University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA in the NBA, Regular Season Update
The seven UCLA players who have helped their respective NBA teams advance to the playoffs this season include Jordan Adams (Memphis Grizzlies), Arron Afflalo (Portland Trail Blazers), Kyle Anderson (San Antonio Spurs), Trevor Ariza (Houston Rockets), Matt Barnes (Los Angeles Clippers), Jrue Holiday (New Orleans Pelicans) and Kevin Love (Cleveland Cavaliers).
In all, UCLA had 18 of its former players compete in the NBA this season. Five of the Bruins’ eight players from the 2013-14 squad saw playing time, while six players from the 2012-13 team competed in the NBA during the regular season.
Below is a short synopsis on each former UCLA player who played in at least one NBA game during the 2014-15 regular season.
UCLA Player Recaps
Jordan Adams
Memphis Grizzlies
In his first NBA season, Jordan Adams played in 30 games for the Memphis Grizzlies, averaging 3.1 points and 0.9 rebounds per game. Adams, who scored a season-high 19 points against Golden State on April 13, also averaged 18.1 points in 11 games for the Iowa Energy in the NBA D-League. Memphis finished the regular season with a 55-27 overall record, securing the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference, and will face the Portland Trail Blazers in a first-round playoff series starting Sunday evening.
Arron Afflalo
Portland Trail Blazers
Among UCLA’s most veteran NBA players, Arron Afflalo averaged 13.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 78 games. He played in 53 games for the Denver Nuggets before competing in 25 games to close the season with Portland. Afflalo twice reached the 30-point plateau this season, scoring a season-high 34 points on Jan. 5 in Denver’s 110-101 victory at Minnesota. Currently in his eighth year in the league, Afflalo helped Portland finish the year 51-31 overall. Seeded No. 4 in the Western Conference, the Trail Blazers will take on the Memphis Grizzlies in a first-round playoff series beginning Sunday night.
Kyle Anderson
San Antonio Spurs
In his first NBA season, Kyle Anderson played in 33 games for the San Antonio Spurs, averaging 2.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in 10.8 minutes per game. Anderson registered a season-high 15 points at Portland on Dec. 15. He played in 26 games for the Austin Spurs of the NBA D-League, averaging 21.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.5 blocks per game. San Antonio finished the regular season with a 55-27 record, earning the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference. San Antonio will open a first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday evening at Staples Center.
Trevor Ariza
Houston Rockets
An 11-year veteran in the NBA, Trevor Ariza averaged 12.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.9 steals in 35.7 minutes per game for the Houston Rockets. He played in all 82 regular-season games, scoring a season-high 24 points twice and logging at least 20 points in seven games. Houston secured the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference after having won the Southwest Division, sporting a 56-26 overall record. Houston will open a first-round playoff series at home against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday evening.
Matt Barnes
Los Angeles Clippers
A 12-year veteran in the NBA, Matt Barnes averaged 10.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 76 games (74 starts) for the Los Angeles Clippers. Playing in his fourth season with the Clippers (his third consecutive), Barnes twice scored a season-high 26 points. He finished the regular season having scored in double figures 35 times, helping lead the Clippers to the playoffs for the third consecutive year. As the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, the Clippers will open a first-round playoff series at home against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night at Staples Center.
Darren Collison
Sacramento Kings
In his sixth season in the NBA, Darren Collison averaged 16.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 45 games for the Sacramento Kings. Collison tallied a season-high 27 points on 9-of-10 shooting (3-for-3 from three-point range) in a win over the New York Knicks on Dec. 27. He missed the final 10 weeks of the season with a core muscle injury (had surgery on March 3 after having last played on Feb. 5). Sacramento closed the regular season with a 29-53 overall record.
Larry Drew II
Philadelphia 76ers
After having spent nearly two full seasons in the NBA D-League, Larry Drew II made his NBA debut this season with the Philadelphia 76ers. The former UCLA point guard averaged 3.8 points, 1.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 12 games. Drew II played in 42 games (40 starts) for the Sioux City SkyForce of the D-League, where he averaged 11.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 9.6 assists per game. His first game with Philadelphia came on Jan. 16, while his final game took place Feb. 3.
Jordan Farmar
Los Angeles Clippers
Playing in his eighth season in the NBA, Jordan Farmar averaged 4.6 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game in 36 contests with the Los Angeles Clippers. Farmar, who had six games where he scored in double figures, totaled a season-high 15 points in a win over Detroit on Dec. 15. He and the Clippers mutually parted ways in mid-January.
