The NBA’s regular season is over, and it was an up-and-down one for former UConn players. Some are thriving, like Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan, while others are just trying to hang on to a roster spot and ensure they’ll be in these rankings next season.
Castle and Clingan will now look towards the playoffs, where they would end up playing each other if Portland beats Phoenix in the Play-In Tournament first round on Tuesday. Castle’s Spurs are a legitimate title contender, and UConn fans could very well see a former Husky lift the Larry O’Brien trophy come June– either Castle or Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault, who is a former student manager under Jim Calhoun.
Here’s a look at how the former Huskies fared in the NBA this year.
1. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
After a season in which he averaged 16.7 points, 7.4 assists and 5.3 rebounds, Castle is one of the most important players on a possible championship team, as the Spurs enter the playoffs with high hopes. San Antonio finished with the second-best record in the league at 62-20, and is the No. 2 seed out West to start the playoffs. They also had the top-seed Thunder’s number, winning four of five matchups in the regular season. You throw out the records when you get to the playoffs, but it’s clear the Spurs match up well with the defending champs. Another thing is clear, too–Castle could be a name casual NBA fans get to know well as the Spurs are in a position to contend for a long time.
2. Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers
The Bristol big man quietly had an excellent season, averaging a double-double–12.1 points and 11.6 rebounds, while starting 77 games and shooting 52 percent from the floor. He even increased his 3-point percentage to 34 percent, and is averaging over a make per game. Clingan is a key reason why Portland has steadily improved over the last two seasons– from 21 wins in 2024 to 36 last year, to 42 this season and a spot in the West Play-In. The Blazers will take on the Suns in the 7-8 game on Tuesday (10 p.m.)
3. Cam Spencer, Memphis Grizzlies
Is Cam trending toward becoming an Austin Reaves-level star in the NBA? Before you push back, think about this: Spencer finished third in the entire league in 3-point shooting percentage this season, at 44.9 percent. He trailed only the Lakers’ Luke Kennard and the Bucks’ Bobby Portis. He also shot 47.3 percent overall– fantastic for a guard. He started 20 games for the Grizzlies this season and averaged 11.1 points and 5.6 assists in 23.8 minutes. If you adjust those stats for consistent starter’s minutes (per-36 minutes), he’s averaging 16.8 points and 8.4 assists, truly impressive numbers. Spencer is clearly in the team’s plans, as he signed a four-year contract last offseason worth $10.5 million.
4. Andre Drummond, Philadelphia 76ers
Drummond will look to help the 76ers get out of the Play-In Tournament in the East starting Wednesday. Philly is the No. 7 seed, taking on the Magic in Round 1. As it almost goes without saying at this point, they’ll be without Joel Embiid, who came down with appendicitis and is out indefinitely. The 32-year-old Drummond averaged 6.4 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting 47.2 percent this season.
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5. Liam McNeeley, Charlotte Hornets
McNeeley is now a G League champion, as his Greensboro Swarm swept the playoff bracket to take home the title. The former Husky scored 21 points in the clincher, and averaged 19.6 through 18 G League games. Sure, it’s not the NBA, but McNeeley proved he’s elite at the level below, and now he’ll hope for a chance to contribute as Charlotte embarks on its NBA playoff run, beginning Tuesday night at home vs. the Heat (7:30 p.m.). The Hornets are the No. 9 seed in the East, but have one of the league’s best records in the second half of the season, making them dangerous this spring.
6. Jordan Hawkins, New Orleans Pelicans
Hawk saw his role diminished greatly this season, as he went from averaging 23.6 minutes per last year to just over 13 minutes this season. He posted just 4.9 points per game while shooting 37 percent, numbers well below what UConn fans know he’s capable of. The team has an option on his contract for next season, and a fresh start elsewhere seems like the best outcome.
7. Tyrese Martin, Philadelphia 76ers
It wasn’t quite the year Martin had hoped for, as he was waived by the Brooklyn Nets in February and signed to a two-way contract with Philadelphia. He hasn’t been able to make much of an impact with the Sixers, averaging just nine minutes in nine games. Martin will look for a more permanent role, either in Philly or elsewhere next season.
8. Andre Jackson Jr., Milwaukee Bucks
Jackson didn’t make much of an impact this season, averaging just 2.4 points in 8.5 minutes per game. The team has an option on his contract for next season, and it seems unlikely he’ll return. The hope is that another team saw enough in him to allow him to compete for a roster spot next season.
9. Tristen Newton, Houston Rockets
Newton spent the entire season in the G League, where he absolutely balled out– averaging 25.8 points (third-most in the league), 5.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.9 steals in 49 games for Rio Grande Valley. He was also named to the NBA’s Rising Stars Game as a G League representative during the All-Star break, and was named First Team All-G League this season. He got his chance to play in the NBA for the first time all year in the Rockets’ season finale, and promptly scored 12 points in 12 minutes, hit two threes, grabbed three rebounds, and came up with a steal. He’s on a two-way contract with Houston next year, meaning more time in the G League is likely, but it’s also possible Houston or another team will offer a contract to see if he can help at the NBA level.
Former UConn star Tristen Newton wraps up terrific season with scoring flurry in NBA game
