The rookie season Terence Davis has been working through had already reached unbelievable status well before the coronavirus pandemic hit.
An undrafted first-year playing substantial minutes on the roster of the defending NBA champions — even getting the odd start — certainly qualifies for the unbelievable category.
But then to have your first go-around at professional basketball stopped in its tracks and put on hold by the pandemic for almost four months is definitely out of the norm.
The stoppage was problematic for a 14-year vet like Kyle Lowry, let alone a first-year player still trying to navigate the trials and tribulations of an entirely new experience.
Davis though returned to supervised individual workouts last week in Naples, Fla. as the team prepares to enter the NBA bubble in at Disney World in Orlando next week, anxious to get going, again looking to continue what he started.
“I do come into this season, as you say, the second season, I would come into this more mature, being that I went through three-fourths of a season,” Davis said. “Just growing up, man, maturing, taking the steps in the right direction. These guys, Fred (VanVleet), Kyle (Lowry), Marc (Gasol), Norm (Powell), all these guys man, they make sure the young guys are where they need to be, because to them, it’s everything. These guys are defending their title. You wanna be a part of that, so definitely.”
And while he may still feel like this is his rookie year those veteran teammates he looks to for guidance and advice no longer view him that way, at least not from what Davis can see.
“I definitely don’t think so, man,” he said. “These guys, if I make a mistake, I’m not a rookie anymore. I think I heard someone say that. So definitely, man. These guys are in tune. I think (Gasol) is already in playoff mode right now. That right there’s your anchor, you get everyone in playoff mode. We’re locked in over here, man, for sure.”
Davis wound up playing in all 64 games the Raptors played, the only Raptor who can make that claim. He started two games and over the year averaged 17 minutes. Not bad for a guy who was passed over by every team in the league on draft day.
But Davis doesn’t measure himself that way. His entire approach is to earn and keep the trust of his coaching staff and his teammates so that there is no hesitation to put him in any situation that arises.
Raptors’ assistant coach Adrian Griffin says there’s no doubt in his mind, or any of the other coaches that Davis accomplished that goal.
“If you went back and watched some of our games, Coach Nurse has unbelievable trust in him and so does the entire coaching staff,” Griffin said. “ As I mentioned before, he started in a couple games, he started in the Charlotte game and had one of his career-highs, he had an excellent game at home where he shot the ball very well. He’s just a complete, all-around player and he’s still improving. And I think that’s the scary part about it, I think he’s already positioning himself as one of the elite scorers and shooters in this league as a 2-guard and he has a phenomenal attitude. He’s fun to work with, has a great work ethic with all our coaching staff.”
So yes, he has that trust now but he says he continues to work every day to expand on it and become a guy no one else on the team even thinks of as a rookie.
“I had to gain these guys’ trust and I would say it means a lot,” he said. “I wouldn’t say this is something that’s normal, but for me being an undrafted guy playing with the defending champions it’s just unbelievable. So I honestly don’t know what to say, it’s just like you can’t make it up. That’s something that you want as a young guy. You want these guys to be able to trust you and that’s something that I’m working towards every day. So I’m excited about the process, going to Orlando and really finishing out the season because we really have a chance to do it again, for sure.”
The one area Davis has yet to perform is in the playoffs. He’s very much looking forward to that chance once the Raptors get to Orlando.
GASOL LEANER, STRONGER
If there is one guy getting plenty of attention and second looks in the Raptors’ temporary home in Florida, it is big man Marc Gasol.
Or maybe we should say not-so-big Marc Gasol.
Yes, he’s still 6-foot-11 but Gasol has returned from Spain a leaner, stronger player than he was when he left.
Raptors assistant coach Adrian Griffin wasn’t even sure he was looking at the same player when he first came across him in Florida last week.
“I had to do a double take. I won’t lie,” Griffin said. “I was so impressed about the way he looks. He just looks phenomenal. I know that it’s not easy. As someone, myself, who as a player always struggled to maintain a certain weight, it’s not easy. It really isn’t. He could have been doing anything during the quarantine, during the pandemic. That shows you what kind of person he is, a high-character guy, that he took it upon himself to get in the best shape possible.”
And Griffin said that transformation could be the difference for the Raptors once they get to Orlando and start taking on the rest of the NBA.
