Florida Gators in the NBA: Joakim Noah’s a Nice Guy and a Good Basketball Player

It was a tough week for most of the Gators in the NBA, with one exception: Joakim Noah. Noah averaged a double-double as he continues to learn to play with fellow big Pau Gasol and PG Derrick Rose. He’s got a streak of two straight double-double’s heading into Thursday night’s game. Noah also showed why he’s the best, as he made a little girl’s year:

Noah’s college teammate, Corey Brewer, is also starting to heat up, hitting 60 percent of his shots and averaging 13 points.

It wasn’t all good news, however, as David Lee had an MRI for a hamstring injury that will keep him out at least until next weekend.

There are 12 former Gators in the NBA. Here’s how all of them fared in the first week of the NBA season:

SG Bradley Beal (2011-2012), Washington Wizards
After a breakout season a year ago, Beal has yet to make his regular season debut as he recovers from left wrist surgery to fix a non-displaced fracture of the scaphoid bone. He landed awkwardly on his non-shooting hand October 10 and is expected to miss six weeks total. Beal has a follow up with a doctor this week to determine if he can practice. He’s still expected to miss another two to four weeks.

PF Matt Bonner (1999-2003), San Antonio Spurs
Bonner saw action in three-out-of-four games this past week, posting five points in each contest. His best game came Tuesday when he notched five rebounds and an assist to go with his five points. For the week, Bonner averaged 5.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and .3 steals in 20.7 minutes per game.

SF Corey Brewer (2004-2007), Minnesota Timberwolves
Brewer’s starting to find his groove, scoring double-digits in two of the three games this past week. In Wednesday’s loss to the Houston Rockets in Mexico City, Brewer had 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal while sinking all seven of his shots from the field. For the week, he averaged 13.0 points on 60 percent shootings (15-of-25), 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 2.3 steals in 24.3 minutes.

PG/SG Nick Calathes (2007-2009), Memphis Grizzlies
Calathes is still serving his 20 game suspension from last season for testing positive for Tamoxifen, considered a violation of a the NBA’s drug policy. He will miss the first 13 games of the season. Calathes will make his season debut Sunday, November 23rd against the LA Clippers.

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PF Udonis Haslem (1998-2002), Miami Heat
Haslem returned from his quad injury to make his season debut last Saturday and played pretty well. In 14 minutes, he notched eight points and six rebounds. Haslem made an appearance in all three games the Heat had this past week, with his best two games coming in wins over Dallas and Minnesota. Against the Mavericks, he added six points, five rebounds, an assist and a block in 19 minutes. In those two games, Haslem hit 67 percent (6-of-9) of his shots from the field. He only played one minute in a loss to the Indiana Pacers Wednesday.

PF Al Horford (2004-2007), Atlanta Hawks
It was a busy week for Horford and the Hawks as he continues his comeback from a torn pectoral. Horford played in all four games Atlanta had this past week, with his best contest coming against the Charlotte Hornets. He managed a double-double, picking up 20 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, a block, and three steals while shooting 68.8 percent (11-of-16) from the field in 37 minutes. For the week, Horford averaged 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.3 steals in 32.0 minutes per game.

PF David Lee (2001-2005), Golden State Warriors
Lee continues to miss time due to a nagging hamstring injury and is expected to miss two weeks total. He was able to run up and down the court during Wednesday’s practice, which is encouraging, but is expected to be reevaluated next weekend.

PF Marreese Speights (2006-2008), Golden State Warriors
With his teammate Lee injured, you would figure Speights would see more playing time. But that’s not the case. He’s still averaging 10.3 minutes per game and is making the most out of his time on the court. Speights averaged 7.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, and .7 blocks while shooting 75 percent (9-of-12) from the floor.

SF Mike Miller (1998-2000), Cleveland Cavaliers
Miller hit his first treys in a Cavs uniform last Friday and Monday, which accounted for his only points in two games this past week. He scored six points, four rebounds, and two assists in two games, averaging 17 minutes in two games.

C Joakim Noah (2004-2007), Chicago Bulls
Noah’s got a two game streak of double-double’s he carries into Thursday night’s game against the Toronto Raptors. Noah notched 13 points and 11 rebounds versus the Boston Celtics last Saturday and 13 points and 14 boards against the Detroit Pistons Monday. In three games this past week, he’s averaged 10.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, .3 blocks, and .3 steals in 31.3 minutes.

SF Chandler Parsons (2007-2011), Dallas Mavericks
Parsons struggled for the most part this past week, missing 11 straight three-point attempts before going 5-of-11 from beyond the arc in Tuesday’s win against the Sacramento Kings. He managed 19 points, four rebounds, and three assists in the victory. For the week, Parsons averaged 9.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 dimes, 1.0 blocks, and 1.7 steals in 31.0 minutes.

PF Patric Young (2010-2014), New Orleans Pelicans
Young signed with New Orleans as an undrafted free agent following the 2014 NBA Draft. He played well enough in the Summer League to earn a Pelicans’ roster invite, but has yet to make his regular season debut.