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Georgia Tech #ProJackets Basketball Report

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THE FLATS – Moses Wright gets a call-up from the Dallas Mavericks, scores first NBA points … Coming out of nowhere big part of Jose Alvarado’s NBA game … Thaddeus Young mentoring young Raptors core … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.

PLAYOFF PICTURE – Alvarado and the Pelicans currently projected No. 10 seed, Josh Okogie and Timberwolves No. 7 seed, as participants in play-in tournament from the Western Conference … Young and Raptors projected at No. 7 seed and play-in participant from the Eastern Conference … Mavericks project as No. 5 seed in the West

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MOSES WRIGHT GETS CALL TO DALLAS

On the heels of his tear with the Texas Legends, Moses Wright earned a call-up to the Dallas Mavericks roster this week and scored his first NBA points Wednesday night against Houston. Wright ran the floor following a rebound and received a pass for a basket and a free throw. He added a rebound in three minutes of action.

Wright produced 30 points (10-20 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 4-5 FT), 10 rebounds, two assists and one block over 39 minutes during the Legends’ 122-110 win over South Bay on Sunday.

The Georgia Tech product caught fire with the Legends, averaging 33.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game over his last two outings with Texas. Wright is currently on a two-way contract with the Mavericks.

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ALVARADO HAS TALENT FOR COMING OUT OF NOWHERE

In the chaotic environment of AAU basketball, Jose Alvarado figured out how to hide in plain sight.

While the other team inbounded the ball, Alvarado would find a spot near the baseline and try to make himself small. He wanted to go undetected so he could burst into the play and pick off what should be a basic inbounds pass.

Alvarado said he perfected this trick during his time with the New York Rens, one of New York City’s elite AAU programs. Years later, it is still working in the NBA.

In the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks, Alvarado ducked behind an unsuspecting Trae Young, stole the inbounds pass and flipped the ball in.

“It’s not as easy as it looks,” Alvarado said. “If you miss it, you’re going to have coach probably going in on you. If I do mess up, I know I have to run full speed back on defense.”

More from NOLA.com

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ALVARADO SHINES IN RETURN TO ATLANTA

Jose Alvarado made an excellent read to score a layup and later converted both his free throw attempts. Each of those moments gave New Orleans a four-point cushion to keep the difference at a two-possession game and ensure Atlanta would not enjoy any late-game heroics.

Things could have turned out much differently had Willie Green not re-inserted Alvarado with 4:30 left. But trusting his two-way player to finish the game proved pivotal as Alvarado wowed onlookers in his “second home“ of Atlanta with 15 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.

The Pelicans put Alvarado, who starred in college nearby at Georgia Tech, on Young in the fourth and it helped. Young scored seven points in the fourth but had trouble getting free against Alvarado.

”Don’t foul,” Alvarado said. ”I know I’m a really good defender, but don’t foul. They’re going to be disciplined. They’re going to make tough shots. Just more to contain a top scorer like that. We came out with a win, so yeah.”

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THADDEUS YOUNG MENTORING YOUNG RAPTORS CORE

When Scottie Barnes was born, Thaddeus Young was just entering high school. So it’s only fitting that now, at age 33, Young is playing the role of teacher and mentor to the 20-year-old Toronto Raptors rookie sensation.

Young, who is the oldest player on the Raptors, has been working with Barnes since the veteran joined the team from San Antonio via trade in mid-February. In his 15 games with the Raptors, Young has averaged 17.5 minutes, 5.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Though his time with the team has been short, it’s the knowledge he brings from his 15 years in the league that has had a significant impact.

In the last month, Young has been spending time with both Barnes and Precious Achiuwa to help their game evolve and Raptors head coach Nick Nurse has noticed the influence the veteran forward is having on the younger players.

“I think as soon as Thad figured out where he was supposed to go with us, it helped him,” Nurse said. “You obviously have seen him run really hard to the corners and get some transition threes and some kick-out threes and I think you probably noticed Precious following a bit in those footsteps too. He has certainly brought a veteran presence.”

More from SportsNet Canada

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RAPTORS’ YOUNG BUILDING OWN EMPIRE AWAY FROM COURT

Toronto Raptors player, Thad Young, says, “I’ve got a good team,.”

At first read, you would think Young is talking about his teammates on the Raptors, and while the oldest member of the squad feels that about his team, he is actually talking about the people who are helping him operate the ‘Thad Young empire’ away from the court.

The 33-year-old has his own real estate company, private investment firm, as well as a trucking company.

“I go from one job to the next every single day,” Young told CityNews.