“Truth be told, I think the team that wins this championship is going to be the team that’s in the best physical shape,” Griffin said. “You’re not going to have those months, ideally during an NBA season, where you can work yourself into shape. The team that comes in the best conditioning is going to give themselves a competitive advantage. My hat goes off to Marc. I kind of miss the big fella, though. He was just so likeable, but I’m getting used to the new Marc.” — Mike Ganter
erence Davis no longer needs a vet standing over him telling him what to do.
Technically still a rookie until the season is mothballed, if it comes to that, Davis is diligently putting himself though daily workouts in the hopes that there is still a playoff schedule to be played in this his rookie year that was suspended by the Coronavirus pandemic.
He’s been doing it every day since the league shut its doors seven weeks ago and the way he speaks, he’ll be following that routine until those doors are re-opened.
Davis spent 14 days in quarantine in Toronto after the league suspended the schedule. A few days after that he and another Raptors’ rookie, Dewan Hernandez, arranged for the use of a private gym in Miami and made their way there.
He left those workouts recently to return home to Mississippi to be with his 10-month-old son. But he’s been fortunate enough to obtain time there too in a private gym where he gets in workouts with a trainer and a rebounder.
All of it is done with an eye towards being ready to perform at his peak when play does resume, should the time come, and live up to the high expectations of his veteran teammates.
“I really want the veteran guys to be able to trust someone like me in a game in the playoffs,” Davis said. “I’m a rookie, so obviously I don’t know what’s to come in the playoffs — I’ve never been in the playoffs — but I want Fred (VanVleet), I want Kyle (Lowry), I want these guys to be able to trust me when I get in the game in the playoffs — if I get in the game during the playoffs.
“So that’s why I’m in the gym right now, that’s why I’ve been in the gym everyday at 12:00 getting weights in,” he said. “I want to be in the best shape and I just want to be able to be trusted so I can show those guys that I’m ready to be part of you guys.”
On a conference call with the media that cover the Raptors on a daily basis, Davis revealed he came into the season fully expecting to spend at least half the year in the G-League. Instead he dressed for all 64 games of the Raptors’ season, the only Raptor to do that and second to only Coby White of the Chicago Bulls among all rookies in the league. White appeared in 65 games, one more than Davis.
Fact of the matter is Davis has little left to prove to his teammates. He is already very much part of those guys and they do trust him. You see it when they don’t hesitate to get him the ball behind the three point line. As a rookie he’s open more than his veteran teammates might be but he’s shown his teammates that he can deliver hitting that three pointer on just under 40% of his attempts.
And yes there have been times when Davis screws up, as every rookie does. But it’s the good rookies like Davis who learn from those mistakes and take ownership of them and do their best to make sure those mistakes aren’t repeated.
Davis has shown this to all his teammates time and again this season and earned his place among them.
The 14-day self-quarantine period sounds like it was the toughest part of this pandemic thus far for Davis.
He was in Toronto without a basketball and just a bike and some weights to keep him occupied.
It’s why he was so eager to head down to Miami with teammate Dewan Hernandez as soon as those 14 days were up.
“We were able to get in a private gym,” Davis explained. “Dewan knew a guy in a private gym, so I was just getting out of quarantine, I was in quarantine for 14 days, I haven’t touched a basketball, so I’m excited to touch a basketball, get in a gym because, like I said, this is what we do, this is what I love to do, this is my job, so that’s what drove me to go to Florida.”
Davis like everyone in the league these days is unsure of when his next game will come, but he’ll stay ready.
And should the time come that the thought of letting down his veterans isn’t enough to motivate him to stay locked in and stay ready, Davis has another huge incentive in his 10-month old son that arrived six days before the draft.
“He has motivated me to be the best that I could possibly be,” Davis said.
Terence Davis II is a member of the Toronto Raptors today largely based off one stunningly good opening day at the Las Vegas summer league and a quick thinking, faster reacting, even more decisive Raptors scouting staff. Read More
FINAL SCORE: TORONTO RAPTORS 119, BROOKLYN NETS 118
DATE: FEBRUARY 8, 2020 ATTENDANCE: 19,800 (Sellout)
FINAL SCORE RECORD HIGH POINTS HIGH REBOUNDS HIGH ASSISTS Brooklyn 118 23-28 LeVert – 37 Jordan – 14 Dinwiddie – 11
Toronto 119 39-14 VanVleet – 29 Davis ll – 8 VanVleet – 6
KEY RUN
Trailing 36-33 early in the second quarter, Toronto went on 14-2 run to lead by nine with 7:15 left in the half … The Raptors never trailed the rest of the way … Pascal Siakam made the game-winning free throw with 22.9 seconds left in the fourth and Caris LeVert missed a pull-up jumper in the final seconds.
