THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY OCTOBER 13, 2008
12C BASKETBALL JAYHAWKS IN THE NBA
12C BASKETBALL PREVIEW
Four members of the 2008 National Championship team join other former Kansas players in the NBA, including league champions Pierce, Pollard
BY TOMMY POWERS
tpowers@kansan.com
Brandon Rush No.25, shooting guard Indiana Pacers Kansas 2005-2008
Being a lottery pick certainly has its perks. Brandon Rush, who was selected No. 13 overall by the Portland Trailblazers and
then traded to Indiana,
did not have to participate in the
NBA Orlando Pro Summer
League like the rest of the
Pacers' rookies; his roster spot
Rush
is guaranteed. Although he is listed as the second-string shooting guard on the Indiana depth chart and will be sharing time with five other potential shooting guards. Rush should get the playing time that a lottery pick deserves. Rush is the kind of player who could make the Pacers a playoff team again, especially on an Eastern Conference team that fell just one game short a year ago.
Mario Chalmers No. 6, point guard Miami Heat Kansas 2005-2008
Just two months and eighteen days after Mario Chalmers hit arguably the greatest shot in
Kansas basketball history, the young point guard was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 34th overall pick in the 2008
Chalmers
NBA Draft. Shortly thereafter, Chalmers was traded to the Miami Heat for two future second-round
draft picks. Aside from his now-infamous expulsion from the NBA's rookie symposium for fraternization with two women and alleged marijuana use, a charge he shared with fellow Jayhawk teammate Darrell Arthur, "Rio had quite a productive summer. Chalmers started all five games for the Heat in the Orlando Pro Summer League and averaged 15.8 points, two rebounds, 5.4 assists and two steals per game, earning him All-Summer League Second Team honors. Also vying for the starting point guard spot, a position that the Miami Herald recently reported was "in desperate need of an upgrade," are Chris Quinn, who started 26 games for the Heat last season; Marcus Banks, who in 12 games with the Heat started only two; and the recently signed Shaun Livingston, who is still recovering from a gruesome knee injury. Look for Mario's production to increase as he progressively earns more and more minutes throughout the season.
Darrell Arthur
No. 00, power forward
Memphis Grizzlies
Kansas 2006-2008
Just a few days after he slid
of the NBA Draft's first round, Darrell Arthur said he be playing with a chip on his shoulder during his rookie season.
Arthur was
quoted as saying this just a few days after he had fallen drastically on draft day after inaccurate blood tests suggested that he had kidney problems. He was eventually selected by New Orleans with the 27th overall pick, but Arthur didn't stay a Hornet for long. He was first traded to the Trailblazers then dealt to the Rockets and lastly shipped to the Grizzlies, finally finding his home in Memphis. Its obvious why he's got that chip on his shoulder. In Las Vegas Summer league play, Arthur started all five games and started to prove why he should never have been slept on, averaging 13.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.8 blocks per game. Arthur should get significant minutes during the regular season in spite of the fact that he is currently listed as the third-string power forward for the Grizzlies, playing behind starter Hakim Warrick and second-string Antoine Walker.
Arthur
Darnell Jackson
No. 00, power forward
Cleveland Cavaliers
Kansas 2004-2008
Darnell Jackson is one of Lawrence's most beloved Jayhawk from the 2008 National
Championship squad and that's why Kansas fans felt so gratified when Miami selected Jackson with the 52nd overall pick in the 2008 NBA
Jackson
draft. He was quickly moved to Cleveland. Coach Mike Brown compared Jackson to the legendarily tough Chicago Bears linebacker Dick Butkus. Perhaps that's why they signed him to a guaranteed two-year deal. In the Las Vegas Summer League, Darnell started four out of five games and averaged 5.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Jackson is listed as fourth on the preseason
depth chart at the power forward position and will be behind Ben Wallace, J.J. Hickson, a fellow rookie, and Lance Allred, the NBA's first deaf player.
Paul Pierce No. 34, small forward Boston Celtics Kansas 1995-1998
Paul Pierce is coming off a dream year in Boston in which he was able to finally lead the Celtics to their 17th NBA Championship
after ten frustrating seasons with the franchise. It helped that Boston went out and got future hall of fame players Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen
Pierce
in the offseason. Pierce averaged 16.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.18 assists and 1.36 steals per game in the '07-'08 season. His No. 34 jersey will eternally hang in Allen Fieldhouse and may someday also grace the rafters of the TD Banknorth Garden.
Drew Gooden No.90, power forward Chicago Bulls Kansas 1999-2002
Since graduating from Kansas in 2002, Drew Gooden has played for Orlando, Cleveland and Chicago, where he new teams with fellow Jayhawk Kirk Hinrich.
According to Chicago's preseason depth chart, Gooden is currently the starting power forward for the Bulls. In the '07-'08
Gooden
Photos by ASSOCIATED PRESS
Above: New Orleans Hornet Julian Wright contests a loose ball against Golden State. Wright's team made it to the playoffs last season. Below: Former Jayhawk and current Boston Celtic Pai Pierce grabs a rebound. The Celtics won the NBA finals last season.
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