Wake Forest Athletics
Deacons in the NBA - Week 1
11/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 4, 2010
By Currie McFayden, WakeForestSports.com
Here is a player-by-player look at how the former Demon Deacons are faring after the first week of the NBA season.
SF Al-Farouq Aminu, Los Angeles Clippers
As expected, Aminu began the regular season coming off the bench for Los Angeles (1-4) as a backup to starter Ryan Gomes. After seeing very limited playing time in the first two games, he saw 23 minutes of action against Dallas, followed by 11 and nine minutes in his next two games, respectively. Overall, the No. 8 overall pick from this year's draft is averaging 3.2 points per game as well as 2.4 rebounds per game and has seen an average of just under 10 minutes of playing time through the first five contests.
PF/C Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
Year after year, the reliable veteran just keeps moving along, and so far, this season has been no exception. Showing very few signs of aging despite being 34 years old, Duncan has powered his way through the Spurs' first four opponents en route to a double-double average of 17.3 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. His most impressive game came on Nov. 3 against Phoenix; the former No. 1 overall pick had 25 points and 17 rebounds in 33 minutes of action. His strong start has quieted many of the critics who expected him to begin slowing down this season, yet he is clearly on pace to be a member of the All-Star team barring injury. Through four games, San Antonio has a record of 3-1.
SF/SG Josh Howard, Washington Wizards
Howard will continue to miss time due to the knee surgery he had in April. Without him, the Wizards have posted a record of 1-2 behind the fantastic play of rookie John Wall. On Nov. 2 against the 76ers, Wall fell just one steal short of a triple-double in only his third career game. When Howard returns, he will enjoy less pressure than in years prior thanks to the presence of the dynamic rookie.
F James Johnson, Chicago Bulls
A first-round pick in the 2009 draft, Johnson has been active for only two of Chicago's three games so far this season. He has averaged 15 minutes of play and five points in those two games, and his extended amount of playing time can be credited to the absence of Carlos Boozer, who is still recovering from a finger injury. Johnson's most impressive game was on Oct. 30 against Detroit, where he posted nine rebounds and eight points in only 19 minutes of playing time. When Boozer returns, though, it is hard to imagine that the former Deacon will see that much time in a game. The Bulls have gone 2-1 in their first three games.
PG Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
The explosive point guard has continued his momentum from the preseason into the regular season, and he is off to one of the best starts of his career. New Orleans (4-0) can breathe a sigh of relief as it seems their All-NBA leader has returned to his old form. After averaging double-doubles in his past three seasons, Paul is just under that level so far this year, with 21.3 points and nine assists per game. Although it is only through four games, Paul also has the highest rebounding average of his career at 6.3 per game. In the Hornets' season opener against Milwaukee on Oct. 27, the point guard had an amazing 16 assists to go along with his 17 points.
PG Ishmael Smith, Houston Rockets
"Ish" started the regular season as the third point guard for the Rockets (0-4) behind Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry and has seen limited action in only two of Houston's four games to date. The rookie saw his most extensive playing time against Golden State on Oct. 27, when he had two points and one assist in eight minutes of playing time. For the season, he is averaging one point, one assist and just over six minutes per game.
PF/C Darius Songaila, Philadelphia 76ers
Songaila has played in just one of Philadelphia's first five games this season and has been listed as a "coach's decision" for the reason that he has not competed. In his only game of the season, against Miami on Oct. 27, the former Deacon played just five minutes and did not notch any tracked stats. The 76ers are 1-4 to begin the season.
PG Jeff Teague, Atlanta Hawks
The 2009 first-round pick has finally recovered from his ankle injury suffered in the preseason and has played in each of Atlanta's five games. He has averaged 4.8 points in 14.8 minutes of playing time per game and has flashed some of the ability that he showed last year. There are rumors that Teague could replace Mike Bibby in the starting lineup at point guard, but as long as the Hawks (5-0) continue winning, personnel moves seem unlikely.
G L.D. Williams, Springfield Armor (NBDL)
One of the best defenders in school history, Williams was selected by the Armor in the second round of the NBDL Draft on November 1. Drafted with the likes of Scottie Reynolds from Villanova and Nick Fazekas from Nevada, the rookie will now try to impress enough this season to earn an NBA roster invite next year.
Deacons Playing Overseas
Randolph Childress - Ford Sassari (Italy)
Justin Gray - PAOK (Greece)
Jamaal Levy - Lanus (Argentina)
Chas McFarland - Franca (Brazil)
Cameron Stanley - Halifax Rainmen (Canada)
Trent Strickland - Antwerp (Belgium)
Kyle Visser - NY Phantoms (Germany)
David Weaver - Ilysiakos Athens (Greece)