KEY STAT
Toronto tied a season-low with just seven turnovers and committed none in the fourth quarter … The Raptors have now finished with a plus turnover differential in each of their last 14 games (Jan. 15 – Feb. 8) … Toronto has a +72-turnover differential during this stretch (185-to-257).
RAPTORS NOTES:
• With the win, Toronto improves to 39-14 this season and 20-7 at home … Since the start of the 201516 campaign, the Raptors have won 18-of-19 games vs. the Nets, including the first three meetings this season … Toronto’s next game is Monday night when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves.
• The Raptors won their franchise record 14th straight game tonight (Jan. 15 – Feb. 8) – the second longest win streak in the NBA this season.
• Toronto’s 39-14 record after 53 games is the best in franchise history.
• The Raptors outscored Brooklyn 52-42 in the paint and 25-8 on the fast-break.
• Terence Davis ll scored 20 points in 30 minutes in his second start of the season … Davis has now scored 10+ points in four straight games (Feb. 2-8), averaging 19.8 points during this stretch.
• Matt Thomas scored a career-high 15 points, including 11 in the second quarter, in 22 minutes.
• The Raptors had five players score double figures – Fred VanVleet (29), Pascal Siakam (20), Davis ll (20), Thomas (15) and Serge Ibaka (12).
NETS NOTES:
• With the loss, Brooklyn falls to 23-28 on the season and 8-16 on the road … The Nets have dropped three in a row (Jan. 26 – Feb. 7) on the road … Brooklyn’s next game is Monday night when they visit the Indiana Pacers.
• Caris LeVert scored a career-high 37 points (12-18 FG, 6-7 3PT, 7-7 FT) in 33 minutes … LeVert has scored 20+ points in three straight games (Feb. 3-8), averaging 29.7 during this span.
• Spencer Dinwiddie posted his sixth double-double of the season with 21 points and a game-high 11 assists in 36 minutes.
• DeAndre Jordan recorded his eighth double-double of the season, and sixth as a reserve, with 15 points and a game-high 14 rebounds in 29 minutes.
• The Nets had five players score in double digits – LeVert (37), Dinwiddie (21), Taurean Prince (17), Jordan (15) and Joe Harris (11).
The Raptors have been on a nice little run of late and the injury-ravaged Chicago Bulls weren’t about to bring this one to an end. The Bulls hung with Toronto for about a half but the second half of the game was almost all Toronto as the Raptors pulled away for a comfortable 129-102 win. […]
FINAL SCORE: TORONTO RAPTORS 129, CHICAGO BULLS 102
DATE: FEBRUARY 2, 2020 ATTENDANCE: 19,800 (Sellout).
FINAL SCORE RECORD HIGH POINTS HIGH REBOUNDS HIGH ASSISTS Chicago 102 19-33 Young – 21 Young/LaVine – 7 LaVine – 7 Toronto 129 36-14 Davis – 31 Siakam – 9 VanVleet – 8
KEY RUN
Leading 95-85 after three quarters, Toronto opened the fourth on a 16-5 run to push the lead to 21 points with eight minutes remaining … Reserves Terence Davis and Patrick McCaw combined for 12 of the Raptors’ 16 points during the run … Fred VanVleet was the only Toronto starter to play in the fourth quarter.
KEY STAT
The Raptors shot 56 per cent (47-for-84) from the field, including .706 (12-for-17) in the fourth quarter … Toronto improved to a perfect 13-0 this season when they shoot .500 or better from the floor.
RAPTORS NOTES:
• With the win, Toronto improves to 36-14 this season and 18-7 at home … The Raptors swept the season-series with Chicago for the third straight year and have now won 12 in a row vs. Chicago … Toronto’s next game is Wednesday night when they host Indiana.
• The Raptors have tied their longest winning streak in franchise history with 11 straight victories (Jan 15 – Feb. 2) … Toronto also won 11 consecutive games Feb. 26 – Mar. 16, 2018 and Jan. 6-30, 2016.
