5 Louisville NBA Players Who Are Making a Name for Themselves
Contents
These five NBA players are quickly making a name for themselves in Louisville. From the Pelicans to the Lakers, they are showing their talents on the court.
Introduction
The Louisville Cardinals have a long and proud tradition of success on the basketball court dating all the way back to 1912. In recent years the program has produced a number of excellent players who have gone on to successful careers in the NBA. Here are five Louisville NBA players who are making a name for themselves.
1. Donovan Mitchell
Donovan Mitchell was drafted by the Utah Jazz in 2017 and immediately made an impact, winning Rookie of the Year honors. He has continued to improve, becoming one of the best young guards in the league. Last season, he averaged 24.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game leading the Jazz to the playoffs.
2. Rajon Rondo
Rajon Rondo is a four-time NBA All-Star and a one-time All-Star game MVP. He was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2006 and went on to help them win an NBA Championship in 2008. He has also played for the Dallas Mavericks Sacramento Kings and Chicago Bulls Last season, he averaged 8.9 points, 8.0 assists, and 6.6 rebounds per game for the Lakers.
3. Montrezl Harrell
Montrezl Harrell was drafted by the Houston Rockets in 2015 but was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers shortly thereafter. He has been a key player for them over the past few seasons,averaging 13 .6 points and 6 .7 rebounds per game last season off the bench . He was named sixth man of year award . In 2020 he help lead Clippers to there first ever NBA Finals appearance . Currently he is playing Power Forward for Team USA in 2020 Olympics qualification games . With his recent success , look for him to have big impact this summer when Olympics take place in Tokyo Japan .
Louisville’s NBA Players
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a Professional Basketball league in the United States The Louisville Cardinals men’s basketball team has produced numerous players who have gone on to have successful careers in the NBA. Here are five of them:
-Dwayne Wade
-LeBron James
-Carmelo Anthony
-Chris Paul
-Derrick Rose
Who is Making a Name for Themselves?
It is no secret that the NBA has been dominated by star players for quite some time now. However, there have been several Louisville players who have made a name for themselves in the league. Here are 5 of them:
--Rajon Rondo Rajon Rondo is a well-known point guard who has played for several teams throughout his career. He is currently a member of the Los Angeles Lakers Rondo is a 4-time All-Star and was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2013. He has also won an NBA Championship (2008) and an Olympic gold medal (2008).
-Gorgui Dieng: Gorgui Dieng is a center who plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves He was born in Senegal but moved to Louisville when he was 12 years old. Dieng was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2014 and has represented Senegal in international competitions.
--Donovan Mitchell Donovan Mitchell is a shooting guard/point guard for the Utah Jazz He was born and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut but played collegiately at Louisville. Mitchell was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2018 and won an Olympic Gold Medal as a member of Team USA in 2020.
-Terry Rozier: Terry Rozier is a point guard for the Charlotte Hornets He played collegiately at Louisville before being drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2015. Rozier has represented Team USA in international competitions and won an Olympic Gold Medal in 2020.
-Darius Miller: Darius Miller is a small forward/shooting guard for the New Orleans Pelicans He played collegiately at Kentucky before being drafted by the Pelicans in 2012. Miller has represented Germany internationally and won an Olympic Silver Medal as a member of their team in 2008.
The Impact of these Players
Throughout the years, many NBA players have made their start in Louisville. The city has produced some of the most prolific names in the sport, including Dwayne Wade, Karl-Anthony Towns and Rajon Rondo. However, there are five players who are currently making a name for themselves and impacting the league in a major way.
Chris Paul is one of the most veteran players on this list, but his impact on the game cannot be understated. A 10-time All-Star and 3-time Olympian, Chris Paul is currently averaging 17.7 points and 8 assists per game for the Houston Rockets His leadership and playmaking abilities have helped Houston become one of the top teams in the Western Conference
Rudy Gobert is one of the best Defensive Players in the NBA. The 7-foot center anchors the Utah Jazz defense, which is currently ranked first in points allowed per game. Gobert is also a force on offense, averaging 13 points and 12 rebounds per game. His impact has been instrumental in Utah’s success this season.
De’Aaron Fox is a rising star in the league. The point guard is averaging 18 points and 7 assists per game for the Sacramento Kings Fox is an extremely quick player with great vision and shooting ability. His play has helped Sacramento turned things around after years of being one of the worst teams in the NBA.
Donovan Mitchell is another player who is quickly making a name for himself in the NBA. The shooting guard is averaging 23 points per game for the Jazz. Mitchell is an excellent scorer with a great all-around game. He has become one of the best young players in the league and has helped lead Utah to a top seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Conclusion
The Kentucky city of Louisville has produced several NBA players who have made a name for themselves. Some of the most notable include current Los Angeles Lakers player Rajon Rondo and former Boston Celtic Reggie Lewis Here are 5 Louisville NBA players who are making a name for themselves.
Rajon Rondo: Rondo was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 2006 but was traded to the Celtics before ever playing a game for the Suns. He quickly became one of the best point guards in the league, helping the Celtics win an NBA Championship in 2008. He was named to 4 All-Star teams and is currently considered one of the best players in the league.
Reggie Lewis: Lewis was drafted by the Celtics in 1987 and quickly became one of their Top Players He was named an All-Star in 1992 and was considered one of the best small forwards in the league. Unfortunately, Lewis’ career was cut short by a heart condition and he passed away at just 27 years old.
Dwyane Wade: Wade was drafted by the Miami Heat in 2003 and is currently considered one of the best Shooting Guards in NBA history He’s been named to 11 All-Star teams, won 3 NBA championships and was named Finals MVP in 2006. Wade recently announced that he will retire after this season, bringing an end to a Hall of Fame career.
Derrick Rose: Rose was drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the first overall pick in 2008 and quickly became one of their best players. He was named Rookie of the Year and helped lead the Bulls to the playoffs several times. However, Rose’s career has been plagued by injuries and he hasn’t played an NBA game since 2016.
DeJuan Wheat: Wheat wasn’t drafted by an NBA team but did play for several years in Europe before finally getting his chance with the Charlotte Hornets in 1999. He played 3 seasons for Charlotte before his career ended due to injuries.