THE FLATS – Jose Alvarado has plans for his prize money if the Pelicans win NBA In-Season Tournament … Josh Okogie has plenty of admirers in Phoenix … Dennis Scott names his top 5 three-point shooters … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.
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IF PELICANS WIN NBA IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT, ALVARADO HAS PLANS FOR PRIZE MONEY
The New Orleans Pelicans’ players are two wins away from winning $500,000 each and a championship in the NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament. To be specific, Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado is two wins away from winning a championship and his three daughters are two wins away from winning $500,000 for their future from their “girl dad.”
“I will not touch the money,” Alvarado told Andscape. “My financial team will act like I never made it. It’s not for me. It’s not in my hands. I’m living my life. They got to live their lives and I don’t want them to struggle at all. This is the first time I’m telling everybody. I just know what I want to do.
“I ain’t struggling now. I’m blessed to be financially good. So why do I need to add that extra load? Let that grow and let them have it. I ain’t going to see it. I promise. I ain’t going to touch it. It’s a great opportunity to do that. A lot of people aren’t that fortunate, but I am. I just want this game to keep me blessed and I don’t want my kids to worry about nothing.”
New Orleans arrived in California on Sunday packed for a long trip, expecting to beat the Sacramento Kings and go to Las Vegas for the in-season tournament semifinals and championship. The Pelicans advanced to the tournament semifinals with a 127-117 victory over the Kings on Monday night before traveling to Las Vegas on Tuesday.
Jose Alvarado with his signature steal 😅
(via @NBA)
pic.twitter.com/s6TGNGmqjs— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) December 5, 2023
“Be great! Be great!”
Jose Alvarado’s energy during the Pelicans’ In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals win was infectious 🔊
They battle the Lakers in the Semifinals in Vegas, Thursday at 9pm/et on TNT 🏆 pic.twitter.com/pGX8kTecVk
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
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“I’M GOING WITH #4”
Dennis Scott delivered the evaluation with as much confidence as when he shot 3s with stunning accuracy.
“I still believe I’m one of the greatest shooters ever to play the game,” Scott told Sportskeeda.
Scott, an analyst with NBA TV, spoke with Sportskeeda on numerous topics, including his top 5 3-point shooters, getting inducted into the Orlando Magic Hall-of-Fame and favorite Shaquille O’Neal stories.
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SUNS FAN SITE WEIGHS IN ON OKOGIE
“I’m a huge Okogie fan and what he brings to the roster. He’s the definition of an intangibles, glue guy where his overall impact can’t quite be enumerated. He’ll be flying all over the court bringing insane amounts of energy and just generally being a pest for I’ll see he’s got 7 points on 2/7 shooting and in my head I’ll think “damn seems like he’s got 20 points!”
“Just like all the players on the team they’re going to benefit from increased comfortability within their role so I’m expecting he’ll continue to get better as the year goes on. He’s an important part of what we want to do defensively when we have all our best players available at the same time and think he fits really well with our starting lineup.”
More from Bright Side of the Sun
Josh Okogie 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/gaUreV5NJk
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 2, 2023
Josh Okogie went for the Suns cleanup SLAM 😤pic.twitter.com/1ljQoYOapM
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 2, 2023
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Eurobasket #ProJackets Report
Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC
Ben Lammers (6’10”-C-1995, played in 2014-18, plays pro in Spain) could not help Draemland Gran Canaria (2-7) in their last game. Despite his good performance Draemland Gran Canaria lost 82-94 on the road to the much higher-ranked (#6) Lenovo Tenerife. Lammers scored 12 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and made 3 blocks in 24 minutes. It was Draemland Gran Canaria’s fifth consecutive loss in a row. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. This year Lammers averages 9.5ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.3apg and 1.1bpg in 11 games he played so far.
Jose Alvarado (6’0”-PG-1998, played in 2017-16, plays in the NBA) was not able to help the New Orleans Pelicans in their game against the Utah Jazz (6-13) in the NBA. Despite his very good performance on Saturday night Alvarado recorded 13 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. But the season just started, so everything may happen. This year Alvarado averages 6.8ppg, 2.2rpg, 2.0apg and 1.2spg.
Josh Okogie (6’4”-G-1998, played in 2016-18, currently in the NBA) was not able to secure a victory for the Phoenix Suns (11-8) in their game against the Denver Nuggets (14-6) in the NBA, despite his very good performance in Friday night’s game. He recorded 13 points, 4 rebounds and 3 blocks in 26 minutes. But the Phoenix Suns (11-8) lost 111-119 in Denver to the Nuggets. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. Okogie has relatively good stats this year 7.2ppg, 3.5rpg and 1.1apg in 19 games. He is a naturalized Nigerian.