• Toronto improved to 7–6 in games they have played on Super Bowl Sunday … The Raptors have won on the day of the Super Bowl each of the past four years. • The Raptors bench scored 66 points, including 32 points in the fourth quarter. • After committing seven turnovers in the first quarter, the Raptors had eight the rest of the way.
• Toronto outscored the Bulls 56-40 in the paint and 20-13 on the fast-break.
• Terence Davis scored a career-high 31 points (12-15 FG, 6-7 3PT, 1-2 FT) in 28 minutes off the bench … Davis became the sixth Raptors rookie to score 30+ points in a game (Last: Norman Powell – Apr. 13, 2016 at Brooklyn) and first to accomplish this feat as a reserve.
• The Raptors had seven players score double figures – Davis (31), Pascal Siakam (17), Serge Ibaka (16), Chris Boucher (15), Kyle Lowry (14), Fred VanVleet (12) and Patrick McCaw (10).
BULLS NOTES:
• With the loss, Chicago falls to 19-33 on the season and 8-18 on the road … The Bulls have dropped three in a row (Jan. 29 – Feb. 2) – all on the road … Chicago’s next game is Thursday night when they return home to face New Orleans.
• Chicago shot .389 (35-for-90) from the field … The Bulls were held below 40 per cent shooting from the field in all three games vs. the Raptors this season. • Thaddeus Young scored a season-high 21 points in 30 minutes of action before fouling out.
• The Bulls had five players score in double digits – Young (21), Zach LaVine (18), Chandler Hutchison (17), Coby White (12) and Ryan Arcidiacono (12) … LaVine has led Chicago in assists in each of the last three games, averaging 8.0 assists … Arcidiacono’s 12 points tied a season high
GAME #15 – TORONTO RAPTORS (10-4) vs. ATLANTA HAWKS (4-11) SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2019 – 7:30 P.M. (ET) – STATE FARM ARENA TV: TSN – RADIO: SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN
RAPTORS NOTES
• The Toronto Raptors travel to Atlanta on Saturday to face the Hawks at State Farm Arena. Toronto has won seven in a row against the Hawks, including the past four meetings in Atlanta. The Raptors swept the season-series last year (3-0) for the second straight season and third time in franchise history. Pascal Siakam averaged 22.7 points and 9.3 rebounds in three games vs. Atlanta in 2018-19.
• The Raptors held Orlando to .385 (35-for-91) shooting from the field, including .281 (9-for-32) from 3-point range, on Wednesday night. It was the sixth time this season Toronto has held its opponent below 40 per cent shooting from the floor; something they did just five times during the regular season last year. The Raptors currently rank first in the NBA in opponent field goal percentage (.406), seventh in opponent 3-point percentage (.330) and eighth in points allowed (105.4).
• Terence Davis II led the reserves in scoring for the second straight game with a career-high 19 points (710 FG, 3-5 3PT, 2-2 FT) Nov. 20 vs. Orlando. Davis added a career-best eight rebounds and five assists in 27 minutes against the Magic. Over the past six games (Nov. 10-20), Davis is averaging 11.7 points off the bench, and has scored in double figures four times. He currently ranks second among rookies in both 3 -point field goal percentage (.485) – behind only Matt Thomas (.565) – and +/- rating (+65).
• Fred VanVleet led the Raptors with 24 points and seven assists in 35 minutes Wednesday night against the Magic. VanVleet has had at least four more assists than turnovers in each of the last 10 games (Oct. 30 – Nov. 20). During this span, he’s totaled 81 assists compared to just 22 turnovers.
• The Raptors currently lead the NBA in three-point shooting percentage (.401) and rank fifth in total 3-pointers made (201) – behind Houston (233), New Orleans (225), Milwaukee (212) and Portland (202). Toronto made a season-high 20 3-point field goals Nov. 18 vs. Charlotte – it marked just the fourth time in franchise history the Raptors made 20 or more threes in a single game.
• Pascal Siakam has scored 30+ points in five of the first 14 games this season. He had five 30-point performances in 80 games played last season after not reaching the 30-point mark in either of his first two NBA seasons. Siakam recorded his sixth double-double on the year with 18 points, a team high-tying 11 rebounds and four assists in 35 minutes Nov. 20 vs. Orlando.
• Chris Boucher posted his second consecutive double-double, and third of his career, with 14 points and a season high-tying 11 rebounds Nov. 20 vs. Orlando. Boucher leads the Raptors with 26 offensive rebounds this season, including 13 offensive boards in the past two games.
