Wolverines in the NBA: How former Michigan players performed in the regular season; four in postseason
The NBA regular season came to a close April 9, ahead of this week’s play-in games and the playoffs, which begin Saturday. Michigan Wolverines basketball had nine players in the NBA this season. Three are headed to the playoffs, one will take part in the play-in tournament and the rest are done for the year.
Michigan’s three former players already in the playoffs are guard Caris LeVert (Cleveland Cavaliers), guard Jordan Poole (Golden State Warriors) and forward Moussa Diabate (Los Angeles Clippers).
LeVert and the Cavaliers are seeded No. 4 in the East and will play the fifth-seeded New York Knicks. Poole and the defending NBA champion Warriors had an up-and-down regular season, thanks in large part to injuries, but still made the postseason as the No. 6 seed in the West. They are set for a first-round matchup with the No. 3 seed Sacramento Kings. Diabate and the fifth-seeded Clippers will match up with the No. 4 seed Phoenix Suns.
Former Michigan standout Duncan Robinson and the seventh-seeded Miami Heat will play the No. 8 seed Atlanta Hawks Tuesday night. The winner is in the playoffs. The loser would have to beat either the Chicago Bulls or Toronto Raptors Friday to get in. Two losses for the Heat, and their season is over.
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Moussa Diabate (played at Michigan from 2021-22), F, Los Angeles Clippers (two-way contract)
Recent games: Played 2 minutes in a 136-125 win over the Portland Trail Blazers April 8, posting 2 points and 1 rebound.
Season stats: The former Michigan forward appeared in 22 games with one start, averaging 2.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per outing … Also spent time in the G League … The Clippers went 44-38, earned the No. 5 seed in the West and will take on the Phoenix Suns in the first round.
Tim Hardaway Jr. (2010-13), G, Dallas Mavericks
Recent games: Put up 24 points (8-14 FG, 5-8 3PT), 4 rebounds and 4 assists in a 123-119 win over the Sacramento Kings April 5 … Prominent Mavericks players, including Hardaway, sat the last two contests in an effort to tank in order to not make the play-in tournament and get a top-10 draft pick.
Season stats: Opened 45 of his 71 games, averaging 30.3 minutes per night … Averaged 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per outing, while shooting 40.1 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three-point range … The Mavericks finished the season 38-44 overall, missing the play-in tournament and playoffs.
Caleb Houstan, (2021-22), G, Orlando Magic
Recent games: Posted 8 points (3-9 FG, 2-7 3PT), 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal in a 118-94 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers April 6 … Recorded 3 points (1-3 FG), 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block and 1 steal in a 101-84 loss to the Brooklyn Nets April 7 … Went off for a career-high 21 points (6-15 FG, 5-11 3PT) with 1 assist and 2 steals in a 123-110 loss to the Miami Heat April 9.
Season stats: The former Michigan wing played in 51 games with four starts for the 34-48 Magic, who finished 13th in the East … Averaged 3.8 points and 1.9 rebounds per clash, while shooting 36.3 percent overall and 33.8 percent from beyond the arc.
Caris LeVert (2012-16), G, Cleveland Cavaliers
Recent games: Missed the last two regular season games with a knee injury … Put up 19 points (7-10 FG, 5-6 3PT), 3 rebounds and 1 steal in a 117-113 win over the Orlando Magic April 4.
Season stats: The former Michigan guard made 74 appearances with 30 starts, averaging 30.2 minutes per night … Recorded 12.1 points, 3.9 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game, while connecting on 43.1 percent of his field goal attempts and a career-best 39.2 percent of his three-point tries … The 51-31 Cavaliers are the East’s No. 4 seed and will play the New York Knicks in the first round.
Isaiah Livers (2017-21), F, Detroit Pistons
Recent games: Notched 15 points (4-9 FG, 4-6 3PT), 3 rebounds and 1 assists in 24 minutes in a 118-105 setback to the Miami Heat April 4.
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Season stats: The former Michigan forward averaged 6.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per tilt, while shooting 41.7 percent overall and 36.5 percent on three-pointers … Played 23.1 minutes per game in 52 appearances with 22 starts … The Pistons finished with the worst record in the NBA, 17-65.
Jordan Poole (2017-19), G, Golden State Warriors
Recent games: Exploded for 30 points (first time since March 24) on 8-of-19 shooting from the field with 4 assists, 2 rebounds and 1 block in a 136-125 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder April 4 … Tallied 8 points (0-10 FG, 8-9 FT), 5 assists and 3 rebounds in a 119-97 win over the Sacramento Kings April 7 … Posted 21 points (7-9 FG, 4-5 3PT), 3 rebounds and 2 assists in a 157-101 blowout win over the Portland Trail Blazers April 9.
Season stats: The former Michigan guard played in all 82 games with 43 starts, averaging 20.3 points, 4.5 assists and 2.7 rebounds per night … Shot 43 percent from the field and 33.6 percent from three-point range … The Warriors, 44-38, are the No. 6 seed in the West and will play the Sacramento Kings.
Duncan Robinson (2014-18), F, Miami Heat
Recent games: Put up 5 points (2-3 FG, 1-2 3PT), and 1 assists in 5 minutes of a 129-101 win over the Philadelphia 76ers April 6 … Scored 5 points (2-8 FG, 1-6 3PT) and added 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in 28 minutes of a 114-108 loss to the Washington Wizards April 7 … Played a season-high 35 minutes in a 123-110 win over the Orlando Magic April 9, when he posted 20 points (6-14 FG, 3-11 3PT), 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal.
Season stats: The former Michigan sharpshooter played in 42 games with one start for the 44-38 Heat, who are seventh in the Eastern Conference standings and take on the Atlanta Hawks Tuesday in a play-in game … Robinson battled a finger injury midseason, missing time … Averaged 6.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game — all of those marks are the lowest of his career since his 2018-19 rookie season … Shot 37.1 percent from the field and 32.8 percent from three-point range.
Franz Wagner (2019-21), F, Orlando Magic
Recent games: The former Michigan wing posted 17 points (7-18 FG, 1-3 3PT), 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in a 117-113 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers April 4 … Put up 12 points (4-11 FG, 0-2 3PT), 5 rebounds and 1 steal in a 101-84 setback to the Brooklyn Nets April 7 … Recorded 10 points (2-5 FG, 0-1 3PT), 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in a 123-110 loss to the Miami Heat April 9.
Season stats: Played and started in 80 games for the Magic, who did not make the postseason … Averaged 18.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 32.6 minutes per game, while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 36.1 percent from three-point range.
Moritz Wagner (2015-18), F/C, Orlando Magic
Recent games: Registered 4 rebounds in 10 minutes of a 117-113 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers April 4 … Recorded 9 points (3-11 FG, 2-5 3PT), 4 rebounds and 2 assists in a 118-94 setback to the same team April 6.
Season stats: The former Michigan forward averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 19.5 minutes per game with 57 outings and 18 starts.
Michigan players in the NBA G League
• Eli Brooks, Fort Wayne Mad Ants
•Trey Burke, Stockton Kings
• Chaundee Brown Jr., Austin Spurs
• Moussa Diabate, Los Angeles Clippers/Ontario Clippers (Two-Way Contract)
• Zak Irvin, Grand Rapids Gold
• Charles Matthews, Windy City Bulls
• Zavier Simpson, Lakeland Magic
• D.J. Wilson, Oklahoma City Blue
