Deacons in the NBA
12/2/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Here is a player-by-player look at how the former Demon Deacons are performing after the first five weeks of the NBA season.
SF Al-Farouq Aminu, Los Angeles Clippers
The rookie is continuing to become more physical in his play and, as a result, has been given starts in six of his last seven games. He is still yet to record a double-double in his professional career but came close once again on Nov. 18 against Indiana when he had 12 points and eight rebounds. In his last six games, Aminu has scored in double figures four times. He leads all rookies and is third overall in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage. He has made 20 of his 38 attempts, good for 52.6 percent. The Clippers, even with the return of Blake Griffin, have fallen to 4-15 on the season.
PF/C Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
The 34-year old Duncan's play this year remains a surprise to many pundits who believed that he had lost a step in his game. He has played no fewer than 28 minutes in his last five games and has scored in double figures in four of them. His best game of the season, by far, came on Nov. 30 against Golden State. The 13-year veteran exploded for his first triple-double in the regular season since March 14, 2003, giving him seven triple-doubles (including four in postseason play) in his career. He had 15 points, tied a season-high with 18 rebounds and tied a career-high with 11 assists. The Spurs still hold the NBA's best record to date this season at 15-3.
SF/SG Josh Howard, Washington Wizards
Howard is yet to see any game action due to the extended rehab following his knee surgery. It is unknown if his self-imposed return date during the second week of December will happen, but he should make an immediate impact for the Wizards (5-12) regardless of when he returns.
F James Johnson, Chicago Bulls
The second-year forward has seen action in only three games since Nov. 11. He arguably had his best game of the season on Nov. 24, when he collected 12 points and five rebounds during 23 minutes on the court. Johnson and the Bulls currently sit just over .500 with a 9-7 record.
PG Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
Paul's phenomenal season is still showing no signs of slowing down. While his points per game average is at its lowest level since his rookie season, he is still averaging a double-double on the season with 16.1 points and 10.5 assists per game. He leads all players with 3.06 steals per game and 55 total steals and is second in the league in assists per game, trailing only Boston's Rajon Rondo. He has scored in double figures in 16 of his 18 games to date this season and has picked up seven double-doubles along the way. The Hornets (13-5) have been one of the NBA's biggest surprises this year, and the high-end play that Paul has contributed has played a big role in their great start.
PG Ishmael Smith, Houston Rockets
With Kyle Lowry healthy again, Ish has been pushed down to the backup position at point guard despite playing well in Lowry's absence. Smith has played more than 10 minutes only once in his last six games, and his four points against Toronto on Nov. 19 are a game-high during this span. For the season, the undrafted rookie is averaging 3.8 points and 2.7 assists per game with 15.2 minutes of playing time over 16 games. With the imminent return of starting point guard Aaron Brooks, Ish could see a cut in his playing time, but he has certainly earned a spot in the Rockets' rotation. Houston sits at 6-12 on the season and upset the Lakers, 109-99, on Dec. 1.
PF/C Darius Songaila, Philadelphia 76ers
Songaila has not been active for any of Philadelphia's games since he played six minutes against Toronto on Nov. 17. The 76ers currently hold a 5-13 record, so it is a bit surprising that they are not exploring all of their options on the court, including the eight-year veteran Songaila.
PG Jeff Teague, Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks' first-round pick in the 2009 draft has played in all but one of Atlanta's games so far but is yet to crack the starting lineup. Starter Mike Bibby continues to be solid, and the Hawks' success (12-7) on the court makes things unlikely to change. Teague has made the most out of his limited opportunities, though, as all of his major stats are above his levels from his rookie season. He is averaging 4.1 points and 2.2 assists per game in 13.3 minutes of action.
G L.D. Williams, Springfield Armor (NBDL)
As expected, Williams has become one of the Armor's starting five. He has played very well in the first four games of the season, leading the team in minutes played with an average of 42.3 per game. He is second on the team in rebounds per game (5.3) and third in points per game (13.5). This is a promising start for the rookie guard as he attempts to push for an NBA invite next season. The Armor are 2-2 on the season.
Deacons Playing in Other Professional Leagues
Randolph Childress - San Severo (Italy)
Taron Downey - Nantes (France)
Justin Gray - PAOK (Greece)
Jamaal Levy - Lanus (Argentina)
Chas McFarland - Franca (Brazil)
Tony Rutland - Morrow Disciples (UBA)
Cameron Stanley - Halifax Rainmen (Canada)
Trent Strickland - Antwerp (Belgium)
Kyle Visser - NY Phantoms (Germany)
David Weaver - Ilysiakos Athens (Greece)
Eric Williams - Pepsi Caserta (Italy)