• Toronto will play 11-of-16 games at home in the month of December after playing eight of 13 on the road in November. December is Toronto’s busiest month of the season and includes three back-to-back sets.
• The Raptors have opened the season with six straight victories at home – one win shy of the franchise record to start a year. Toronto began the 2018-19 campaign with seven consecutive wins at Scotiabank Arena. The Raptors are one of just four teams in the NBA still without a loss at home this season, joining Boston (5-0), Miami (6-0) and Philadelphia (5-0).
• Finished with team highs of 24 points and seven assists in 35 minutes Nov. 20 vs. Orlando.
• Has recorded at least five assists in all 14 games this season — the longest streak of his career.
• Tied for sixth in the NBA in assists (7.6) and ranks second in minutes per game (37.6).
INJURY REPORT
Serge Ibaka (Right ankle sprain) – TBD
Stanley Johnson (Left groin stress reaction) – Out
Kyle Lowry (Distal phalanx fracture – left thumb) – Out
Patrick McCaw (Left knee surgery) – Out
TONIGHT’S GAME DETAILS Opponent: Atlanta Hawks Date: Saturday, November 23, 2019 Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. (ET) Venue: State Farm Arena Television: TSN Radio: Sportsnet 590 The FAN
SERIES RECAP VS. ATLANTA
OVERALL HOME ROAD
2018-19 3-0 1-0 2-0
ALL-TIME 44-45 23-21 21-24
STREAKS Won 7 Won 3 Won 4
LAST WIN: Feb. 7, 2019 (119-101)
LAST ROAD WIN: Feb. 7, 2019 (119-101)
LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: +44, Dec. 3, 2016
LARGEST MARGIN OF DEFEAT: -31, Dec. 2, 2009
LAST TIME VS. ATLANTA
GAME 56 – FEB. 7, 2019 TORONTO 119, ATLANTA 101
ATLANTA — Pascal Siakam scored a career-high 33 points, Fred VanVleet added a career-best 30 and the Raptors rallied after trailing by 17 points in the first half to beat the Atlanta Hawks 119-101 … The Raptors were short-handed after trading four players in two deals … Toronto used only nine players and relied heavily on Siakam, who also had 13 rebounds, and VanVleet with All-Star Kawhi Leonard out due to a sore left knee … Trae Young and Taurean Price each had 19 points for the Hawks … Atlanta led 66-49 in the second quarter … After their big deficit, the Raptors used an 11-0 run to launch their comeback … Danny Green, who had 12 points, sank three free throws to cap the run … Toronto kept the momentum in the third quarter and led 88-85 entering the final period … The Raptors opened the fourth quarter with a 13-3 run to extend the lead in their third straight win … The Hawks scored 68 points in the first half and only 33 after halftime … Kyle Lowry had 13 points while making only 3 of 13 shots from the field … He had 13 assists …. Siakam scored 17 points in the second quarter.
1 2 3 4 TOT
TORONTO 22 38 28 31 119
ATLANTA 33 35 17 16 101
NEXT GAME DETAILS Opponent: Philadelphia 76ers Date: Monday, November 25, 2019 Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. (ET) Venue: Scotiabank Arena Television: Sportsnet Radio: Sportsnet 590 The FAN
2019-20 TORONTO RAPTORS ROSTER
NO. PLAYER POS HT WT BIRTHDATE PRIOR TO NBA/HOME COUNTRY NBA EXP.
