THE FLATS – Iman Shumpert brings out the rumba in week 2 of “Dancing with the Stars” … Derrick Favors embracing a leadership role on a young team in Oklahoma City … Thaddeus Young has a chance to do the same in San Antonio, but trade rumors persist … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.
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WATCH IMAN SHUMPERT’S WEEK 2 PERFORMANCE ON ‘DWTS’
“Dancing With the Stars” fans were a bit miffed in week 1 at the judges’ scores for Iman Shumpert & Daniella Karagach. Watch their week 2 rumba to “U Know What’s Up” by Donell Jones below and decide if they bounced back from the jive, which judge Len Goodman in particular said was lacking in jive content. Ahead of their week 2 dance, Iman said, “Len giving me a four? We’ll see about him next week.”
After the first week, a lot of fans thought Iman and Daniella were robbed on their jive, which was a lot of fun. But they only received a 21 out of 40 from the judges, which left them in second-to-last place. But in week 2, they showed the judges what they were made of with their rumba, which Sharna Burgess said ahead of this week is a very hard dance for a male celebrity get in week two (because her partner Brian Austin Green drew the rumba as well).
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THADDEUS YOUNG OPENS UP ON TIME WITH THE BULLS
Former Chicago Bull Thaddeus Young recently appeared on Stacey King’s “Gimme The Hot Sauce” podcast. Young talked about a variety of topics, one of them being Bulls’ second-year forward Patrick Williams.
Young shared stories from his career and even spoke on his relationship with Williams. Young would ask, “Do you want to be great? If you do, prove it to me.” The benefits of veteran leadership should never be understated. Though Williams only had one year with Thad, it seems the two have great respect for one another. “The sky is the limit for Pat. He just needs to continue to be aggressive.”
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FAVORS BRINGS VETERAN LEADERSHIP TO THUNDER
When Derrick Favors visited Las Vegas for a brief vacation in late July, he didn’t realize he was the one getting dealt.
It was nearly midnight on July 29 when the Utah Jazz forward received a call from his agent, who informed him that he was a trade piece in a deal with Oklahoma City. In an effort to get $13 million dollars below the luxury tax, the Jazz sent Favors and a future first-round pick to the Thunder for a future second and cash considerations.
Apart from two brief stints in New Jersey and New Orleans, Favors spent his entire career in Utah. The 12-year pro made Salt Lake City his home and he left as the 10th-highest scorer in franchise history (7,336 points).
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FAVORS EMBRACING LEADERSHIP ROLE WITH OKC
An 11-year veteran, Derrick Favors has plenty of on-the-court experience he can bring, but he’s also watched plenty of guys lead off the court, something which he hopes to replicate for a young Thunder core this season.
“I was once the young player on the team and I had vets around me that helped me out,” Favors said during Thunder Media Day on Monday. “And throughout the years as I’ve got older, there’s always younger players coming in, then as an older player you kind of gravitate towards the younger guy, help them out.
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WILL YOUNG HELP THE SPURS AS A LEADER OR TRADE PIECE?
Thaddeus Young is the best player that the Chicago Bulls sent to San Antonio to acquire DeMar DeRozan, and since then the question of whether or not we’ll see him in Silver & Black has loomed over the remainder of the Spurs’ offseason.
Much like Al-Farouq Aminu, Young is on an expiring contract that makes him an appealing trade asset. Unlike Aminu, Young clearly still has consistent production left in the tank.
The 33-year-old power forward has averaged double-digit scoring in each of the last 13 seasons, and he brings a level of physicality and basketball IQ that makes him a stout defender and productive rebounder.
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CAN OKOGIE HAVE HIS BEST SEASON YET IN MINNESOTA?
Going into this season Josh Okogie has some new, valuable experience. He played for Nigeria in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. While his averages were not impressive and Nigeria lost all three games, it is still a good experience and a way forward for Okogie with the Wolves. Being able to play, even in limited minutes, means a lot to every player even if it is without much contribution. Okogie should be entering this season with a lot of confidence and with a will to prove himself to the Wolves.
Okogie can be a stable two-way threat at the guard position, especially on a Wolves team that desperately needs players to step up. Minnesota has scarce NBA talent and depth for that matter. Aside from Towns, Russell, Edwards, and possibly Patrick Beverley and Malik Beasley, this is a depleted roster. Usually, in these kinds of situations, players like Okogie, somewhat of a sleeper, can have their best seasons.
