KSR's 2022-23 BBNBA season preview roundtable | Pt. 1

Welcome, folks! To KSR’s 2022-23 BBNBA season preview. The NBA season is just a few days away now, and dozens of former Kentucky Wildcats will suit up across 17 of the league’s 30 franchises. Counting rookies, a total of 28 one-time ‘Cats will start the year on an NBA roster. That doesn’t include the many free agents who will have a chance to work their way onto a team, such as DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo.

But before we go any further, let’s quickly list all of the former Wildcats currently on an NBA roster just a few days away from the season opener on Tuesday, Oct. 18.

Bam Adebayo | Miami Heat – 6th season
Devin Booker | Phoenix Suns – 8th season
Brandon Boston Jr. | LA Clippers – 2nd season
Willie Cauley-Stein | Houston Rockets – 8th season
Anthony Davis | Los Angeles Lakers – 11th season
Hamidou Diallo | Detroit Pistons – 5th season
De’Aaron Fox | Sacramento Kings – 6th season
Wenyen Gabriel | Los Angeles Lakers – 5th season
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder – 5th season
Tyler Herro | Miami Heat – 4th season
Isaiah Jackson | Indiana Pacers – 2nd season
Keldon Johnson | San Antonio Spurs – 4th season
Kevin Knox | Detroit Pistons – 5th season
Trey Lyles | Sacramento Kings – 8th season
Tyrese Maxey | Philadelphia 76ers – 3rd season
Malik Monk | Sacramento Kings – 6th season
Jamal Murray | Denver Nuggets – 7th season
Nerlens Noel | Detroit Pistons – 10th season
Immanuel Quickley | New York Knicks – 3rd season
Julius Randle | New York Knicks – 9th season
Nick Richards | Charlotte Hornets – 3rd season
Olivier Sarr | Portland Trail Blazers – 2nd season
Shaedon Sharpe | Portland Trail Blazers – 1st season
Karl-Anthony Towns | Minnesota Timberwolves – 8th season
Jarred Vanderbilt | Utah Jazz – 5th season
John Wall | LA Clippers – 13th season
TyTy Washington | Houston Rockets – 1st season
PJ Washington | Charlotte Hornets – 4th season

To help get you ready for what will be another exciting year of NBA hoops, the KSR crew covering the BBNBA beat this season has banded together to answer some of the burning preseason questions. Zack Geoghegan, Adam Stratton, Grant Grubbs, Ian Alvano, Brady Byrdwell, and Daniel Hager break down some of the need-to-know topics ahead of the 2022-23 BBNBA season.

Let’s dive on in.

Who will be the BBNBA MVP?

There are a lot of directions we could go with this award. Anthony Davis is primed for a comeback season after spending the last two seasons constantly on the mend. His Los Angeles Lakers squad isn’t much better than last season’s team that finished 33-49 and 11th in the Western Conference, but a healthy Davis and LeBron James (fingers crossed) will automatically make them a better all-around group. The older LeBron gets, the more the offense should revolve around Davis.

Devin Booker is another easy choice, considering he’s coming off an All-NBA First-Team season in 2021-22 that saw his Phoenix Suns finish with the best record in the league. Another option is Karl-Anthony Towns, who will play on his most talented team yet. Bam Adebayo is an offensive leap away from being a potential First-Team All-NBA player. Even Tyrese Maxey has a chance to become the de facto No. 2 in Philadelphia alongside Joel Embiid — yes, that means overtaking James Harden in the pecking order.

But my BBNBA MVP prediction for the upcoming season is going be Sacramento Kings’ point guard De’Aaron Fox. The Kings haven’t won more than 40 games since Fox arrived in 2017 (or since the 2005-06 season, that is) and the franchise is riding a 16-year streak of missing the postseason. Sacramento has been the butt of the NBA’s jokes for nearly two decades now, but this season *might* (could, possibly, maybe?) finally be different.

Entering his sixth NBA season at 24 years old, Fox is on a semi-revitalized Kings team that now features another borderline All-Star in Domantas Sabonis. In the 15 games that Fox played with Sabonis (who was traded midseason from the Indiana Pacers) on the roster last season, the speedy floor general averaged 28.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game while shooting 50.3 percent from the floor, 36.0 percent from distance, and 76.7 percent from the free-throw line.

