Author: Monojit Mandal
As the 2023 NBA playoffs approach, a familiar pattern emerges: Kentucky players are everywhere. The ex-Wildcats are having a big effect on their individual squads from the Eastern to Western Conference.
Former Kentucky coach John Calipari saw his former point guard, Tyrese Maxey, rout the Nets by 33 points in Game 2 of the Philadelphia 76ers series against the Brooklyn Nets. Maxey benefited greatly from the Nets’ choice to pair Joel Embiid, hitting a career-high six three-pointers and dominating the post when starting big man Nic Claxton was on the bench.
But Maxey isn’t the only former Kentucky point guard who is making a name for himself in the post-season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put on a show during the Play-In Tournament, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first playoff battle since the start of the rebuilding process. Players like Tyler Herro and Immanuel Quickley are keeping Big Blue Nation in the Eastern Conference. Devin Booker, Jamal Murray, De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk are also making waves in the Western Conference.
Former Kentucky players in the playoffs include Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, Bam Adebayo, Julius Randle, Jarred Vanderbilt, Trey Lyles, Wenyen Gabriel and Brandon Boston Jr.
Every night of the first round, coach Calipari could sit on the court and watch one of his former players perform. So let’s just focus on the previous highlights of Kentucky’s defense and evaluate how they fared in the tournament.
Maxey’s 33-point outburst against the Nets wasn’t his only standout performance as a former Kentucky point guard. Tyler Herro has been an important player for the Miami Heat, scoring 21.5 points per game, helping his team to a 1-1 tie in the series with Milwauke and the Bucks. Immanue Quickley is a rookie with the New York Knicks, but he’s already impressing with his scoring abilities and intensity off the bench.
Devin Booker has been the Phoenix Suns’ best player in the Western Conference, scoring 31.5 points in each game and giving his team a 2-0 lead over the Denver Nuggets.