Jrue Holiday
New Orleans Pelicans
In his sixth season in the NBA, Jrue Holiday averaged 14.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game in 40 contests (37 starts) for the New Orleans Pelicans. Holiday was sidelined with a lower right leg injury for 41 consecutive games prior to returning to the Pelicans’ lineup in the last week. He scored a season-high 30 points in two games (over a five-day span) and registered at least 20 points in eight games. New Orleans clinched the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference on April 15, closing the regular season with a 45-37 overall record. The Pelicans will face the Golden State Warriors in a first-round playoff series beginning Saturday afternoon in Oakland.
Ryan Hollins
Sacramento Kings
A nine-year NBA veteran, Ryan Hollins finished the season having averaged 3.0 points and 2.2 rebounds in 9.6 minutes per game for the Sacramento Kings. Hollins played in 46 games (nine starts) for Sacramento, suiting up alongside former UCLA guard Darren Collison. Hollins scored a season-high 15 points in a game against San Antonio on Nov. 28. Sacramento closed the regular season with a 29-53 overall record.
Zach LaVine
Minnesota Timberwolves
In his first NBA season, Zach LaVine averaged 10.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game for the Minnesota Timberwolves. LaVine played in 77 of 82 regular-season games (40 starts), scoring in double figures in 31 games (including each of his last 15 games). He totaled a season-high 37 points against the Golden State Warriors on April 11. LaVine also won the 2015 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest on Feb. 14 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Minnesota closed the regular season with a 16-66 overall record.
Malcolm Lee
Philadelphia 76ers
After having played portions of two seasons in the NBA (2011-12, 2012-13), Malcolm Lee played in one game for the Philadelphia 76ers (Dec. 10). Lee spent the majority of the season playing for the Grand Rapids Drive and the Delaware 87ers in the NBA D-League. He averaged 10.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 32 games between both D-League teams.
Kevin Love
Cleveland Cavaliers
In his first season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, his seventh year in the NBA, Kevin Love averaged 16.4 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, competing in 75 contests (75 starts). Love finished the regular season with 38 double-doubles. He scored a season-high 32 points in Cleveland’s 120-105 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 8 and registered a season-high 19 rebounds in two games. Cleveland concluded the regular season with the second-best win total in the Eastern Conference, posting a 53-29 record to finish atop the Central Division. The Cavaliers have earned the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and will open a first-round playoff series against Boston on Sunday afternoon. This will mark the first-ever NBA playoff appearance for Love.
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
Philadelphia 76ers
Playing his first season with the Philadelphia 76ers, seven-year NBA veteran Luc Richard Mbah a Moute averaged 9.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game in 2014-15. He scored a season-high 19 points in two games. Mbah a Moute played in 67 games (61 starts) for Philadelphia, which finished the year with an 18-64 overall record.
Shabazz Muhammad
Minnesota Timberwolves
In his second NBA season, Shabazz Muhammad averaged 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Muhammad played in 38 games (13 starts) and saw his season end prematurely due to a finger injury. He scored in double figures in 23 of 38 games, totaling a career-high 30 points in a loss to the Utah Jazz on Dec. 30. Muhammad finished the year having scored at least 20 points in eight games. Minnesota closed the regular season with a 16-66 overall record.
David Wear
Sacramento Kings
An undrafted free agent following his senior season at UCLA, David Wear signed a 10-day contract with the Sacramento Kings midway through the 2014-15 season and played in two games. He spent the bulk of the 2014-15 campaign in the NBA D-League, averaging 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game in 43 contests with the Reno Bighorns.
Travis Wear
New York Knicks
In his first full NBA season, Travis Wear averaged 3.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 51 games (one start) for the New York Knicks. An undrafted free agent in the summer of 2014, Wear signed with the Knicks in Sept. 2014 and made the team’s 15-man roster prior to Opening Night. He totaled a season-high 21 points in a loss to the Houston Rockets on Jan. 8, connecting on 9 of 16 shots and 3 of 6 attempts from 3-point range. The Knicks concluded the regular season with a 17-65 overall record.
Russell Westbrook
Oklahoma City Thunder
Playing in his seventh season in the NBA, Russell Westbrook became the second UCLA player to ever win the NBA’s scoring title (28.1 points per game). He concluded the year having also averaged 7.1 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game in addition to totaling 11 triple-doubles. He played in his fourth NBA All-Star Game, totaling 41 points before being named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Westbrook scored a career-high 54 points on April 12. After his MVP performance at the All-Star Game, he averaged 31.4 points, 9.9 assists and 8.6 rebounds per game. He became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1989 to have registered four consecutive triple-doubles. His 11 triple-doubles were the most in a single season since Jason Kidd tallied 13 in 2007-08. Westbrook was also named the NBA’s Western Conference Player of the Month in both February and March. Oklahoma City concluded the regular season with a 45-37 overall record.