Crimson Tide Well Represented in NBA Playoffs
4/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
April 16, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Alabama men's basketball program will be well represented in the upcoming NBA playoffs with three former players attempting to lead their team to the NBA title. Mo Williams, Gerald Wallace and Antonio McDyess will all begin the league's second season this weekend and aim to win the 10th NBA title by a former Crimson Tide player.
Also, seven players that played under current Alabama head coach Anthony Grant will participate in the playoffs.
Mo Williams helped the Cleveland Cavaliers to the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a 61-21 record. The Cavs will open up the playoffs against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday after advancing to the Eastern Conference finals last season. This season Williams was second on the team in scoring with 15.8 points per game and 5.3 assists per outing and ninth in the league in three-point percentage at 42.9 percent.
Gerald Wallace has been largely responsible for his Charlotte Bobcats making their first playoff appearance in franchise history when they face the Orlando Magic on Sunday. Earlier in the season, he became the franchise's first NBA All-Star and is currently second in the league in minutes played with 41 per game. Additionally, he is one of just 12 players to average a double-double this season with 18.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
Alabama's final playoff representative is no stranger to postseason basketball as 13-year veteran Antonio McDyess makes his seventh playoff appearance. McDyess is in his first season with the San Antonio Spurs and will face in-state rival Dallas in the opening round. This season the veteran is averaging 5.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
Grant's seven former players in the playoffs include Eric Maynor (Oklahoma City), Joakim Noah (Chicago), Chris Richard (Chicago), Al Horford (Atlanta), Matt Bonner (San Antonio), Udonis Haslem (Miami) and Jason Williams (Orlando).