Will that line be sustainable for a full 82-game slate? Highly unlikely. BUT, the Kings have added important pieces around Fox (such as Kevin Huerter and former ‘Cat Malik Monk, along with lottery pick Keegan Murray) while bringing in a defensive-minded head coach in Mike Brown. I don’t expect the Kings to win 45 games or make a top 6 playoff spot, but I do expect the best season since the franchise won 39 games in 2018-19. To make that happen, Fox will have to play at a near-All-Star level. I believe he will.

— Zack Geoghegan

Most likely to win a championship ring

Anthony Davis was the last former Kentucky player to win an NBA ring when the Los Angeles Lakers won the title in the 2020 Disney bubble. Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro made the Finals the same season for the Miami Heat but fell to the Lakers. In 2021, Devin Booker let a two-game lead slip to the Milwaukee Bucks to come up just short of securing the franchise’s first championship.

So, which former ‘Cat has the best chance of winning it all this year? Well, if you listen to Vegas, the top four teams with the best odds (Celtics, Warriors, Bucks, and Nets) do not have any former Kentucky guys on their roster. John Wall‘s LA Clippers have the next best odds to win it, followed by Booker and the Suns, Tyrese Maxey and the 76ers, Bam and Herro for the Heat, Jamal Murray with the Nuggets, and Davis with the Lakers.

As much as I want John Wall to win a championship before his career ends, I’m just not a believer in that group staying healthy and motivated. My heart lies with the Phoenix Suns, but I can’t in good conscience put Booker’s name here after his team’s monumental collapse to the Mavericks last season and the turmoil they’ll be facing this year in the wake of the Robert Sarver fallout. I think the Heat got a little lucky last year and the Lakers are going to continue to be the underperforming version of themselves as long as Westbrook is on the team.

That leaves the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers, so I’m going to predict those two battle it out in the Finals this season with Tyrese Maxey earning the first of many rings in his career.

Maxey is primed for a huge season, to be a true breakout star. If Joel Embiid keeps playing at an MVP-caliber level and James Harden finds rhythm with this new team, they have enough support players to be extremely hard to beat. Don’t count out Jamal Murray and the Nuggets though, especially if the Blue Arrow returns to form.

— Adam Stratton

Who will have the most surprising amount of success?

There are few players under more pressure this season than PJ Washington. Thankfully, there are few players with a better opportunity, either. Entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract, Washington is my pick of the NBA ‘Cats to have the most surprising amount of success this season.

Washington’s professional career has been solid; nothing more, nothing less. In three seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, Washington has averaged 11.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Moreover, the 6-foot-8 power forward has shot 45.4% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc for his career.

While Washington hasn’t had the same explosive progression in the NBA as he did at UK, he’s due for a big season. If you’re wondering why, consider yourself lucky to have somehow avoided the news cycle surrounding Washington’s teammate, Miles Bridges.

The police arrested Bridges on June 29 in Los Angeles for allegedly beating up his girlfriend in front of their two children. Bridges was coming off a breakout 2021-2022 season as the Hornets’ leading scorer and starting forward. With Bridges out of the equation, the Hornets desperately need Washington to step up his production.

With so much to prove, Washington is on pace for a career season. The NCAA Consensus Third-Team All-American certainly never backed down from a challenge while at UK; Check out Exhibit A below if you need a reminder.

#OTD in 2019, Tyler Herro's go-ahead 3 with 25.8 seconds left gave Kentucky a 62-58 win over Houston in the Sweet 16. #BBN pic.twitter.com/JF3cvqAJVY

— TheCatsPause247 (@TheCatsPause247) March 29, 2021

— Grant Grubbs

Can KAT and Gobert work in Minny?

I’m going to start off and say yes, both big bigs will work spectacularly in Minnesota. For starters, this Timberwolves team had a huge opportunity to progress to the second round of the NBA Playoffs last year. However, the T-Wolves blew a late fourth-quarter lead against Memphis last year in Game 4 of the Western Conference Playoffs’ first round. If Minnesota would have stole that game, the series would have been tied and who knows where that series goes if it’s 2-2.

Now, three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert, joins this team. Sheesh.

If there’s a time to attack in the Western Conference, it’s now. Phoenix collapsed last season and the Lebron-led Lakers didn’t even make the postseason. The Warriors are still world-beaters, so as long as Minnesota stays away from them, they should be alright.