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#ProJackets on Social Media
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Year 12 pic.twitter.com/APs93VEJWn
— Derrick Favors (@dfavors14) September 27, 2021
Jose Alvarado on his Summer League experience#Pelicans pic.twitter.com/zMbl40223o
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) September 27, 2021
Day date ❤️ @yungsmoove21 pic.twitter.com/gP5ADWa9wJ
— Shekinah Young (@Mrs___Young21) September 26, 2021
Eurobasket Yellow Jacket Report
Adam Smith (6’1”-PG-92, graduated ’16, plays pro in Turkey) could not help Merkezefendi Belediyesi Denizli Basket (0-1) in their last game. Despite his very good performance Merkezefendi Belediyesi Denizli Basket was edged94-93on the road by the second-ranked Efes. Smith was the top scorer with 26 points in 29 minutes. It was his first game for Merkezefendi Belediyesi Denizli Basket this season.
Experienced Alade Aminu (6’10”-F/C-87, graduated ’09, plays in Puerto Rico) was the major contributor in an Atleticos de San German’s victory against the sixth-ranked Grises (1-24) 109-97 in the Puerto Rican BSN on Friday night. He recorded 22 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Atleticos de San Germanis placed fourth in Group A. It’s Aminu’s first season with the team. Aminu has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages 18.0ppg, 7.7rpg, 2.0apg and 1.1spg.
Joshua Heath (6’1”-PG-94, graduated ’17, currently in Belgium) was not able to help Stella Artois Leuven Bears in their game against Belfius Mons-Hainaut (2-0) in the BNXT League. Heath recorded 6 points and added 7 assists in 40 minutes. Stella Artois Leuven Bears was edged71-68in Jemappes by the higher-ranked (#4) Belfius Mons-Hainaut. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. This year Heath averages 4.5ppg, 2.0rpg and 6.0apg in two games he played so far.
Ben Lammers (6’10”-C-95, graduated ’18, plays pro in Germany) was not able to secure a victory for ALBA Berlin (0-1) in their game against Telekom Baskets (1-0) in the German BBL. Lammers’ contribution was not very remarkable in Thursday’s game. He recorded only 2 points. It was his first game for ALBA Berlin this season. ALBA Berlin was edged88-86in Bonn by the leading Telekom Baskets. Lammers’ team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical.
Charles Mitchell (6’8”-F/C-93, graduated ’16, plays in Mexico) contributed to a Dorados de Chihuahua’s victory against the leader Fuerza Regia (5-4) 70-66 in the Mexican LNBP (second division) on Saturday night. He recorded 9 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in 23 minutes. It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in group East. Dorados de Chihuahua (11-1) is placed first. This year Mitchell averages 9.8ppg, 6.1rpg and 1.3apg in eight games.
Shembari Phillips (6’3”-G-97, graduated ’20, currently in Germany) led EPG Baskets Koblenz to an easy victory against the fourth-ranked Skyliners II crushing them 98-72 in the German ProB (third division) in Tuesday night’s game. Phillips recorded 12 points and added 3 assists. Phillips has relatively good stats this season 10.5ppg, 1.5rpg and 3.0apg.
Other former Georgia Institute of Technology players, who play in pro basketball:
- James Banks (6’10”-F/C-98) signed for New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA
- Derrick Favors (6’10”-F-91) signed for Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA
- Moses Wright (6’9”-F-98) signed for Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA
- Thaddeus Young (6’8”-F-88) signed for San Antonio Spurs in the NBA
- Josh Okogie (6’4”-G-98) plays for Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA
- Zachery Peacock (6’8”-F/C-87) signed for Le Mans Sarthe Basket in French Betclic ELITE ProA
- Gani Lawal (6’9”-F/C-88) signed for Champagne Chalons-Reims Basket in French Betclic ELITE ProA
- Daniel Miller (6’11”-C-91) signed for Levanga Hokkaido Sapporo in Japanese B1 League
- Brandon Alston (6’5”-G-95) signed for Kauhajoki in Finnish Korisliiga
- Glen Rice Jr. (6’6”-F-91) plays for Real Esteli in Nicaraguan LSB
- James White (6’9”-F-93) plays for Mauricio Baez in Dominican Rep. TBS
- Evan Jester (6’7”-F-99) plays for Team Miami in the Eurobasket S.League
- Jarrett Jack (6’3”-G-83) plays for Trilogy in the Big3
- Abdoulaye Gueye (6’9”-F-94) signed for Konyaspor in Turkish TBL
- Jose Alvarado (6’0”-PG-98) played for New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA Summer League
