While the postseason didn't work out for Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets, not all of the former Texas Longhorns have been eliminated from the NBA Playoffs.
In fact, while Durant's postseason hopes were cut short and Jaxson Hayes couldn't make it work for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Cleveland Cavaliers have made their way to the conference finals, led in part by Longhorn Legend Jarrett Allen.
Allen, who played just one season on the 40 Acres, and the Cavs are poised to face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals after taking down the Detroit Pistons in a seven-game series.
Jarrett Allen and Cleveland Cavaliers head to New York
Allen didn't play in the first game against Detroit, but quickly earned his minutes as the series progressed, racking up an incredible 23 points and seven rebounds in the Cavs' seventh and final meeting against the Pistons.
go get ‘em JA 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/qQuaUntS92
— Texas Men’s Basketball (@TexasMBB) May 18, 2026
Now, Cleveland faces one of the more formidable opponents in this year's Playoffs. New York just swept the Philadelphia 76ers, winning by an average of 22.3 points per game. Before that, they eliminated the Atlanta Hawks in six games.
While at Texas, Allen averaged 13.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 0.8 assists, and 0.6 steals per game while playing the forward position. Since joining the NBA, he has transitioned to the true-center role, standing at 6-foot-9 and 243 pounds.
Allen was selected 22nd overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, going to the Brooklyn Nets in the first round. He spent four seasons with the Nets before heading to Cleveland in 2020, where he has been ever since.
Throughout his professional career so far, he has averaged 13.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 0.7 steals per game in the regular season. This is his seventh postseason appearance, and fourth since joining the Cavaliers.
In this year's NBA Playoffs, he has averaged 13.1 points, 1.9 blocks, 1.1 assists, and 1.0 steals per game.
Also read: Ranking the 10 greatest NBA careers in Texas Longhorns history
The Knicks and the Cavs are scheduled to tip off their series at 7 p.m. CT on Tuesday, May 19, and the first game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Add us as a preferred source on Google