Pro Hogs Update: Portis, Moody off to hot starts through two weeks of NBA season
There are currently 11 former Razorbacks on NBA rosters, tied with Michigan and Gonzaga for fifth-most of any college basketball program this season.
Through two weeks of the NBA regular season, no former Hogs have been as impressive as Bobby Portis and Moses Moody.
Portis has appeared in every game for the Milwaukee Bucks thus far, and has provided the team with production and veteran leadership. Moody, in his third season with the Golden State Warriors, just had the fourth year of his rookie contract exercised on Oct. 31. That came just days after he made his first start of the season, where he recorded 13 points (5-8 FG, 2-5 3P), three rebounds and four assists in 21 minutes.
Let’s go around the league and take a closer look at how all 11 former Hogs are doing so far in this young NBA season.
Patrick Beverley
Team: Philadelphia 76ers (4-1)
Games Played: Five (off bench)
2023-24 Stats: 2.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 38.5 FG%, 18.2 minutes
Patrick Beverley has appeared in all five games for the 76ers this season, each time coming off the bench. His best outing of the season, so far, came in the team’s 114-99 win over Toronto on Nov. 2. Beverley recorded 2 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, an assist and a block in 28 minutes.
Anthony Black
Team: Orlando Magic (4-2)
Games Played: Four (one start)
2023-24 Stats: 6.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.8 steals, 83.3 FG%, 66.7 3P% (2-3 3PT), 60.0 FT%
Anthony Black has appeared in four of the Magic’s six games this year, including making his first career start in their 120-101 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 4. Black recorded 11 points (4-6 FG, 2-3 3PT), 4 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal in 30 minutes of action.
Ricky Council IV
Team: Philadelphia 76ers – Delaware Blue Coats (G-League)
Games Played: None
Ricky Council IV was waived by the Sixers before being signed back to the team on a two-way contract on Oct. 25. Council appeared in three preseason games for Philadelphia where he averaged 3.3 points,1.7 rebounds and 37.5% shooting from the field. He’ll spend time in the G-League with Delaware, but also can be called-up to the Sixers’ active roster at any point during the season.
Daniel Gafford
Team: Washington Wizards (1-4)
Games Played: Three (three starts)
2023-24 Stats: 6.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 85.7 FG%, 61.5 FT%
Daniel Gafford has been a starter in each of the three games he’s played this season. He’s missed two games due to an ankle injury, and could miss Monday night’s game against Philadelphia. Gafford’s best performance of the year thus far came on Oct. 28 against the Memphis Grizzlies, where he recorded a double-double. He finished with 10 points (3-4 FG, 4-6 FT), 11 rebounds and 2 blocks.
Isaiah Joe
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder (3-3)
Games Played: Six (off bench)
2023-24 Stats: 9.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 38.6 FG%, 38.2 3P%, 78.6 FT%
Isaiah Joe is a key rotation player for the Thunder in just his fourth season in the league. He’s appeared in all six games, off the bench, and has played about 20 minutes per night. Joe’s best performance thus far came during the Thunder’s last outing on Nov. 3, a 141-139 loss to the Golden State Warriors. He recorded 16 points (4-6 FG, 3-5 3PT, 5-6 FT) and an assist in 26 minutes of action.
Moses Moody
Team: Golden State Warriors (5-2)
Games Played: Seven (one start)
2023-24 Stats: 7.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.1 steals, 47.4 FG%, 34.6 3P%, 66.7 FT%
Moses Moody has cemented his place in Steve Kerr’s main rotation so far this season. He’s appeared in all seven games, including getting the starting nod on Oct. 30 in the team’s 130-102 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Moody finished the game with a season-high 13 points (5-8 FG, 2-5 3PT), 3 rebounds and 4 assists in 21 minutes.
Bobby Portis
Team: Milwaukee Bucks (3-2)
Games Played: Five (off bench)
2023-24 Stats: 10.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 47.7 FG%
Through five games, ninth-year NBA vet Bobby Portis has been relatively solid off the bench for the Bucks. He’s played at least 17 minutes in all five games, including an impressive performance in the team’s 122-114 win over Miami on Oct. 30. He recorded 16 points (7-10 FG), 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a block in that contest.
Portis struggled in their most recent outing, a 110-105 over the New York Knicks, but looks to bounce back with four games this upcoming week.
Nick Smith Jr.
Team: Charlotte Hornets (2-4)
Games Played: One (off bench)
Nick Smith Jr. finds himself at the end of a very crowded backcourt rotation in Charlotte. Because of that, he’s only appeared in one regular season game and it was for less that a minute during the team’s 116-110 win over Atlanta on Oct. 25.
Stanley Umude
Team: Detroit Pistons – Motor City Cruise (G-League)
Games Played: Five (off bench)
After an impressive preseason performance, Stanley Umude was signed to a two-way contract by the Detroit Pistons. He’s appeared in five games this season for the Pistons, but only in very limited minutes. Umude averaged 9.3 points (45.5% FG, 43.8% 3PT), 3.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists over four preseason games. Last year, Umude averaged 15.4 points (38.5% 3PT) and 4.7 rebounds playing for in the G-League’s Motor City Cruise.
Jordan Walsh
Team: Boston Celtics (5-0)
Games Played: None
Being drafted No. 38 overall by the Boston Celtics, Jordan Walsh landed in a very good situation on a championship contending franchise. Unfortunately, with the Celtics being in win-now mode, Walsh won’t see meaningful minutes on a consistent basis during his rookie season.
Instead, Boston will be assigning Walsh to their G-League affiliate team (Maine Celtics) throughout the year in an effort to get him more playing time to help in his development. Walsh appeared in three preseason games where he averaged 2.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 13.5 minutes per game.
Jaylin Williams
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder (3-3)
Games Played: One (off bench)
2023-24 Stats: 6.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 40.0 FG%, 15.0 minutes
Jaylin Williams made his first appearance of the season for Oklahoma City this past Friday in the team’s 141-139 loss to the Golden State Warriors. He missed the Thunder’s first five games dealing with a hamstring injury. Williams looked very impressive over the summer and into the preseason. He will have four games this upcoming week to knock off some rust.
