THE FLATS – Offensive struggles send Josh Okogie back to the bench for Suns … Marcus Georges-Hunt again a key member of Kuwait Club in FIBA title defense … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.
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OKOGIE’S OFFENSIVE STRUGGLES LEAD BACK TO THE BENCH
Josh Okogie signed with the Suns after becoming an unrestricted free agent this offseason, choosing to do so for a veteran minimum salary. The roster changed around him as more offensively superior players were acquired. Simultaneously the Suns’ brass hired a coach who could maximize Okogie’s primary skill set: defense.
The hope entering this season is that Okogie’s postseason was a blip on the radar, not a return to the offensive player he once was.
That hope has turned to anxiety as not only has he returned to that player, but his lack of offensive ability has forced Frank Vogel into experimenting with the starting lineup. Due to injury, he played on Sunday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the story was the same: Okogie’s offense was a non-point and his defense was been average.
More from Bright Side of the Sun
Josh Okogie this season:
🏀108.1 OFF RTG
🏀107.4 DEF RTG
🏀0.7 NET RTG
🏀17.4 3PT%The three-point shooting has waned, just like the beginning of last season. But he is still an impact player. pic.twitter.com/964q9nfnC4
— John Voita (@DarthVoita) November 13, 2023
Phoenix Suns Josh Okogie and Grayson Allen getting up shots at shootaround @sportscronkite pic.twitter.com/4xMS9outL8
— Alfred Smith (@AlfredS_III) November 15, 2023
Josh Okogie on the Suns’ 4Q struggles without Devin Booker: “That issue has nothing to do with Book. We’re supposed to be winning these games without him. We’re supposed to have his back to be able to win games when he’s not playing.” pic.twitter.com/xvyMzljot2
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) November 13, 2023
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GEORGES-HUNT CONTRIBUTES TO KUWAIT CLUB TITLE DEFENSE
Kuwait Club began their FIBA WASL-Gulf League title defense bid impressively by spoiling the debut of Muharraq, 108-92, to open Season 2, Monday night at the BBA Arena.
Marcus Georges-Hunt chipped in 12 points, with backcourt running mate Turki Alshemmari supplying 10 points. The reigning champions broke away in the second period and never let their guards down since, effectively silencing the home crowd as they went on to snare the early lead in Group A.
Game heroes: Hamad Hasan starred in the victory with a game-high 28 points, which is currently the most by a non-foreign player in WASL-Gulf history. The sweet-shooting forward shot a total of eight three-pointers, the most in the sub-zone league as well.
Cady Lalanne registered a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds, together with a steal and a pair of blocks. Mohamad Hasan delivered 15 points and 7 rebounds.
FIBA WASL first-timer Tony Carr flirted with history as he almost tallied a rare triple-double, finishing with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists in 27 minutes.
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#ProJackets on Social Media
WILDCATS W
FOUR IN A ROW! 🐈⬛ pic.twitter.com/5puX1r9od2— Perth Wildcats (@PerthWildcats) November 16, 2023
Jose Alvarado reacts live to a Herb Jones steal and dunk pic.twitter.com/ZGOuj9EvQp
— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) November 15, 2023
Jose Alvarado is in here getting some conditioning in before tonight’s game. pic.twitter.com/xGmT5x7Cjs
— Will Guillory (@WillGuillory) November 11, 2023
Watching Auburn-Baylor & @franfraschilla noted that Carlton Carrington’s Triple Double for @Pitt_MBB last night was the 2nd time an @theACC freshman achieved that mark in his debut. The first? @Dennis3DScott for @GTMBB in 1987. pic.twitter.com/tDLfdEDe41
— Shawn Hairston (@JetJacket) November 8, 2023
🔥 Contundencia debajo del aro. Ben Lammers se lleva el MVP @toyotacanarias de hoy:
✅ 12 puntos
✅ 4 rebotes
✅ 18 de valoración pic.twitter.com/KZuNhfUekV— Dreamland Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) November 15, 2023
🥳🎂 ¡FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS, Ben Lammers!#LigaEndesa pic.twitter.com/gKebQjJvaj
— Liga Endesa (@ACBCOM) November 12, 2023
Eurobasket #ProJackets Report
Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC
Adam Smith (6’1”-PG-1992, played in 2015-16, plays pro in Spain) led his Spanish team Surne Bilbao Basket to a victory over the closely-ranked Sibiu (0-5) 73-68 in the FIBA Europe Cup on Wednesday night. He was MVP of the game. Smith scored 25 points and added 4 assists in 33 minutes. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Surne Bilbao Basket (5-0) is placed first in the FIBA Europe Cup. So far his team won all five games in the Regular Season. They will play only one more game in the FIBA Europe Cup Regular Season. And that game will be critical. Smith has relatively good stats this season 13.2ppg, 1.8rpg, 2.2apg and 1.2spg.
Ben Lammers (6’10”-C-1995, played in 2014-18, plays in Spain) was the major contributor in a Draemland Gran Canaria’s victory against the tenth-ranked WKS Slask (0-7) 81-77 in the Eurocup in Wednesday night’s game. Lammers recorded 12 points, 4 rebounds and 3 blocks. Draemland Gran Canaria (7-0) is placed first in the Eurocup. So far his team won all seven games in the Regular Season. It’s Lammers’ first season with the team. This year he averages 8.9ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.4apg and 1.6bpg in seven games he played so far.
