Texas Basketball: A look at the alumni for the 19/20 NBA season
By Shane Black
Kevin Durant (BKN)
2018/19 stats: 78 GP, 26.0 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.1 BPG
The greatest player to ever come out of Texas men’s basketball program tore his Achilles in last season’s NBA Finals and will miss all of the 2019/20 season. It is unfortunate, of course, that one of the world’s greatest basketball players will not be on the court this season, however, the 10x all star has a very advantageous situation set up in Brooklyn upon his return.
Jaxson Hayes (NO)
2018/19 stats (in college): 32 GP, 10.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.2 BPG
Jaxson Hayes went from an unknown three-star recruit to the tenth pick of the 2019 NBA Draft in just 12 months. In 32 college games Hayes showed he has the skillset of a modern day big man. He blocks shots (2.2 BPG), runs the floor, and has shown he has the ability to develop a jump shot in the future with his 74 percent free throw percentage from the line in college.
However, at just 19 years of age and with limited basketball experience, it will be a tough learning curve for young Hayes. He will provide high energy off the bench for the Pelicans this season, but is still years out from reaching his full potential.