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#ProDeacs: NBA All-Star Break Update
3/6/2021 9:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Chris Paul is set to play in his 11th All-Star game this weekend.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Six former Wake Forest men's basketball players highlight former Deacs on NBA rosters heading into the 2021 All-Star break, highlighted by Chris Paul's 11th career All-Star Game appearance.
Find out below how all the #ProDeacs have fared during the first half of the season.
Paul has led the Suns both on and off the court in the first half of his stint with the franchise. Currently, the Suns hold the second seed in the Western Conference and the second-best mark in the league at 24-11. The start is the franchise's best start since the 2007-08 season.
His 8.8 assists per game stands fifth in the NBA, while sitting second in the Association in free throw percentage (95.4). Additionally, Paul is just one of four players to shoot over 48 percent from the field while dishing out at least eight assists a game.
2020-21 Per Game Averages Through March 6
John Collins- Atlanta Hawks (4th season): The 19th pick in the 2017 NBA draft has started in all 36 games this season, scoring double-digits in all but four games. In the month of February, Collins posted four double-doubles, highlighted by a 34-point and 10-rebound performance on Feb. 28 against the Heat. The 30-point double-double also marked his fourth game of at least 30 points this season.
Collins heads into the second half of the season as Atlanta's second-leading scorer and rebounder.
2020-21 Per Game Averages Through March 6
Al-Farouq Aminu- Orlando Magic (11th season): After a year away from the court, Aminu made his return to the Orlando Magic lineup on a Feb. 17 against the Knicks. The 11-year vet has played in nine games, including six-consecutive starts. In five of those starts, Aminu has logged over 20 minutes of action.
In the Orlando's final game before the break, Aminu tallied 14 points, the most for the 2010 first round pick since April 7, 2019.
2020-21 Per Game Averages Through March 6
James Johnson- Dallas Mavericks (12th season): After being dealt in a three-team trade this offseason, Johnson has appeared in 27 games for the Dallas Mavericks, bringing a new sense of toughness that the franchise has been lacking in recent seasons.
The 12-year vet posted eight points, pulled down three rebounds and tallied two steals in a three-point victory over the Celtics on Feb. 23.
Johnson and the Mavericks will begin the second half of the season battling for playoff positioning, currently sitting as the eighth seed in the Western Conference.
2020-21 Per Game Averages Through March 6
Ish Smith- Washington Wizards (11th season): Smith has appeared in 19 contests for Washington this season, including one start.
Smith suffered a quad injury on Feb. 12 and will miss six-to-eight weeks.
2020-21 Per Game Averages Through March 6
Jeff Teague- Boston Celtics (12th season): In his first season as a member of the Celtics, Teague has appeared in 28 games, including four starts. The Celtics sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 19-17 and will fight for home-court advantage in the playoffs over the course of the second half of the season.
Teague has been consistent since Feb. 24, registering 14 points on three separate occasions.
In his start against Atlanta, Teague posted a season-high five assists to go along with his 14 points.
Per Game Averages Through March 6
Find out below how all the #ProDeacs have fared during the first half of the season.
#ProDeacs: NBA
Chris Paul- Phoenix Suns (16th season): Paul continues to impress in his 16th professional season, earning his 11th All-Star selection. Paul will also compete in the Skills Challenge on Sunday before the NBA's best take the hardwood in Atlanta.11 👏 Time 👏 All-Star
— Wake Basketball (@WakeMBB) February 24, 2021
@CP3 | #ProDeacs pic.twitter.com/ulezpmhMgR
#ChrisPaul will be representing the Suns on #TeamLeBron!#NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/sMmC0teU2Y
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 5, 2021
Paul has led the Suns both on and off the court in the first half of his stint with the franchise. Currently, the Suns hold the second seed in the Western Conference and the second-best mark in the league at 24-11. The start is the franchise's best start since the 2007-08 season.
When Chris Paul goes to a new team, that team gets better.
— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 3, 2021
Hornets season
Before CP — .220 W%
After CP — .463 W%
Clippers
Before CP — .390
After CP — .606
Rockets
Before CP — .671
After CP — .793
Thunder
Before CP — .598
After CP — .611
Suns
Before CP — .466
After CP — .677 pic.twitter.com/BJZSvd24XM
His 8.8 assists per game stands fifth in the NBA, while sitting second in the Association in free throw percentage (95.4). Additionally, Paul is just one of four players to shoot over 48 percent from the field while dishing out at least eight assists a game.
2020-21 Per Game Averages Through March 6
| Record | Min. | FG% | 3P% | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24-11 | 31.8 | .486 | .391 | .954 | 4.7 | 8.8 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 16.0 |
John Collins- Atlanta Hawks (4th season): The 19th pick in the 2017 NBA draft has started in all 36 games this season, scoring double-digits in all but four games. In the month of February, Collins posted four double-doubles, highlighted by a 34-point and 10-rebound performance on Feb. 28 against the Heat. The 30-point double-double also marked his fourth game of at least 30 points this season.
HAWKS WIN! pic.twitter.com/91CjJfFprA
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) March 3, 2021
Collins heads into the second half of the season as Atlanta's second-leading scorer and rebounder.
2020-21 Per Game Averages Through March 6
| Record | Min. | FG% | 3P% | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16-20 | 30.7 | .536 | .388 | .853 | 7.6 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 18.0 |
Al-Farouq Aminu- Orlando Magic (11th season): After a year away from the court, Aminu made his return to the Orlando Magic lineup on a Feb. 17 against the Knicks. The 11-year vet has played in nine games, including six-consecutive starts. In five of those starts, Aminu has logged over 20 minutes of action.
In the Orlando's final game before the break, Aminu tallied 14 points, the most for the 2010 first round pick since April 7, 2019.
2020-21 Per Game Averages Through March 6
| Record | Min. | FG% | 3P% | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13-23 | 18.1 | .395 | .400 | .778 | 4.1 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 5.2 |
James Johnson- Dallas Mavericks (12th season): After being dealt in a three-team trade this offseason, Johnson has appeared in 27 games for the Dallas Mavericks, bringing a new sense of toughness that the franchise has been lacking in recent seasons.
The 12-year vet posted eight points, pulled down three rebounds and tallied two steals in a three-point victory over the Celtics on Feb. 23.
Johnson and the Mavericks will begin the second half of the season battling for playoff positioning, currently sitting as the eighth seed in the Western Conference.
2020-21 Per Game Averages Through March 6
| Record | Min. | FG% | 3P% | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18-16 | 17.9 | .464 | .259 | .518 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 5.9 |
Ish Smith- Washington Wizards (11th season): Smith has appeared in 19 contests for Washington this season, including one start.
Smith suffered a quad injury on Feb. 12 and will miss six-to-eight weeks.
2020-21 Per Game Averages Through March 6
| Record | Min. | FG% | 3P% | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14-20 | 20.6 | .379 | .250 | .400 | 3.5 | 4.7 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 5.2 |
Jeff Teague- Boston Celtics (12th season): In his first season as a member of the Celtics, Teague has appeared in 28 games, including four starts. The Celtics sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 19-17 and will fight for home-court advantage in the playoffs over the course of the second half of the season.
Teague has been consistent since Feb. 24, registering 14 points on three separate occasions.
In his start against Atlanta, Teague posted a season-high five assists to go along with his 14 points.
Per Game Averages Through March 6
| Record | Min. | FG% | 3P% | FT% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | PF | TO | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19-17 | 18.1 | .373 | .422 | .896 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 6.4 |
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