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Georgia Tech #ProJackets Basketball Report

THE FLATSJosh Okogie shines for Nigeria in FIBA African qualifier … OKC decision to keep Derrick Favors may favor the Thunder … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.

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OKOGIE SHINES IN FIBA AFRICAN QUALIFIER

The Phoenix Suns had players playing in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers over the weekend with Nigeria’s Josh Okogie and Uganda’s Ish Wainright both producing in all their respective games.

Okogie played in three contests over the weekend, losing to Ivory Coast 78-66, defeating Guinea and former ASU guard Shannon Evans 89-70 and falling to Angola 70-67.

He had 23 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, five steals and a block in the loss to Ivory Coast.

The guard also added 10 points, six assists, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks in the win over Guinea. He stars for Nigeria with former USC Trojan and current Sacramento Kings center Chimezie Metu.

More from ArizonaSports.com

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HOLMGREN INJURY CREATES OPPORTUNITY FOR FAVORS

Derrick Favors is getting a better chance in Oklahoma City after the injury to Chet Holmgren.

Favors has evaded getting dealt in a trade or waived during the Thunder’s rampant roster revamp this off-season.

OKC kept Favors as a depth piece who more than likely wouldn’t see a lot of minutes due to the stack up in front of him of younger players.

However, now the shining light is apparent of why he was kept stockpiled in the roster. With Holmgren out, OKC needs bodies at the five.

Favors is tied with fellow center Mike Muscala as the oldest players in OKC both at 31-years-old. Both provide veteran leadership to the team and their position. Favors is more of a true center for NBA standards. His frame and height will put him back in contention to fill the void left by Holmgren.

The pro to why they kept him around during the off-season which saw the Thunder focus on paint depth.

More from SI.com

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ONE VOTE FOR ALVARADO TO START IN NEW ORLEANS

Jose Alvarado has shown that he is one of the best on-the-ball defenders in the NBA, but he is also a very good playmaker, which is an underrated part of his game.

His shooting is improving and he looked comfortable knocking them down from behind the arc playing for Puerto Rico in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.

Alvarado is locked into a very team-friendly contract, the type the Pelicans will need next season when Zion’s contract extension kicks in and their roster gets expensive at the top.

Alvarado was the heart and soul of the Pels’ bench last season and figures to have a big role in this one, though it is doubtful that he actually cracks the starting lineup.

More from Pelican Debrief

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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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