Wolverines in the NBA: Jordan Poole in a new role, Wagner brothers have big night

Michigan Wolverines basketball has standouts sprinkled all across the NBA, and several are shining so far this season.

Orlando is home to three former Wolverines — Ignas Brazdeikis and brothers Franz Wagner, a contender for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award, and Moritz Wagner. While the Magic are one of the league’s worst teams, the siblings have been key pieces and combined for 41 points in a win over the Chicago Bulls Jan. 23, with Franz putting up 18 and Moritz notching 23.

Elsewhere, former Michigan guard Jordan Poole is getting acclimated to being a sixth man with the Golden State Warriors, after star Klay Thompson returned from an injury. He’s been in the role for a couple weeks — and averaged nine points per game in his first five as a bench player — but is starting to make his biggest impact in it, with 19 points per game in his last three.

Asked after Tuesday’s 130-92 destruction of former Michigan guards Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr. and the Dallas Mavericks if he’s getting more comfortable coming off the bench, Poole deflected a bit.

“Really big win tonight,” he said. “We were able just to swing the ball and get a lot of good looks. We got a lot of good looks early. I don’t know. We had it going. We had it clicking. We had a lot of good shots.  A lot of people go going early and we were able to, I guess, get a big win.”

His head coach, Steve Kerr, is impressed with what the former Michigan standout brought in the victory and what the role could become.

“If he can attack the way he did tonight and be aggressive while coming off the bench, it gives us more punch with that second unit when [guard Steph [Curry] is off the floor,” Kerr said. “If we can mix him in with Steph and Klay as well, like we did, it gives us another lineup combination that’s a totally different look from what teams have been used to seeing.”

Here is an update on former Michigan basketball players in the NBA through Jan. 25, specifically honing in on the last week of action.

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Ignas Brazdeikis (Played at Michigan from 2018-19), F, Orlando Magic

Put up four points (1-2 FG), two rebounds and three assists in five minutes in a 123-110 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers Jan. 19 … Posted eight points (3-4 FG, 1-2 3PT), one assist and one steal in 10 minutes in a 116-105 setback to the Los Angeles Lakers Jan. 21 … Registered 11 points (4-6 FG, 3-3 3PT), three rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes of action in a 114-95 win over the Chicago Bulls Jan. 23.

Appeared in 21 games off the bench for the 9-39 Magic and averages 2.7 points and 1.4 rebounds per outing, while shooting 35.1 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from three-point range.

Trey Burke (2011-13), G, Dallas Mavericks

Saw two minutes of action but did not record any statistics in a 104-91 win over the Memphis Grizzlies Jan. 23 … Notched four points (2-5 FG, 0-3 3PT) and one assist in a 130-92 loss to the Golden State Warriors Jan. 25.

Played in 24 games off the bench for the 27-21 Mavericks, who stand fifth in the Western Conference, and registers 6.2 points, 1.8 assists and one rebound per contest, while shooting 41.7 percent from the floor and 30.9 percent on three-pointers.

Tim Hardaway Jr. (2010-13), G, Dallas Mavericks

The former Michigan guard posted 16 points (7-10 FG, 2-5 3PT), two rebounds and one assist in a 102-98 win over the Toronto Raptors Jan. 19 … Put up 11 points (4-10 FG, 3-7 3PT, five rebounds and one assist in a 109-101 loss to the Phoenix Suns Jan. 20 … Recorded nine points (3-8 FG, 2-5 3PT) and four rebounds in a 104-91 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies Jan. 23 … Tallied 10 points (2-5 FG, 1-3 3PT) and one assist in a 130-92 setback to the Golden State Warriors Jan. 25.

Started 20 of his 42 games for the 27-21 Mavericks … Averages 14.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per tilt … Shoots 39.4 percent overall and 33.6 percent from three-point range, his worst mark in the latter category since the 2018-19 season.

Caris LeVert (2012-16), G, Indiana Pacers

Exploded for 30 points (12-16 FG, 3-4 3PT), eight rebounds and two assists in a 111-104 win over the Los Angeles Lakers Jan. 19 … Posted 19 points (8-21 FG, 3-6 3PT), six rebounds and eight assists in a 117-113 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans Jan. 24 … Has scored 20 or more points in eight of his last 11 outings.

The former Michigan guard started all 33 of his appearances for the 17-31 Pacers, who have the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference … Averages 18.5 points (third on team), 4.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 44.5 percent from the field and 33.1 percent from long range.

Jordan Poole (2017-19), G, Golden State Warriors

Registered five points (1-7 FG, 0-5 3PT), four assists and two rebounds in a 121-117 overtime loss to the Indiana Pacers Jan. 20 … Put up 20 points (7-15 FG, 2-4 3PT), three rebounds, three assists and two blocks in a 105-103 win over the Houston Rockets Jan. 21 … Recorded 20 points (7-13 FG, 4-9 3PT), three rebounds, two assists and one block in a 94-92 win over the Utah Jazz Jan. 23 … Tallied 17 points (6-10 FG, 2-6 3PT, two rebounds and three assists in a 130-92 victory over the Dallas Mavericks Jan. 25.

Started 33 of his 42 tilts for the 35-13 Warriors, who are second in the West behind the Phoenix Suns … Averages career-highs in points (16.7), assists (3.3) and rebounds (3.0) per game, while shooting a career-high 43.9 percent from the field and splashing 33.9 percent of his triple tries.

Duncan Robinson (2014-18), F, Miami Heat

Tallied nine points (3-8 FG, 3-8 3PT), one rebound, one assist, one block and one steal in a 104-92 win over the Portland Trailblazers Jan. 19 … Recorded 19 points (5-10 FG, 2-3 3PT), three assists and one rebound in a 110-108 loss to the Atlanta Hawks Jan. 21 … Went off for 25 points (8-13 FG, 6-11 3PT), five rebounds, three assists and two steals in 42 minutes in a 113-107 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

The former Michigan sharpshooter started 39 of 44 games for the 30-17 Heat, who have the top record in the East … Averages 11.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists per night, while connecting on 39.3 percent of his field goal attempts and 35.8 percent of his looks from deep … Three-point field goal percentage is down from 40.8 percent last season and 44.6 percent the year prior.

Franz Wagner (2019-21), F, Orlando Magic

Put up nine points (3-11 FG, 1-6 3PT), 11 rebounds, two assists and one steal in a 123-110 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers Jan. 19 … Scored 15 points (6-9 FG, 1-1 3PT) and added three rebounds, three assists and two blocks in a 116-105 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers Jan. 21 … Posted 18 points (7-14 FG, 0-3 3PT), four rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal in a 114-95 win over the Chicago Bulls Jan. 23.

Started all 42 of his appearances for the 9-39 Magic … Second on the team with 15.4 points per game, and adds 4.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists per contest … Shoots 45.3 percent from the field and 33.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Moritz Wagner (2015-18), F/C, Orlando Magic

The former Michigan standout recorded six points (3-6 FG, 0-1 3PT) and two rebounds in a 123-110 loss so the Philadelphia 76ers Jan. 19 … Notched three assists in a 116-105 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers Jan. 21 … Exploded for his second 20-point game of the season with 23 points (9-13 FG, 1-4 3PT), two rebounds, four assists and one steal in a 114-95 win over the Chicago Bulls Jan. 23.

Come off the bench in 38 contests, averaging 7.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and one assist per outing … Shoots 49.8 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from long range.