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Nine former Longhorns set for 2024 NBA Playoffs – TexasSports.com
Allen, Bamba, Durant, Hayes, Jones, Sims, Thompson, Tucker and Turner on playoff rosters.
AUSTIN, Texas — A total of nine former University of Texas men’s basketball players will be involved in the upcoming 2024 NBA Playoffs. Jarrett Allen (Cleveland Cavaliers), Mohamed Bamba (Philadelphia 76ers), Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns), Jaxson Hayes (Los Angeles Lakers), Kai Jones (Los Angeles Clippers), Jericho Sims (New York Knicks), Tristan Thompson (Cleveland Cavaliers), P.J. Tucker (Los Angeles Clippers) and Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers) are all on their team’s active postseason rosters.
Bamba and Hayes will all compete in the NBA Play-In Tournament which will take place April 16-19 (Tuesday-Friday). The 2024 NBA Playoffs will begin on Saturday, April 20.
A 2022 NBA All-Star selection, Allen is completing his fourth season with the Cleveland Cavaliers and seventh year overall in the NBA. In 77 games played during the regular season, he averaged 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 31.7 minutes per contest while hitting 63.4-percent from the field and 74.2-percent from the free throw line. Cleveland earned the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference and will face the No. 5 seed Orlando Magic in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
Bamba is in his first season with the Philadelphia 76ers and sixth year overall in the NBA. In 57 games played during the regular season, he averaged 4.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 13.0 minutes per game. The 76ers claimed the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference and will host No. 8 seed Miami in the Play-In Tournament on Wednesday, April 17 at 6 p.m. Central on ESPN.
A 14-time NBA All-Star and four-time NBA scoring champion, Durant is in his second season with the Phoenix Suns and 16th year overall in the NBA. In 75 games played during the regular season, he averaged 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.2 blocks in 37.2 minutes per game while hitting 52.3-percent from the field, 41.3-percent from three-point range and 85.6-percent from the free throw line. Durant is a two-time NBA Champion and two-time NBA Finals MVP during his time with the Golden State Warriors (2017 and 2018). Phoenix claimed the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference and will face the No. 3 seed Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
Hayes is in his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers and fifth year in the NBA. In 70 games played during the regular season, he averaged 4.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in 12.5 minutes per contest while hitting 72.0-percent from the field. The Lakers claimed the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and will play at No. 7 seed New Orleans in the Play-In Tournament on Tuesday, April 16 at 6:30 p.m. Central on TNT.
Jones was signed on Saturday, April 13 by the Los Angeles Clippers and is in his third year overall in the NBA. He did not play in the league during the 2023-24 regular season. The Clippers claimed the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference and will face the No. 5 seed Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
Sims is in his third year in the NBA, all with the New York Knicks. In 45 games played during the regular season, he averaged 2.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 13.0 minutes per contest while hitting 69.1-percent from the field. New York earned the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and will wait to see who its opponent will be in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
Thompson is in his 10th season with the Cleveland Cavaliers and his 12th year overall in the NBA. In 49 games played during the regular season, he averaged 3.3 points and 3.6 rebounds in 11.2 minutes per game while hitting 61.3-percent from the field. Thompson previously averaged a double-double in The Finals while helping the Cavaliers win the 2016 NBA Championship. Cleveland earned the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference and will face the No. 5 seed Orlando Magic in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
Tucker is his 13th year overall in the NBA and his first season with the Los Angeles Clippers. He was acquired by the Clippers in a trade on November 1. In his 31 total games played during the regular season (28 with the Clippers, three with the Philadelphia 76ers), he averaged 1.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per contest while converting 37.1-percent from three-point range. Tucker previously helped the Milwaukee Bucks earn the 2021 NBA Championship. The Clippers claimed the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference and will face the No. 5 seed Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
Turner is completing his ninth season in the NBA, all with the Indiana Pacers. In 77 games played during the regular season, he averaged 17.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 27.0 minutes per contest while hitting 52.4-percent from the field and 77.3-percent from the free throw line. Indiana earned the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference and will face the No. 3 seed Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
In addition to the nine former Longhorns on NBA playoff rosters, former player Matt Hill is an assistant coach and advanced scout with the Phoenix Suns (No. 6 seed, Western Conference).
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