3 OG Anunoby F 6-8 232 7/17/1997 Indiana / England 2
25 Chris Boucher F 6-10 200 1/11/1993 Oregon / Canada 2
12 Oshae Brissett* F 6-8 210 6/20/1998 Syracuse / Canada R
0 Terence Davis ll G 6-4 205 5/16/1997 Mississippi / USA R
33 Marc Gasol C 7-1 255 1/29/1985 Akasvayu Girona / Spain 11
20 Dewan Hernandez C 6-11 235 12/9/1996 Miami / USA R
4 Rondae Hollis-Jefferson F 6-7 217 1/3/1995 Arizona / USA 4
5 Stanley Johnson F 6-7 245 5/29/1996 Arizona / USA 4
7 Kyle Lowry G 6-1 196 3/25/1986 Villanova / USA 13
22 Patrick McCaw G 6-7 185 10/25/1995 UNLV / USA 3
13 Malcolm Miller G-F 6-7 210 3/6/1993 Holy Cross / USA 2
11 Shamorie Ponds* G 6-1 180 6/29/1998 St. John’s / USA R
24 Norman Powell G 6-4 215 5/25/1993 UCLA / USA 4
43 Pascal Siakam F 6-9 230 4/2/1994 New Mexico State / Cameroon 3
21 Matt Thomas G 6-4 190 8/4/1994 Iowa State / USA R
23 Fred VanVleet G 6-0 195 2/25/1994 Wichita State / USA 3
* Two-way player
HEAD COACH: Nick Nurse (Northern Iowa)
ASSISTANT COACHES: Adrian Griffin (Seton Hall), Sergio Scariolo (Italy), Nate Bjorkgren (Buena Vista), Patrick Mutombo (Metro State), Jim Sann (Colorado), Jon Goodwillie (Brock), Brittni Donaldson (Northern Iowa) ASSISTANT COACH/DIRECTOR OF SPORTS SCIENCE: Alex McKechnie (Leeds School of Physiotherapy) ATHLETIC TRAINER: Scott McCullough (Toronto)
NUMERICAL ROSTER: 0 Terence Davis ll 9 Serge Ibaka 20 Dewan Hernandez 24 Norman Powell 3 OG Anunoby 11 Shamorie Ponds 21 Matt Thomas 25 Chris Boucher 4 Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 12 Oshae Brissett 22 Patrick McCaw 33 Marc Gaso 5 Stanley Johnson 13 Malcolm Miller 23 Fred VanVleet 43 Pascal Siakam 7 Kyle Lowry .
FRIDAY’S RESULT
HAWKS POSSIBLE STARTERS (STATS NOT INCLUDING FRIDAY AT DETROIT.)
POS NO. PLAYER HT. WT. G GS PPG RPG APG SPG BPG MPG FG% 3FG% FT%
G 11 TRAE YOUNG 6-1 180 13 13 26.8 3.8 8.6 1.7 0.1 33.7 .440 .361 .816
STORYLINES
• Atlanta ranks fourth in the NBA in steals per game and has swiped at least 10 steals in six games this season, tied for the second-most in the league.
• Trae Young is the only NBA player to rank in the Top five in apg (3rd), Top 10 in ppg (7th) and Top 10 in spg (t7th) … Young leads the Eastern Conference in assists per game (8.6) and also has seven games with at least two steals and six games totaling 30+ points or more … He has scored at least 20 points in seven straight games, the second-longest streak of his career (eight games from (3/13/19-3/29/19)
• Jabari Parker has recorded at least two steals in four consecutive games, the longest streak of his career … Parker has recorded seven total games with multiple thefts this season and is averaging 18.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.89 steals on .511 FG% in nine starting assignments … He ranks t24th in the NBA in FG% (.521) and t30th in steals per game (1.36) … The first-year Hawk is 4th in the NBA in slam dunks, throwing down 39 jams through 14 games.
• On 11/20 vs. Milwaukee, Vince Carter led all Hawks reserves with 13 points … He tied a season-high with three 3FGM, adding two assists and one rebound.
• Allen Crabbe has scored in double-figures in back-to-back games, posting 11 points on 11/17 at LAL and scoring 10 points on 11/20 vs. Milwaukee … Crabbe is shooting .462 FG% (6-13), .500 3FG% (4-8) and .833 FT% (5-6) over the last two games.
• De’Andre Hunter recorded the first double-double of his career and posted career-highs in both points (27) and rebounds (11) on 11/20 vs. Mil … Hunter has scored in double figures in six straight games, averaging 15.0 points and knocking down at least one 3-pointer in each contest … Hunter is shooting .483 (14-29) from long distance during the stretch.
• Cam Reddish scored a career-high 17 points on 11/20 vs. Mil, giving him three consecutive contests with at least 10 points for the first time in his career … The rookie from Duke added three rebounds and one steal in 28 minutes of play … Reddish is tied for fifth in steals per game among qualifying first-year players.
