The 2019-20 NBA regular season begins on Tuesday night when the Toronto Raptors host the New Orleans Pelicans and the Los Angeles Lakers square off with the new-look Los Angeles Clippers.
While the season kicks off with two games on Tuesday night, every other NBA team will begin their season on Wednesday night. Several former Vol basketball players will be making their NBA regular season debut that night, and a handful of others will be suiting up for another NBA season.
Here’s a look at how the former Vols performed during the preseason and where they stand heading into the 2019-20 season.
Tobias Harris, Philadelphia 76ers
In five preseason games with the 76ers, Harris averaged 12.0 points per game in 24.7 minutes. Harris started each preseason game, shooting 42.8 percent from the field, 25.0 percent from the 3-point line, and 87.5 percent from the free throw line. He also averaged 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.4 blocks.
Harris signed with the 76ers for a max contract over the offseason after he was traded to Philadelphia mid-season.
The 76ers will begin their season on Wednesday night against the Boston Celtics at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Harris will be playing against a fellow former Vol in Grant Williams on the Celtics’ roster.
Josh Richardson, Philadelphia 76ers
Richardson — the other part of the Vol duo in Philadelphia — averaged 12.4 points, 4.0 assists, 2.6 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 0.6 blocks in five starts this preseason. He shot 43.8 percent from the field, 35.3 percent from the 3-point line, and 75.0 percent from the free throw line.
Grant Williams, Boston Celtics
Williams will make his professional debut against the 76ers on Wednesday night when his Celtics travel to Philadelphia. In four preseason games, Williams averaged 7.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting 52.6 percent from the field and 41.6 percent from three in 18.3 minutes
Against the Orlando Magic on October 11th, Williams scored 10 points on 2-of-4 shooting from three. Then, in a 118-95 win over the Cavaliers — a game in which he started — Williams scored eight points, had three rebounds, and tallied five assists. He was 2-of-3 from three.
Admiral Schofield, Washington Wizards
In five preseason games for the Wizards, Schofield averaged 6.6 points per game in 23.4 minutes of action. From the field, he shot 33.3 percent overall and 36.4 percent from three. Schofield also averaged 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists.
The Wizards begin their season on Wednesday night in Dallas against the Mavericks.
Jordan McRae, Washington Wizards
Richardson and Harris aren’t the only Vol duo on an NBA team this season. Along with Schofield, McRae helps form the other pair in D.C.
McRae averaged 12.5 points per game in 21.0 minutes as he shot 52.6 percent from the field and 53.3 percent from three. McRae also averaged 2.0 assists and 1.5 rebounds. The former Vol started on October 9th and then scored a team-high 17 points against the 76ers in Washington’s final preseason game.
Jordan Bone, Detroit Pistons
The Pistons had five preseason games, and Bone only appeared in two of them. In the preseason-opener against Orlando, Bone scored one point on a free throw. Bone then played five minutes in the final preseason game, scoring three points as he was 3-of-4 from the free throw line. In two games, he was 0-of-1 shooting from the field. He attempted one three and did not tally another field goal attempt.
Bone is on a two-way contract with the Pistons this season, meaning he’ll spend time with both Detroit and the Grand Rapids Drive, which is the organization’s G-League team.
Kyle Alexander, Miami Heat
Alexander played in two of the Heat’s five preseason games. Against Charlotte on October 9th, the former Vol big man played 12 minutes, and though he didn’t attempt a shot, he pulled down four rebounds. Then, in Miami’s final preseason game against the Rockets, he didn’t record a statistic in two minutes of action.
On Saturday, Alexander was waived by the Heat. Though it’s not official yet, Alexander is expected to play for Miami’s G-League team — the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