Khalid Moore (6’7”-F-2000, played in 2018-22, plays pro in Greece) couldn’t help Lavrio (3-5) in their game against Karditsas (1-7) in the Greek GBL. He scored 9 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. But Lavrio was badly defeated84-68 on the opponent’s court by the league outsider Karditsas (#12). It was Lavrio’s fourth consecutive loss in a row. It’s Moore’s first season with the team. Moore has relatively good stats this year 10.7ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.3apg and 1.1spg.
Joshua Heath (6’1”-PG-1994, played in 2014-17, plays in Belgium) couldn’t help Spirou Basket Charleroi (5-5) in their game against Oostende (8-2) in the BNXT League, despite his very good performance in Friday night’s game. Heath scored 13 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 22 minutes. But Spirou Basket Charleroi was crushed83-60 on the opponent’s court by the leading Oostende. This year Heath averages 6.0ppg, 2.7rpg, 3.6apg and 1.1spg in 10 games.
Ja’von Franklin (6’7”-F-1998, played in 2023-23, currently in Serbia) couldn’t help Borac CA in their game against Partizan in the ABA League. Franklin scored 7 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. His team was crushed by 45 points 101-56. Franklin has relatively good stats this season 12.3ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.3apg and 1.4spg.
Charles Mitchell (6’8”-F/C-1993, played in 2014-16, plays pro in Argentina) couldn’t help Obera in their game against Platense in the Argentinian La Liga, despite his very good performance in Sunday night’s game. Mitchell had a double-double by scoring 21 points and getting 14 rebounds in 39 minutes. But his team lost 71-84. Mitchell has relatively good stats this year 14.3ppg and 8.9rpg in 10 games.
Jordan Usher (6’7”-SF-1998, played in 2019-22, plays in Australia) contributed to a Perth Wildcats’ victory against the closely-ranked Kings 114-105 in the Australian NBL last Friday. Usher scored 6 points. Usher has relatively good stats this season 12.8ppg and 2.8rpg.
Marcus Georges-Hunt (6’5”-F-1994, played in 2012-16, currently in Kuwait) led his Kuwaiti team Kuwait to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Al Rayyan crushing them 85-62 in the West Asia Super League on Monday night. Georges-Hunt scored 15 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 33 minutes. Georges-Hunt has relatively good stats this year 13.5ppg, 2.5rpg and 3.0apg in two games. He is a naturalized Virgin Islander.
Adam Smith (6’1”-PG-1992, played in 2015-16, plays pro in Spain) couldn’t help Surne Bilbao Basket in their game against Unicaja in the Spanish Liga Endesa. He cannot count Saturday’s game as one of the best ones. Smith scored only 2 points. His team was crushed by 24 points 67-43. Smith has relatively good stats this season 13.0ppg, 1.1rpg, 2.5apg and 1.2spg.
Other former Georgia Tech players, who play in pro basketball:
- Thaddeus Young (6’8”-F-1988, played in 2006-07) plays for Toronto Raptors in the NBA
- James Banks III (6’10”-F/C-1998, played in 2018-20) signed for Boston Celtics in the NBA
- Derrick Favors (6’10”-F-1991, played in 2009-23) signed for Chicago Bulls in the NBA
- Michael Devoe (6’5”-G-1999, played in 2018-22) signed for Utah Jazz in the NBA
- Avi Schafer (6’9”-C-1998, played in 2017-19) plays for SeaHorses Mikawa in Japanese B1 League
- Moses Wright (6’9”-F-1998, played in 2017-21) signed for Shanxi Loongs in Chinese CBA
- Trae Golden (6’3”-PG-1991, played in 2013-14) signed for Sichuan Blue Whales in Chinese CBA
- Brandon Alston (6’5”-G-1995, played in 2017-19) played for Batumi in Georgian Superleague
- Anthony McHenry (6’8”-SF-1983, played in 2001-05) played for Shinshu BW in Japanese B1 League
- Evan Jester (6’7”-F-1999, played in 2017-19) plays for Atlanta Aliens in the ABA
- Tadric Jackson (6’2”-G-1994, played in 2014-18) played for Atlanta Aliens in the ABA
- Robert Sampson (6’8”-F-1992, played in 2013-13) plays for Nhatrang Dolphins in Vietnamese VBA
- Glen Rice Jr. (6’6”-F-1991, played in 2009-12) plays for Power in the Big3
- Abdoulaye Gueye (6’9”-C-1994, played in 2014-15) signed for Sigortam.net in Turkish TBL
- Gani Lawal (6’9”-F/C-1988, played in 2007-10) signed for Plateros de Fresnillo in Mexican LNBP
The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Georgia Tech basketball alumni.
