New Orleans Pelicans. In 70 games played during the regular season, he averaged 9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 20.0 minutes per contest while hitting 61.6-percent from the field and 76.6-percent from the free throw line. New Orleans claimed the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference and will host San Antonio in the first game of the Play-In Tournament on Wednesday, April 13 at 8:30 p.m. Central on ESPN.

The No. 19 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Jones is in his rookie season with the Charlotte Hornets. In 21 games played during the regular season, he averaged 1.0 points and 0.5 rebounds in 3.0 minutes per contest while hitting 64.3-percent from the field. Charlotte earned the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference and will play at Atlanta in the first game of the Play-In Tournament on Wednesday, April 13 at 6 p.m. Central on ESPN.

Thompson is in his first season with the Chicago Bulls and 11th year overall in the NBA. In 23 games played for the Bulls during the regular season after also seeing action with the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers this year, he averaged 5.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in 16.3 minutes per contest while hitting 56.5-percent from the floor. Thompson averaged a double-double in The Finals while helping the Cleveland Cavaliers win the 2016 NBA Championship. Chicago earned the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference and opens its First Round series against No. 3 seed Milwaukee on Sunday, April 17.

Tucker is his 11th year overall in the NBA and his first season with the Miami Heat. In his 71 games played during the regular season, he averaged 7.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 27.9 minutes per contest while converting 41.5-percent from three-point range and 73.8-percent from the free throw line. Tucker helped the Milwaukee Bucks earn the 2021 NBA Championship. Miami claimed the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and will begin its playoff run on Sunday, April 17.

In addition to the seven former Longhorns on NBA playoff rosters, a pair of former players are assistant coaches for NBA playoff teams. Matt Hill is an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks (No. 9 seed, Eastern Conference), while Royal Ivey is an assistant coach for the Brooklyn Nets (No. 7 seed, Eastern Conference).