“At the end of the day, basketball is great it has put me in a position to work and be successful, but I can’t play basketball the rest of my life,” he said, “So I can be preparing myself for all of the different things outside of basketball, which is you know, running a trucking company, having a real estate company, having a venture firm, and you know, doing all the different things that we do on the business side.”

More from CityNews

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YOUNG PASSES POP QUIZ ABOUT HIS CAREER

The Raptors have already won the Goran Dragic-Thaddeus Young trade. They clearly acquired the player with the better memory.

In the preseason, Dragic took The Athletic’s pop quiz about his career, and, to say the least, struggled. After Tuesday’s practice ended at UCLA, Young got the same treatment and fared much, much better.

Unlike Dragic, Young is also contributing regularly for the Raptors. He scored 11 points in both ends of back-to-back wins over the Nets and, recently, was part of the Raptors’ ultra-bizarre lineup that stormed back to beat the Nuggets on a back-to-back in Denver.

“Obviously he’s given us a lot of tips this morning in film, talking about some things. That shows that he’s a true pro,” Nick Nurse said before the Raptors beat Young’s prior team, the Spurs, last week. “I really like him. I think he’s a versatile player that’s produced for a long time in this league.”

Young’s 15 seasons have taken him to Philadelphia, Minnesota, Brooklyn, Indiana, Chicago, San Antonio and Toronto. He has started 711 of his 1,071 games, the latter of which puts him at 11th among all active players. He has, in short, been around.

More from The Athletic

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CHRIS BOSH HONORED BY HEAT, CITY OF DALLAS

Rewind 20 years to some high school basketball action in the Lone Star State and picture Chris Bosh and his Lincoln High School teammates cutting the net on their championship win.

Fast forward back to 2022 as Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson honored the NBA Hall of Famer and NBA Champion with a proclamation that March 13 is Chris Bosh Day in the city of Dallas.

Johnson said in a tweet, “Twenty years ago, @chrisbosh led Lincoln High School to a championship. And after a Hall-of-Fame career on the world stage, CB4 came home today for what I proclaimed as “Chris Bosh Day” in the City of Dallas. An honor to award him the Key to the City and recognize his excellence.”

Photos from Dallas Morning News

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#PROJACKETS IN THE NBA/G LEAGUE IN 2023-24

PLAYERDATANUMBERSTEAM
JOSE ALVARADO
Team: New Orleans Pelicans
Number: 15
NBA Experience: 3rd year
Years at Georgia Tech: 2017-21
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Status: Active		6-0, 179 lbs
2023-24 Stats
7.1 ppg
2.3 rpg
2.1 apg
41.2% FG		Record: 49-33
Standing: 7th place, -8.0 GB
Streak: L1
Last 10: 5-5
JAMES BANKS III
Team: Maine Celtics
Number: 5
G League Experience: 3rd year
Years at Georgia Tech: 2018-20
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
Status: Active		6-10, 250 lbs
2023-24 Stats
5.3 ppg
4.7 rpg
1.5 bpg
54.2% FG		Record: 21-13
Standing: 2nd place, -1.0 GB
Streak: W1
Last 10: 8-2
MICHAEL DEVOE
Team: Memphis Hustle
Number: 10
G League Experience: 2nd year
Years at Georgia Tech: 2017-21
Hometown: Orlando, Fla.
Status: Active		6-4, 183 lbs
2023-24 Stats
13.9 ppg
3.9 rpg
3.1 apg
47.4% FG		Record: 15-19
Standing: 12th, -9.0 GB
Streak: W1
Last 10: 3-7
DERRICK FAVORS
Team: Windy City Bulls (G League)
Number: 14
NBA Experience: 12 seasons
Years at Georgia Tech: 2009-10
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
Status: Active		6-9, 265 lbs
2023-24 Stats
6.2 ppg
4.7 rpg
0.7 bpg
66.7% FG		Record: 15-19
Standing: 13th place, -7.0 GB
Streak: L1
Last 10: 4-6
JOSH OKOGIE
Team: Phoenix Suns
Number: 2
NBA Experience: 5 seasons
Years at Georgia Tech: 2016-18
Hometown: Snellville, Ga.
Status: Active		6-4, 213 lbs
2023-24 Stats
4.6 ppg
2.6 rpg
1.1 apg
41.7% FG		Record: 49-33
Standing: 6th place, -8.0 GB
Streak: W3
Last 10: 7-3
THADDEUS YOUNG
Team: free agent
Number: 30
NBA Experience: 16 seasons
Years at Georgia Tech: 2006-07
Hometown: Memphis, Tenn.
Status: Active
6-8, 235 lbs
2023-24 Stats
4.2 ppg
3.0 rpg
1.7 apg
60.2% FG		Record: 49-33
Standing: 6th place, -8.0 GB
Streak: W3
Last 10: 7-3

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