Trae Golden (6’3”-PG-1991, played in 2013-14, currently in China), who plays in the Chinese CBA could not help Sichuan Blue Whales (1-9) in their game last Wednesday. Despite his very good performance the bottom-ranked Sichuan Blue Whales were defeated 140-129 on the road by the much higher-ranked Sturgeons (#11). Golden recorded a double-double by scoring 43 points and making 13 passes. He also added 6 rebounds and 3 steals in 46 minutes. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. It’s Golden’s first year with the team. Golden has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages 36.2ppg, 4.5rpg, 7.3apg and 1.1spg.
Khalid Moore (6’7”-F-2000, played in 2018-22, plays pro in Greece) was not able to help Lavrio (3-3) in their last game. Despite his very good performance Lavrio lost 88-93 at home to the lower-ranked (#10) Maroussi. Moore had a double-double by scoring 15 points and getting 11 rebounds; quite an impressive performance considering it’s only his first season in pro basketball. But the season just started, so everything may happen. Moore has relatively good stats this year 10.5ppg, 7.8rpg and 1.7apg in six games.
Josh Okogie (6’4”-G-1998, played in 2016-18, plays in the NBA) contributed to an Phoenix Suns’ surprising victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves (8-3) 133-115 in the NBA in Wednesday night’s game. Okogie recorded 12 points in a mere 19 minutes. The Phoenix Suns have 5-6 record this season. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. Okogie has relatively good stats this season 8.0ppg, 3.2rpg and 1.2apg. He is a naturalized Nigerian.
Jordan Usher (6’7”-SF-1998, played in 2019-22, currently in Australia) contributed to a Perth Wildcats’ victory against the seventh-ranked Cairns Taipans 88-80 in the Australian NBL last Thursday. He scored 10 points. Usher has relatively good stats this year 14.3ppg and 2.9rpg in 11 games.
Experienced Thaddeus Young (6’8”-F-1988, played in 2006-07, plays pro in the NBA) was not able to secure a victory for the Toronto Raptors in their game against the Boston Celtics in the NBA. Young scored only 4 points in 5 minutes on the court. His team were crushed by 23 points 117-94 in the NBA. This season Young averages 1.3ppg.
Ja’von Franklin (6’7”-F-1998, played in 2023-23, plays in Serbia) helped his Serbian team Borac CA win their game against the closely-ranked SC Derby 87-76 in the ABA League in Friday night’s game. He recorded 7 points. Franklin has relatively good stats this year 12.0ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.7apg and 1.7spg in seven games.
Josh Heath (6’1”-PG-1994, played in 2014-17, currently in Belgium) couldn’t help Spirou Basket Charleroi in their game against Antwerp Giants in the BNXT League. Heath scored 6 points and added 5 assists in 32 minutes. His team was defeated 76-70. This season Heath averages 6.1ppg, 2.7rpg and 4.0apg.
Charles Mitchell (6’8”-F/C-1993, played in 2014-16, plays pro in Argentina) couldn’t help one of league’s weakest teams Obera (6-1) in their last game. Despite Mitchell’s very good performance Obera was crushed98-71 in La Banda by the leading Olimpico. He was the top scorer with 15 points. Mitchell also added 7 rebounds. Mitchell has very impressive stats this year 15.4ppg and 8.3rpg in seven games.
Other former Georgia Tech players, who play in pro basketball:
- Jose Alvarado (6’0”-PG-1998, played in 2017-16) plays for New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA
- Michael Devoe (6’5”-G-1999, played in 2018-22) signed for Utah Jazz in the NBA
- Derrick Favors (6’10”-F-1991, played in 2009-23) signed for Chicago Bulls in the NBA
- James Banks III (6’10”-F/C-1998, played in 2018-20) signed for Boston Celtics in the NBA
- Avi Schafer (6’9”-C-1998, played in 2017-19) plays for SeaHorses Mikawa in Japanese B1 League
- Brandon Alston (6’5”-G-1995, played in 2017-19) played for Batumi in Georgian Superleague
- Moses Wright (6’9”-F-1998, played in 2017-21) signed for Shanxi Loongs in Chinese CBA
- Marcus Georges-Hunt (6’5”-F-1994, played in 2012-16) plays for Kuwait in Kuwaiti D1
- Tadric Jackson (6’2”-G-1994, played in 2014-18) plays for Atlanta Aliens in the ABA
- Evan Jester (6’7”-F-1999, played in 2017-19) plays for Atlanta Aliens in the ABA
- Abdoulaye Gueye (6’9”-C-1994, played in 2014-15) signed for Sigortam.net in Turkish TBL
- Robert Sampson (6’8”-F-1992, played in 2013-13) plays for Nhatrang Dolphins in Vietnamese VBA
- Gani Lawal (6’9”-F/C-1988, played in 2007-10) signed for Plateros de Fresnillo in Mexican LNBP
- Glen Rice Jr. (6’6”-F-1991, played in 2009-12) plays for Power in the Big3
The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Georgia Tech basketball alumni.
