Wake Forest Athletics
Six Demon Deacons on NBA Opening Night Rosters
10/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@TieDyeNation)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Six alumni of the Wake Forest men's basketball program are on NBA opening night rosters as the 2015-16 season begins Tuesday. Al-Farouq Aminu, Tim Duncan, James Johnson, Chris Paul, Ish Smith and Jeff Teague represent the Demon Deacons in the league. Tim Duncan (1994-97) enters his 19th season with the San Antonio Spurs. The five-time NBA Champion and two-time league MVP is coming off a year where he made his 15th All-Star appearance. He enters the season as the league's active leader in career rebounds (14,644) and blocks (2,942) and is third among active players in career points (25,974).
Chris Paul (2004-05) is in his fifth season with the Los Angeles Clippers and his 11th season overall in the league. A member of the All-NBA team a year ago, he is an eight-time NBA All-Star. Paul enters the season second among active players in career assists (6,950) and sixth in career steals (1,641).
Jeff Teague (2008-09) enters his seventh season with the Atlanta Hawks. Last year he earned his first NBA All-Star Game selection as he averaged 15.9 points per game.
James Johnson (2008-09) is in his second season of his second stint with the Toronto Raptors. The seven-year NBA veteran averaged 7.9 points per game last year.
Al-Farouq Aminu (2009-10) begins his sixth NBA season with the Portland Trail Blazers after signing a free agent deal with the team this summer. Last year he averaged 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game as a member of the Dallas Mavericks.
Ish Smith (2007-10) is in his sixth NBA season after signing a free agent contract with the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday after spending the preseason with the Washington Wizards. He averaged a career-high 6.1 points per game last year while splitting the season with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Philadelphia 76ers.
The NBA season begins Tuesday with three games, including Teague and Hawks hosting Detroit and Smith and Pelicans visiting Golden State.
