Delon Wright Has Historic End To Season
Apr 12, 2019, 10:14 AM
Delon Wright #2 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives around Wayne Ellington #20 of the Detroit Pistons during the first half at Little Caesars Arena on April 09, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former Utah Ute Delon Wright finished the season on fire. He recorded his first triple double of his career before ending the season with three triple doubles in four games.
Kyle Kuzma and Frank Jackson didn’t play during the last week with injury.
Jakob Poeltl, Damian Lillard and Andrew Bogut are the only locals that will participate in the postseason.
Here’s how the locals did during Week 25, the final week of the NBA season from Wednesday, April 3 to Wednesday, April 10:
Former Utes
Kyle Kuzma – Los Angeles Lakers (37-45)
Former Ute Kyle Kuzma missed the final six games of the regular season with a foot injury.
He finished his sophomore season averaging 18.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, while playing in 70 games and started in 68 games.
“So many times in basketball and in sports, you always preach family.
"You go into an arena and it’s the 17 of you guys versus 20,000 people. … I can’t say enough positive things about people in that locker room.” – @kylekuzma pic.twitter.com/pXFpYdVBxh
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 10, 2019
NEXT UP: The Lakers season is over and finished with a 37-45 record. Kuzma has one more guaranteed season on his rookie contract before the Lakers will decide to keep him for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons as they hold a team option.
Jakob Poeltl – San Antonio Spurs (48-34)
Former Ute Jakob Poeltl started the final four games of the regular season for the Spurs.
He recorded 3 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks in 17 minutes in their loss to the Nuggets.
Poeltl had 13 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists in 23 minutes in the Spurs’ win over the Wizards.
He posted 8 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks in 26 minutes as the Spurs beat the Cavaliers.
The former Ute finished with 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block in 19 minutes of play in the Spurs’ win over the Mavericks.
This season, Poeltl averaged 5.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in 77 games played.
Incoming Jakob 🔨 pic.twitter.com/nfnTTr8SJa
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 7, 2019
NEXT UP: The Spurs are the No. 7-seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. They will face the Denver Nuggets in the first round. Game 1 is Saturday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN. Game 2 is Tuesday at 7 p.m. on NBA TV and Game 3 is on Thursday at 7 p.m. on NBA TV.
Delon Wright – Memphis Grizzlies (33-49)
The Memphis Grizzlies played five games during Week 25 and Delon Wright recorded a triple-double in three of the five games, starting in every contest.
Wright started the week with 11 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks in their loss to Portland.
He recorded his first triple double in their win over the Mavericks with a career-high 26 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists.
Wright followed up that performance with 20 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in their loss to the Mavericks at home.
In the Grizzlies’ loss to the Pistons, Wright posted 15 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists.
He finished the regular season with 13 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in their win over the Warriors.
The former Ute averaged 8.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game this season.
Triple-Doubles, @memgrizz franchise history:
1 @MarcGasol – 5
2 @delonwright – 3 (all coming in the last 4 games)
3 @paugasol – 2
T4 7 players – 1 each— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) April 11, 2019
NEXT UP: Memphis finished the season with a 33-49 record and did not qualify for the playoffs. Wright will have one more season left on his contract.
Andrew Bogut – Golden State Warriors (57-25)
Former Ute Andrew Bogut played in three of their last five games of the season. He started and posted 6 points, 8 rebounds and 1 block in their win over the Cavaliers.
He recorded 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block in their win over the Clippers.
Bogut chipped in 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocks as the Warriors lost to the Grizzlies.
NEXT UP: The Warriors are the No. 1-seed in the Western Conference and will face the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Game 1 is Saturday at 6 p.m. on ABC. Game 2 is on Monday at 8:30 p.m. on TNT and Game 3 is on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. on TNT.
Former Wildcats
Damian Lillard – Portland Trail Blazers (53-29)
Former Wildcat Damian Lillard dropped 20 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists in the Blazers’ win over the Grizzlies.
He recorded 14 points, 4 rebounds and 8 assists in their loss to the Nuggets.
Lillard posted 30 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists in the Blazers’ home win over the Nuggets.
He finished the regular season with 20 points, 4 rebounds and 8 assists in their win over Lakers.
Lillard didn’t play in the regular season finale against the Kings due to load management.
The former Wildcat averaged 25.8 points, 6.9 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game this season.
D.O.L.L.A. pic.twitter.com/gEZVljtnic
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) April 10, 2019
NEXT UP: Portland is the No. 3-seed in the Western Conference and will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. Game 1 is on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. on ABC, Game 2 is on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. on TNT and Game 3 is on Friday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Former Cougars
Jimmer Fredette – Phoenix Suns (19-63)
Former BYU star Jimmer Fredette had 10 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist and 2 steals in their loss to the Jazz.
He played 5 minutes in their loss to the Rockets and recorded 1 rebound and 1 assist.
Fredette finished the season with 2 rebounds and 4 assists in 13 minutes as the Suns lost to the Dallas Mavericks.
"I came in here and did everything I could to be a good teammate, a good player, show what I can do on and off the court, and be a professional."@jimmerfredette speaks with us before heading home to spend time with his family! pic.twitter.com/W7oXTJZ4dZ
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) April 10, 2019
NEXT UP: The Suns ended their season with a 19-63 record and did not qualify for the playoffs. Phoenix holds the team option on Fredette’s contract next season.
Former High School Standouts
Frank Jackson – New Orleans Pelicans (33-49)
Former Lone Peak star Frank Jackson did not play in the Pelicans last four games with an injury. He averaged 8.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game this season.
Pelicans guard Frank Jackson spoke with media following the conclusion of the 2018-19 season. pic.twitter.com/TiYvlnq9Jd
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) April 11, 2019
NEXT UP: The Pelicans the season with a 33-49 record and did not qualify for the postseason. Jackson’s contract is partially guaranteed next season.