Karl-Anthony Towns shot 41% from 3-point land last season — that’s lethal. This is one of the best shooting big men in the NBA today and now you’re giving him the defensive powerhouse that is Rudy Gobert. I can’t begin to fathom how the Timberwolves could spread the floor with Gobert down low, and KAT prowling beyond the arc. KAT has cemented himself as a 3-point weapon, taking home the 3-point contest last season during All-Star weekend.

KAT drops 29 in the final round 👀 #MtnDew3PT pic.twitter.com/OnUJYUCLHL

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 20, 2022

Minnesota finished seventh in the West last year and earned a first-round series by beating the Clippers in a Play-In game last year. Expect the T-Wolves to finish among the top 6 this year, seeing they’ve acquired Gobert in a “win-now” blockbuster move. Add Louisville-born D’Angelo Russell, who averaged 18.1 points per game last year, to the backcourt plus rising basketball and movie star, Anthony Edwards, who averaged over 21 points per game last season, and this Minnesota team seems complete.

Both Gobert and KAT are three-time All-Stars, including last year. So, what will hold this Minnesota team back? They’ve got defense in Gobert, shooting in KAT, and a high-flying, point-scoring backcourt. Seems like a recipe for success. Minority owner, Alex Rodriguez, could be a happy man in Minnesota come postseason time.

— Ian Alvano

Jamal Murray looks to put the haters on notice

It wasn’t long ago that Jamal Murray was shooting arrows and hitting daggers at Rupp. In fact, Murray is the last Wildcat to average 20 points per game. One of the best scorers in the Calipari era is now on a loaded Denver Nuggets team. The 2022-23 Nuggets squad includes back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic and former No. 2 recruit in the nation Michael Porter Jr.

Murray and Porter Jr. missed all last year with injuries (Murray to a torn ACL), and I feel the entire league is now on notice. In Murray’s last two full seasons, he’s averaged 19.9 points and 4.8 assists per game. Combine his pure scoring ability with Jokic’s world-class passing; that’s a recipe for success.

Jamal Murray Kentucky Highlights! @BeMore27 pic.twitter.com/CRgwzRqUoI

— Courtside Films (@CourtsideFilms) June 18, 2020

The primary keys for “Blue Arrow” this coming season are simple; stay healthy and complement the big man. Jokic and Murray have been outstanding together on the court, resulting in a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2020. However, Murray could elevate his scoring even more. There is no reason that the sniper from Canada can’t put up 25-plus points per game.

The naysayers of Murray have one go-to comment, “he’s so overpaid.” But, as us young folk like to say, he got his bag. Jamal signed a slight five-year, $158 million contract in 2020; that’s no small fee. In a fully healthy season, Murray is worth every penny; he’s one of the game’s best guards. Let’s all hope for a healthy season and the blue arrows flying all over Denver.

— Brady Byrdwell

John Wall comeback season

One of the early stories of the NBA preseason has been the return of one of the most exciting ‘Cats of all time, John Wall. Upon being drafted into the league No. 1 overall by the Washington Wizards in 2010, Wall immediately became one of the most exciting players in the Association. In his nine seasons in Washington, he averaged 19.0 points, 9.2 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. He was also named to the NBA All-Star Game in five consecutive seasons (2014-2018), starting the game in 2015.

Wall’s tenure with the Wizards would come to an end in December 2020 after he was dealt to the Houston Rockets for Russell Westbrook. He hadn’t actually played for the Wizards since December 2018, nearly two years earlier. In his one and only season in Houston, Wall averaged 20.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per contest before being shut down in late April with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Before last season, the Rockets and Wall mutually agreed that he would sit the season out. He was bought out of his contract this past June.

On July 8, Wall signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. A month later, it was revealed that the former SEC Player of the Year had gone through some serious struggles over the past few years. Wall bravely admitted that he needed some help, and has stated that he hopes that opening up about his mental health struggles can help a lot of people.

After truly being healthy for the first time in years, Wall made his Clipper preseason debut on October 3, totaling five points and three assists in only 14 minutes of action. On October 9, Wall scored 20 points and looked like his old self against the Timberwolves. He even went viral on Twitter, as he recreated his iconic “Dougie” dance after being pressured by young Clippers players Jason Preston and Moussa Diabate.

A better angle of the John Wall dougie via @LAClippers:pic.twitter.com/rZS6FlGOZq

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) October 7, 2022

Hopefully “Optimus Dime” can turn back the clock this season and show everyone once again why he was one of the most exciting players in the NBA.

— Daniel Hager

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