Florida Gators in the NBA: Regular Season Review and Awards

Apr 11, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Corey Brewer (13) celebrates scoring 51 points at the end of the game against Houston Rockets at Target Center. The Minnesota Timberwolves win 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been a very successful season for Florida Gator greats playing in the NBA.  In the past week, Corey Brewer scored 51 points in a game and we learned that all but two Gators will be playing in the playoffs. Here’s how all 12 Gators in the NBA fared this past week and over the entire season.

Bradley Beal (2011-2012), Washington Wizards
Beal had a pretty good week to close out a pretty good season. Beal scored at least 26 points twice in two wins and averaged 21 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists. Over the entire season, he averaged 17.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.3 apg, while shooting 40.2% from three-point range. He improved nearly every career stat line this season. Beal’s Wizards are back in the postseason as the five-seed in the East, and will play the four-seed Chicago Bulls in the First Round.

Matt Bonner (1999-2003), San Antonio Spurs
Bonner had food poisoning last week, so he played sparingly. In Wednesday’s game, Bonner had six points on 2-of-3 three-point shooting and eight rebounds in just 17 minutes. For the season, Bonner averaged 3.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg, and 42.9% shooting from beyond the arc. Bonner’s Spurs clinched home court throughout the playoffs and will face the Dallas Mavericks in the First Round.

Corey Brewer (2004-2007), Minnesota Timberwolves
Brewer exploded for 51 points last Friday, including a buzzer-beating shot from beyond half court. In that game, Brewer went 19-30 from the field to shoot 63.3%, hit two threes, and 11 free throws. He also had six steals in the game. His weekly point average exponentially grew because of this effort to 23.5 points and 3.5 steals. For the season, Brewer averaged 12.3 ppg. 2.6 rpg, 1.7 apg, and 1.9 spg. Minnesota will be sitting home for the playoffs, but I’m sure Brewer will be smiling like after his 51 point effort while he cheers for his Gator brethren.

Nick Calathes (2007-2009), Memphis Grizzlies
Calathes’ minutes were reduced to around 15 and he struggled a little bit. In his best game this week, he scored 12 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 25 minutes Friday. Since then, he’s scored a total of five points, two rebounds, and five assists. For his rookie season, Calathes averaged 4.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg, and 2.9 apg coming off the bench.

Mike Miller (1998-2000), Memphis Grizzlies
Miller was on fire from beyond the arc, going 12-for-18 for three, good for 66.7%. He averaged 14 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists this past week. For the season, Miller was below his career averages. He averaged 7.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.6 apg, while shooting 45.9% from three-point range. Calathes and Miller locked up the seven-seed in the West and will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the First Round.

Udonis Haslem (1998-2002), Miami Heat
Haslem put together a solid final week, averaging 23 minutes and 8.3 points and 8.8 rebounds while shooting 60% from the field. On the season, Haslem had 3.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, and shot over 50% from the field. Haslem’s Heat picked up the second-seed in the East and will play the Charlotte Bobcast in the First Round of the playoffs.

Al Horford (2004-2007), Atlanta Hawks
Horford is out for the rest of the year after undergoing season-ending surgery to repair his right pectoral muscle. Even though his Atlanta Hawks picked up the eight-seed in the East, Horford won’t attempt a comeback before next season. His Hawks face the top seed in the East, the Indiana Pacers in the First Round.

David Lee (2001-2005), Golden State Warriors
Lee had recovered from nerve damage in his hamstring and played in three games this past week. He had a double-double (10 points, 10 boards) in his first game back, and scored 25 and 9 rebounds in another game. He averaged 13 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in his first week back. For the season, Lee put up 18.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg, and 2.1 apg. Andrew Bogut’s injury could mean more playing time for Lee in the playoffs.

Marreese Speights (2006-2008), Golden State Warriors
Speights put together a solid week, playing in three of four games. He averaged 12 points, seven rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1 block. For the season, Speights averaged 6.4 ppg an 3.7 rpg. Golden State locked up the six-seed and will play the LA Clippers in the First Round in what should be a highly competitive series.

Erik Murphy (2009-2013), Utah Jazz
Murphy has yet to play for his new team and it seems like they’re hoping he’ll develop over the summer into the player they imagined he could be. Murphy averaged 0.3 ppg. 0.3 rpg, 2.6 minutes per game, in just 26 games. The Jazz are out of the playoffs, so his rookie season is finished.

Joakim Noah (2004-2007), Chicago Bulls
Ho-hum another week for Noah, another four double-doubles. He averaged 12.8 points, 13 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.5 steals in four games this past week. For the season, Noah has put up 12.6 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 5.4 apg, 1.5 bpg, and 1.2 spg. Noah’s four-seed Bulls will face the five-seed Washington Wizards in the First Round of the playoffs.

Chandler Parsons (2007-2011), Houston Rockets
Parsons played in two out of four games to end the regular season because of rest to prepare for the postseason. Parsons averaged 24 points, 7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 2 steals in the final week of the season. For the entire season, Parsons had 16.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg, and 4.o apg. The Houston Rockets are in the four-seed in the West and will host the Portland Trailblazers in the first round of the playoffs

So now that the regular season is over, let’s hand out some hardware. Only players who played for UF are eligible:

MVP: Joakim Noah
Rookie of the Year: Nick Calathes
Sixth Man of the Year: Corey Brewer
All-Gators Starting 5: PG Nick Calathes, SG Bradley Beal, SF Chandler Parsons, PF David Lee, C Joakim Noah

That’s a pretty spectacular team I would have loved to have seen them play together. What do you think? Do you think someone else deserves Sixth Man of the Year? Who’s your MVP? Talk about it in the comments and on Facebook and Twitter.

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