As many as 10 former UCLA basketball players are expected to be listed among postseason rosters by their respective NBA teams when the playoffs get underway this weekend.
UCLA could have as many as seven former players starting for their NBA teams in postseason action – including Trevor Ariza (Houston), Matt Barnes (Memphis Grizzlies), Jordan Farmar (Memphis Grizzlies), Kevin Love (Cleveland Cavaliers), Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (Los Angeles Clippers), Norman Powell (Toronto Raptors) and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder).
Other former UCLA basketball players in the postseason include Kyle Anderson (San Antonio Spurs), Jordan Adams (Memphis Grizzlies) and Kevon Looney (Golden State Warriors). Four best-of-seven series are slated to begin on Saturday, with another four set to start this Sunday.
UCLA's Playoff Perfomers at a Glance
Jordan Adams – Memphis Grizzlies
Adams was hindered in 2015-16 by a right knee injury and played in just two games. The second-year NBA player is not expected to play in the postseason (knee surgery in January) but will be on the Memphis roster. The Grizzlies, along with two other former UCLA players (Matt Barnes and Jordan Farmar), finished the regular season with a 42-40 overall record and begins the playoffs as the Western Conference's No. 7 seed. Memphis takes on San Antonio (No. 2 seed) on Saturday at 5 p.m. (PT). The game will be televised by TNT.
Kyle Anderson – San Antonio Spurs
In his second season in the NBA, Anderson averaged 4.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 78 games (11 starts) for San Antonio. He shot 46.8 percent from the field, playing primarily off the bench. San Antonio went 67-15 in 2015-16, setting a franchise record for most regular-season wins. The Spurs posted a 40-1 record at home and enter the postseason as the Western Conference's No. 2 seed. San Antonio will open its first-round playoff series at home against the Memphis Grizzlies (No. 7 seed) on Saturday at 5 p.m. (PT). The game will be televised by TNT.
Trevor Ariza – Houston Rockets
Heading into the playoffs in his 12th year in the NBA, Ariza averaged 12.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 81 games (81 starts) for Houston. He finished the season ranked second on the team in minutes per game (35.3) and fourth in scoring (12.7). The Rockets finished the regular-season with a 41-41 overall record, securing the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. Houston begins its first-round playoff series on the road versus the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors on Saturday. Game time is 12:30 p.m. (PT). Houston's game will be televised by ABC.
Matt Barnes – Memphis Grizzlies
UCLA's most experienced NBA veteran, Barnes enters the postseason in his 13th year in the league. During his first year with Memphis, the 36-year-old Barnes averaged 10.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 76 games (45 starts). He recorded his first career triple-double (26 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) against New Orleans on March 11. He became the oldest player in NBA history to record his first triple-double (previously, Dennis Rodman at age 34 in 1996). Joined on Memphis' roster by former UCLA guards Jordan Farmar and Jordan Adams, Barnes helped Memphis post a 42-40 record to lock up the Western Conference's No. 7 seed. The Grizzlies will face San Antonio (No. 2 seed) on Saturday at 5 p.m. (PT). The game will be televised by TNT.
Jordan Farmar – Memphis Grizzlies
Acquired by Memphis midway through the seasons, Farmar averaged 9.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 12 games (10 starts). Playing alongside former UCLA teammate Ryan Hollins (later waived by Memphis), Farmar scored a season-high 15 points in 31 minutes against the Chicago Bulls on April 5. Farmar helped the Grizzlies close the regular season with a 42-40 overall record as the Western Conference's No. 7 seed. Memphis will take on No. 2 seed San Antonio on Saturday at 5 p.m. The game will be televised by TNT.
Kevon Looney – Golden State Warriors
A rookie in the NBA this season, Looney played in five games for the Warriors after overcoming offseason hip surgery. Looney totaled nine points and 10 rebounds in 21 minutes after having been selected as the organization's first round draft selection last June. Golden State closed the regular-season with a league single-season-record 73 wins (and just nine losses), clinching the Western Conference's top seed. The Warriors will open their first-round playoff series against No. 8 seed Houston on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (PT). The game will be televised by ABC.
Kevin Love – Cleveland Cavaliers
Making his second career postseason appearance in his eighth NBA season, Love averaged 16.0 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 77 games (77 starts) for Cleveland. He led the Cavaliers in rebounding (9.9 rpg) and was third on the team in scoring (16.0 ppg), averaging 31.5 minutes per game. Cleveland went 57-25 during the regular season to secure the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers will open their first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons (No. 8 seed) on Sunday at 12 p.m. (PT). The game will be televised by ABC.
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute – Los Angeles Clippers
In his eighth year in the NBA, Mbah a Moute averaged 3.1 points and 2.3 rebounds per game for the Los Angeles Clippers. A free agent acquisition of the Clippers in the offseason, Mbah a Moute played in 75 games (61 starts). He helped the Clippers compile a 53-29 overall record, locking up the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. The Clippers will take on the Portland Trail Blazers (No. 5 seed) beginning this Sunday. Game time at Staples Center in Los Angeles is 7:30 p.m. (PT). The game will be televised by TNT.
Norman Powell – Toronto Raptors
One of UCLA's two rookies in the NBA this season, Powell averaged 5.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 49 games (24 starts) for Toronto in 2015-16. He secured Kia NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors for the month of April, helping the Raptors record a franchise single-season record 56 wins (56-26 overall record). Toronto secured the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and will face the Indiana Pacers (No. 7 seed) beginning Saturday. Game time at Toronto's Air Canada Centre is 9:30 a.m. (PT). The game will be televised by ESPN.
Russell Westbrook – Oklahoma City Thunder
Now in his eighth NBA season, Westbrook registered 23.5 points, 10.4 assists and 7.6 rebounds per game for Oklahoma City. Westbrook concluded the regular season with18 triple-doubles, equaling the most in one NBA season since Magic Johnson accomplished the feat in 1981-82. During the month of March, Westbrook posted seven triple-doubles as he became the first player since Michael Jordan (in April of 1989) to register seven triple-doubles in one month. Oklahoma City ended its regular season with a 55-27 overall record, clinching the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. The Thunder will open their first-round playoff series against the No. 6 seed Dallas Mavericks on Saturday. Game time is 6:30 p.m. (PT). Oklahoma City's game will be televised by ESPN.