Tips for Keeping Up with Arizona College Basketball Players in the 2023 NBA Playoffs
Arizona, also called the Grand Canyon State, has a strong presence in the NBA with two Power Five programs that regularly produce professional players.
Arizona and Arizona State have a strong presence in this year’s NBA play-in tournament and playoffs, with seven players representing the state on six different teams.
Arizona fans have five Wildcats and two Sun Devils to cheer for and place bets on in the NBA playoffs.
Out of the six teams with UA or ASU players on their roster, Phoenix is the favorite to win the championship on BetMGM Sportsbook Arizona with odds of +425. The next highest odds belong to Golden State (+850), followed by Philadelphia (+900), Denver (+1100), Chicago (+30000), and Oklahoma City (+50000).
Yengols.com analyzed the team rosters participating in the play-in tournament or playoffs in search of former state college players that could be potential betting options.
NBA Playoffs feature Arizona players
- During the 2022-23 season, Deandre Ayton from the Suns had an average of 18.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game with a shooting percentage of 58.8%.
- Aaron Gordon, a player for the Denver Nuggets, is currently scoring an average of 16.3 points, grabbing 6.6 rebounds, and dishing out 3.0 assists per game. He has an impressive field goal percentage of 56.4%.
- Andre Iguodala, from the Warriors, has an average of 2.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, shooting 46.7% from the field.
- Zeke Nnaji from the Nuggets is scoring an average of 5.2 points, grabbing 2.6 rebounds, and dishing out 0.3 assists per game with a shooting percentage of 56.1%.
- Dalen Terry from the Bulls has been scoring an average of 2.2 points, grabbing 1.0 rebound, and dishing out 0.6 assists per game with a shooting percentage of 44.4%.
Players from Arizona State University are participating in the NBA Playoffs.
- James Harden, a player for the Philadelphia 76ers, is currently putting up impressive stats with an average of 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game while shooting at a 44.1% accuracy rate.
- Lugentz Dort from the Thunder is putting up an average of 13.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, with a shooting percentage of 38.8%.
Which players are still active from the Arizona Wildcats team?
Currently, the Wildcats boast five active NBA players, with Deandre Ayton, the fifth-year Suns center, at the forefront.
Ayton averaged 18.0 points per game, his second-highest scoring average, and marked his fifth consecutive year of averaging 10 or more rebounds.
The Clippers will be visiting the Suns in the first round, with the series kicking off on Sunday in Downtown Phoenix. According to Arizona sports betting apps, the Suns are favored by 7.5 points in Game 1.
Aaron Gordon (Nuggets), Andre Iguodala (Warriors), and Zeke Nnaji (Nuggets), former Wildcats, are playing in the playoffs for their respective teams in different locations.
Gordon, averaging 16.3 PPG in his 10th NBA season, and Nnaji, who averages 5.2 PPG off the bench for Denver, are both expected to have important roles in the Nuggets’ quest for their first ever championship in franchise history.
Check out yengols.com for special deals on Arizona sportsbooks, where you can place a bet on the Nuggets to win the NBA championship at odds of +1100.
In a different setting, seasoned athlete Andre Iguodala gets ready to compete in his final playoff series with the Warriors. He reveals his plans to retire at the end of the season, marking the end of his remarkable 19-year career in the league.
This year, “Iggy” has only played an average of 14.1 minutes per game, but he could still be a valuable mentor for the Warriors from the bench as they strive to defend their NBA championship title.
Former Wildcats, including rookie Dalen Terry, are also taking part in the play-in tournament. Terry, who played 38 games for the Bulls this year, averaged 2.2 points per game.
Terry guided the Bulls to a 109-105 win against the Raptors in their play-in game, advancing them to face the Heat on Friday in their quest to progress to the next round of the playoffs.
ASU Graduates Eager to Win Trophies
Supporters of the Sun Devils can show their support for two former players, experienced guard James Harden and fourth-year guard Lugentz Dort.
In his 16th season in the league, Harden is still proving to be a dominant scoring force in Philly, averaging 21.0 points per game and shooting 44.1%.
However, Dort has solidified his position as a key part of the Thunder’s offensive game plan, averaging 13.7 points per game and playing a crucial role in Oklahoma City’s remarkable 16-game improvement.
Numerous NBA postseason players have ties to Arizona, either as former Wildcats or Sun Devils.
Arizona will take center stage as the play-in tournament games in both the Eastern and Western conferences take place on Friday night.
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Peterson Christopher has dedicated over seven years to reporting on sports and sports betting in Arizona. His expertise has been showcased at ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly, and the Green Valley News. He currently serves as the lead writer at yengols.com.
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