BBNBA: 21 former Kentucky Wildcats make the NBA postseason

The 2023-24 NBA regular season is officially in the books. In total, 30 former Kentucky players saw minutes at some point this year across 20 different teams. Say what you want about how that came that came to pass, it is an incredible achievement. I hope Mark Pope crushes it at Kentucky. He is a breath of fresh air and his love for the name on the front of the jersey is a rejuvenating perspective change.

However, the days of Lexington being an NBA factory may be over, at least in the same sense we have grown to know in the last 15 years. I’m not saying that is either good or bad, but as we sit on the precipice of a new era in Kentucky basketball, it is worth tipping the cap to what will likely sunsetting of the unreal quantity of active NBA talent who wore blue and white in college.

Case in point, this year, teams to make the playoffs or the play-in games roster 21 former Kentucky players. That is, you know, a lot. It may be a year or two before it washes out, but cheers to an incredible run.

Devin Booker and the Suns avoid the play-in game, secure playoffs

Sunday’s final regular season contest for every team spawned some serious seeding shuffling, and perhaps none more significant for former ‘Cats than the Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Suns entered Sunday in 7th place, which would have put them in the play-in game. They needed to beat the Timberwolves and have the New Orleans Pelicans lose to the Los Angeles Lakers in order to bump up to the 6-seed and secure a playoff spot without having to fight it out in the play-in.

That’s exactly what happened. Behind Devin Booker‘s 23 points and seven assists, the Suns downed the Timberwolves in Minnesota 125-106. The loss also dropped the Wolves, who entered the game tied for first place in the West, down to third, setting up for a Phoenix-Minnesota first-round matchup.

Karl-Anthony Towns, who was playing in just his second game back from a knee injury, had 10 points and six rebounds as he looks to get back into game shape for a playoff run.

Meanwhile, Anthony Davis dropped 30 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Lakers beat the Pelicans to secure the 8th spot in the standings. That means the two teams will face off again in the play-in game. The winner secures the 7-seed and a first-round matchup with the Denver Nuggets.

Tyrese Maxey leads 76ers to 8th-straight win

Playoff-wise, the Eastern Conference season finale did not generate as much drama, but that did not stop Tyrese Maxey from staying hot. The favorite for the league’s Most Improved Player award had 26 points and led the Philadelphia 76ers to a win over the Brooklyn Nets, their 8th-straight to end the season.

Conventional sports wisdom says that you want to play your best basketball going into the postseason and that is exactly what the Sixers are doing. They’ll have MVP candidate, Joel Embiid back too, which helps.

The win secured 7th place in the East, so they will play Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, and the Heat in the first play-in game.

Other BBNBA Notes:

• Just four days after scoring a season-high 23 points against the Suns, Brandon Boston Jr. scored 15 points in the Clippers’ finale on Sunday against the Rockets. It is hard to say what is next in Boston’s career, but his time in LA is likely done as his contract expired. He may latch onto another NBA team next season but he could also be a guy who ends up overseas. Best of luck either way.
• Nikola Jokic will almost assuredly win the NBA MVP award, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gave him a run for his money. The former Kentucky guard exploded this year, and somehow got the Thunder to first place in a stacked Western Conference. SGA in the playoffs will be must watch TV.
• Boban Marjanović did not go the Kentucky, but the stunt in a meaningless Rockets game Sunday will touch the heart of Rupp Arena faithful. In the NBA, Chick-fil-A runs the same Fowl Shot promotion as they do at Kentucky where if an opposing player misses two free throws the arena gets free chicken. Boban revved up the crowd as he stepped to the line and intentionally missed his free throws so that everyone walked out with credit for free chicken. That, my friends, is the stuff of kings.

NBA Playoff Bracket

BBNBA Statistics for 4/14/2024

Player	Score	PTS	FG (3PT)	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	P/M	MIN
Anthony Davis (LAL)	124-108 W vs. NOP	30	13-17 (0-1)	11	3	2	0	3	+15	33
Tyrese Maxey (PHI)	107-86 W vs. BRK	26	10-20 (3-7)	3	3	1	0	2	+18	29
De’Aaron Fox (SAC)	121-82 W vs. POR	24	10-14 (2-3)	2	3	3	1	1	+13	26
Devin Booker (PHX)	125-106 W. vs. MIN	23	6-16 (3-8)	4	7	1	0	1	+20	36
Jamal Murray (DEN)	126-111 W vs. MEM	21	7-14 (3-7)	6	4	0	1	2	+27	24
Bam Adebayo (MIA)	118-103 W vs. TOR	17	8-10 (0-1)	6	2	3	1	4	+12	19
Tyler Herro (MIA)	118-103 W vs. TOR	17	5-11 (2-5)	6	8	1	0	6	+22	29
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)	135-86 W vs. DAL	15	5-11 (0-4)	1	6	0	0	0	+33	16
Brandon Boston Jr. (LAC)	105-116 L vs. HOU	15	5-16 (2-6)	6	3	4	0	6	-4	31
Cason Wallace (OKC)	135-86 W vs. DAL	12	5-6 (2-2)	2	1	0	1	0	+34	15
Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN)	106-125 L vs. MIN	10	3-8 (1-4)	6	2	0	0	5	-18	29
Johnny Juzang (UTA)	116-123 L vs. GSW	8	2-5 (2-4)	1	2	0	0	0	+13	19
TyTy Washington (MIL)	88-113 L vs. ORL	6	3-4 (0-0)	0	2	0	0	0	0	7
Trey Lyles (SAC)	121-82 W vs. POR	5	1-4 (1-2)	8	3	0	0	0	+27	19
Immanuel Quickley (TOR)	103-118 L vs. MIA	DNP-Rest
PJ Washington (DAL)	86-135 L vs. OKC	DNP-Rest
Malik Monk (SAC)	121-82 W vs. POR	DNP-Knee
Keldon Johnson (SAS)	123-95 W vs. DET	DNP-Foot
Nick Richards (CHA)	120-110 W vs. CLE	DNP-Foot
Jarred Vanderbilt (LAL)	124-108 W vs. NOP	DNP-Foot
Olivier Sarr (OKC)	135-86 W vs. DAL	DNP-Did not dress
Ashton Hagans (POR)	82-121 L vs POR	DNP-Did not dress
Oscar Tshiebwe (IND)	157-115 W vs. ATL	DNP-Did not dress
Chris Livingston (MIL)	88-113 L vs. ORL	DNP-CD
Julius Randle (NYK)	120-119 W vs. CHI	DNP-CD
Isaiah Jackson (IND)	157-115 W vs. ATL	DNP-CD
Jacob Toppin (NYK)	120-119 W vs. CHI	DNP-CD
Shaedon Sharpe (POR)	82-121 L vs POR	DNP-CD

Play-in Game Schedule

Tuesday, April 16
7:30 pm (TNT): [8] Lakers (Davis, Vanderbilt: out) @ [7] Pelicans
10:00 pm (TNT): [10] Warriors @ [9] Kings (Fox, Lyles, Monk: out)

Wednesday, April 17
7:00 pm (ESPN): [8] Heat (Adebayo, Herro) @ [7] 76ers (Maxey)
9:30 pm (ESPN): [10] Hawks @ [9] Bulls (Remember when this was going to be an important game for Kentucky fans?)