Wake Forest Athletics
Deacons in the NBA
1/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 30, 2014
By Jenn Leser, WakeForestSports.com
Al-Farouq Aminu
After signing a one-year extension with the New Orleans Pelicans over the summer, Aminu has been a solid contributor at small forward, averaging 7.7 points and 6.8 rebounds in 26.3 minutes per game. The fourth-year veteran has played in 44 games for the Pelicans, starting 43 of them. Aminu scored a season-high 14 points against Chicago on Dec. 2nd. With injuries to Ryan Anderson, Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans, Aminu could see his playing time continue to increase. The Pelicans are 19-26 on the season and 12th in the Western Conference, six games out of a playoff spot.
Tim Duncan
Duncan has showed few signs of slowing down as the 37-year old has helped guide the San Antonio Spurs to the second-best record in the Western Conference. The 17-year power forward has averaged 14.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists through 43 games this season. Duncan finished in sixth place in the NBA All-Star Western Conference front court voting. The Spurs are 33-13 on the year and three games back of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the West's top spot.
Josh Howard
Coming off a season-ending knee injury in 2012-13, Howard signed with the Austin Toros, the D-League affiliate of the San Antonio Spurs and has been working his way back towards the NBA. After overcoming injuries that saw him tear both ACLs and the meniscus in his knee, the small forward has played in 15 games for the Toros, starting 13, and has averaged 15.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. "I'm in this league because I've been given an opportunity to show people that I can still play basketball," Howard told NBA.com. "And I'm here because I'm still having fun."
Sekou Smith's Hang Time Blog - Josh Howard Won't Give Up The Dream
James Johnson
Johnson spent the preseason with the Atlanta Hawks but was waived in October, before signing with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the D-League in November. The fifth-year power forward signed a rest-of-season contract with the Memphis Grizzlies in December after the team lost forward Quincy Pondexter to injury. Johnson has been a solid pickup for the Grizzlies, averaging 7.9 points and 4.5 rebounds through 21 games with two starts. Memphis is battling for a playoff spot in the Western Conference and is currently ninth at 24-20, one game out of the eighth spot.
Chris Paul
After signing a five-year max extension with the Los Angeles Clippers this past offseason, Paul has continued to be one of the best point guards in the league, averaging 19.6 points, 11.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game. The ninth-year veteran separated his right shoulder on Jan. 3 and hopes to return in mid-February. The 2013 All-Star Game MVP finished third in Western Conference back court voting but could be replaced for injury reasons. The Clippers are awaiting Pauls' return as they battle for the top spot in the Western Conference. L.A. is 33-15 on the year and one game back of San Antonio and Portland for the second spot in the West.
Ishmael Smith
In his first season for the Phoenix Suns, Smith has averaged 3.5 points and 2.4 assists in 33 games, three shy of his career-high in games played for a season. The fourth-year point guard has seen his playing time increase in recent games following an injury to Eric Bledsoe, which led to Kevin Durant calling Smith one of the fastest players in the NBA. Smith had eight points and eight assists in a 116-100 win over Milwaukee in early January. The Suns are 27-18 on the year and currently sixth in Western Conference playoff standings.
Jeff Teague
After signing a four-year extension with Atlanta this past offseason, Teague has developed into one of the top point guards in the Eastern Conference. The fifth-year player has averaged 16.2 points and 7.3 assists through 42 games. He ranks in the top 10 in the league in assists per game. Teague recently suffered an ankle injury that has caused him to miss the past two games. He is expected to return soon, possibly for Friday's game at Philadelphia. The Hawks are 23-21 on the year and are fourth in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta is just a half-game back of Toronto for the third spot in the East.
Ty Walker
Walker is in his second professional season and has flourished with the Maine Red Claws in the D-League this year. The 7-0 center has averaged 6.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game for the Boston Celtics' affiliate. He has played in 24 games with 17 starts and was recently ranked among the top 30 D-League prospects. Walker, who met with three NBA teams during the D-League Showcase in mid-January, spent the 2012-13 season playing overseas in France and Poland before returning stateside this past fall.
Deacons Playing Professionally Overseas
Taron Downey, Etha (Cyprus)
Justin Gray, Pertevniyal (Turkey)
C.J. Harris, Ludwigsburg (Germany)
Jamaal Levy, MH Basket (Argentina)
Chas McFarland, Akita NH (Japan)
Nikita Mescheriakov, Tsmoki-Minsk (Belarus)
Darius Songaila, Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania)
Kyle Visser, NY Phantoms (Germany)
David Weaver, Benfica (Portugal)
L.D. Williams, Bourg (France)