INJURY REPORT Cam Reddish (left wrist sprain) is questionable John Collins (league suspension) is out Kevin Huerter (left rotator cuff strain) is out Brandon Goodwin
HAWKS NOTES
CAM AND TRAE’S MCDOUBLE: Trae Young and Cam Reddish shot their way to the top of the field in the McDonald’s All-American Three-Point Shootout in consecutive years (2017-18). Young took home the 2017 title in Chicago with a score of 19 and Reddish was named the 2018 co-champion in Atlanta, along with Immanuel Quickley, with a score of 17.
HAWKS NAB THREE DRAFTEES: For the second consecutive year, Atlanta entered the season with three rookies selected within the first 34 picks of the NBA Draft. The Hawks chose Cam Reddish from Duke University with the 10th overall pick on June 20; On July 7, Atlanta acquired the draft rights to the University of Virginia’s De’Andre Hunter, the fourth overall pick, and the draft rights to Bruno Fernando, selected 34th overall out of the University of Maryland. Hunter was originally selected by the Los Angeles Lakers, then traded to New Orleans on July 6. A day later, Atlanta acquired Hunter, along with Solomon Hill, a conditional 2023 second-round pick and the draft rights to Jordan Bone, from the Pelicans in exchange for the draft rights to Jaxson Hayes, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Marcos Louzada Silva and a conditional 2020 first-round pick. The Hawks acquired Fernando’s rights from Philadelphia in exchange for the draft rights to Bone and two second-round draft picks.
WELCOME TO ATLANTA: During the offseason, Atlanta acquired two-time NBA Champion Damian Jones, two former No. 2 overall draft picks (2014’s Jabari Parker and 2010’s Evan Turner), six-year veteran Allen Crabbe and eight-year veteran Chandler Parsons. In 2018-19, Jones posted career-high averages in points (5.4), boards (3.1), assists (1.2), blocks (1.0) and minutes (17.1), earning 22 starting assignments in 24 appearances. Parker saw action in 64 games (17 starts) with Chicago and Washington last season, averaging 14.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 26.9 minutes (.493 FG%, .313 3FG%, .712 FT%). Parsons has played in 435 career regular season games (369 starts) in eight seasons with Houston, Dallas and Memphis, averaging 12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 30.3 minutes. Last season with the Nets, Crabbe averaged 9.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 26.3 minutes over 43 games (20 starts). In nine seasons with Philadelphia, Indiana, Boston and Portland, Turner has averaged 9.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 27.2 minutes (.435 FG%, .781 FT%).
TERRAPIN TIMES THREE: Bruno Fernando, Kevin Huerter and Alex Len all played collegiately at The University of Maryland. Fernando spent two seasons (2017-18 and 2018-19) at Maryland, earning Big Ten All-Freshman honors following his first season and being named to the Big Ten All-Defensive team and First Team All-Big Ten after his sophomore campaign. Huerter started all 33 games as a freshman in College Park in 2016-17 and increased his scoring output to 14.8 points during an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention performance in his sophomore year. Len also spent two years (2011-12 and 2012-13) as a Terp, averaging 11.9 points and 7.8 rebounds in his sophomore season before becoming the No. 5 overall selection in the 2013 NBA Draft.
HIGH-SCORING ST. JOE’S BROS: DeAndre’ Bembry and Charlie Brown Jr. are no strangers to putting up big numbers in a Hawks uniform, having both played at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA. The two swingmen are the only players in SJU history to lead the A-10 in scoring; Bembry posted 17.7 ppg in 2014-15 while Brown scored a conference-best 19.0 ppg in 2018-19. Bembry enjoyed a prolific career on Hawk Hill from 2013-16, winning A-10 Co-Rookie of the Year honors in 2013, being named to the A-10 AllConference First Team twice (2015 and 2016) and being named the A-10 Player of the Year in 2016. Brown started 30 of 31 games for the Hawks as a freshman and won the A-10 scoring as a redshirt sophomore last season.
THE CITY OF SOUTHERNLY LOVE Atlanta enters the 2019-20 season with multiple ties to the Philadelphia area: Head Coach Lloyd Pierce was a member of the Sixers’ coaching staff for five seasons prior to arriving in Atlanta; First-year Hawks guard/forward Evan Turner was selected No. 2 overall in the 2010 NBA Draft by Philadelphia; Hawks guards DeAndre’ Bembry and Charlie Brown Jr. played their college ball at St. Joseph’s University; Rookie forward De’Andre Hunter is a Philly native; and first-year swingman Cam Reddish is a product of nearby Norristown, PA.
The view from left field 