Notre Dame in the NBA: Pat Connaughton Foundation renovates Milwaukee gym
On this day in 2015, the Brooklyn Nets selected Pat Connaughton with the No. 41 pick in the NBA draft and traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers. Against heavy odds as a second-round pick, Connaughton is the only member of the 2014-15 Notre Dame men’s basketball team who is still in the league.
These days, Connaughton is a key role player on the Milwaukee Bucks, with whom he won the NBA Finals in 2021. He also runs the Pat Connaughton Foundation, which finished renovating its fourth Milwaukee basketball gym earlier this week.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported Wednesday that Connaughton’s foundation re-did the court at the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center. It’s the fourth Milwaukee gym Connaughton and his foundation have helped upgrade.
“It’s more about kids being able to see that somebody that plays in the NBA, plays for the Milwaukee Bucks is taking the time to pour back into this community,” Connaughton said, according to the Journal-Sentinel. “I think it really kind of inspires them.”
Basketball-wise, Connaughton remains under contract for two more years, and he has a player option for the 2025-26 season. He helped the Bucks win Game 2 of their first-round series against Miami with a 22-point outburst, but he was quieter in Milwaukee’s subsequent three losses.
Williams begins third head coaching job
Monty Williams, who played at Notre Dame from 1989 to 1994, was named the Detroit Pistons’ coach June 2 after being fired by the Phoenix Suns. Thursday night, the Pistons added another top-5 pick to their young nucleus.
Detroit drafted Ausar Thompson at No. 5 overall, teaming him with 2022 No. 5 pick Jaden Ivey (Purdue) and 2021 No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham (Oklahoma State).
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Cunningham only played 12 games last season, but he scored 19.9 points per game and showed signs of being the transcendent player many believe he can be. The Pistons hope Williams can work with a healthy Cunningham, Thompson and Ivey to jump-start a new era in Detroit.
Wesley looks to bounce back after injury-riddled rookie year
After one season at Notre Dame, the Spurs took guard Blake Wesley with the No. 25 pick in the 2022 draft. Wesley flashed some upside during his rookie season, but a torn MCL limited him to 37 games. He did finish the season with two double-digit scoring efforts, giving him something to build off of heading into his second year.
If healthy, Wesley will have a chance to cement himself among the Spurs’ young core — one that now includes French phenom and No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama.
Ryan to hit free agency
Former Notre Dame forward Matt Ryan, best known for his buzzer-beating 3-pointer to force overtime for the Lakers against the Pelicans on Nov. 2, spent the latter half of his season in Minnesota. After 22 games with the Timberwolves on a two-way contract, Ryan will be a free agent.
After finishing his college career at Chattanooga and going undrafted in 2020, Ryan has scratched and clawed his way to the NBA. He’ll look to continue his career next week, whether it’s in Minnesota or otherwise.
