Men's Basketball Well-Represented in 2024 NBA Playoffs
The UCLA men's basketball program has 11 former players who have helped their respective NBA organizations advance to the NBA postseason, which starts with play-in postseason contests on Tuesday, April 16.
While 10 teams from each of the Western and Eastern Conferences have qualified for postseason action, two teams from each conference will be eliminated in a series of play-in contests on Tuesday and Wednesday. The bracketed portion of the 2024 NBA Playoffs will get underway on Saturday, April 20 (complete NBA postseason schedule is available here).
Seven NBA playoff-bound teams have 11 former UCLA players on their rosters. Four teams have a total of two Bruins each – Norman Powell and Russell Westbrook with the Los Angeles Clippers, Lonzo Ball and Zach LaVine with the Chicago Bulls, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kevin Love with the Miami Heat, and Kyle Anderson and Jaylen Clark with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The other three Bruins include Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics), Kevon Looney (Golden State Warriors) and Peyton Watson (Denver Nuggets).
In all, the UCLA men's basketball program had 16 former UCLA players on NBA rosters during the 2023-24 season (click here for the full list). Former players who saw action in the NBA this season on teams who have not advanced to the postseason include Amari Bailey (Charlotte Hornets), Jules Bernard (Washington Wizards), Moses Brown (Portland Trail Blazers), Aaron Holiday (Houston Rockets) and Johnny Juzang (Utah Jazz).
Five former UCLA standouts averaged at least 10 points per game during the NBA's 2023-24 season. Zach LaVine led that group with 19.5 points per game through 25 contests with Chicago. LaVine had missed a portion of the season with an injury. Other players who averaged double-figure scoring included Norman Powell (13.9 ppg), Jrue Holiday (12.5 ppg), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11.8 ppg) and Russell Westbrook (11.1 ppg).
With 11 players headed to postseason play, six of those players compete on teams who have bypassed the NBA's play-in games. Jrue Holiday (Boston) plays for the No. 1-seeded squad in the East, while Peyton Watson (Denver) competes for the No. 2-seeded team in the West. The other five players advancing past the play-in round include Kyle Anderson (Minnesota), Jaylen Clark (Minnesota), Norman Powell (L.A. Clippers), Russell Westbrook (L.A. Clippers). Minnesota has secured the No. 3 seed in the West, while the L.A. Clippers have entered this season's playoffs as the No. 5 seed in the West.
Bruins in the Play-In Contests
Tuesday, April 16
Kevon Looney, Golden State Warriors (No. 10-seed, West)
Wednesday, April 17
Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat (No. 8-seed, East)
Lonzo Ball (injured), Chicago Bulls (No. 9-seed, East)
Zach LaVine (injured), Chicago Bulls (No. 9-seed, East)
Bruins in the NBA – Quick Summary
Kyle Anderson (Minnesota Timberwolves)
10th season in the NBA
PPG: 6.4
RPG: 3.5
APG: 4.2
Games: 79
Minutes per game: 22.6
Anderson has led the Minnesota Timberwolves into this season's playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the West. Minnesota will take on No. 6 seed Phoenix in the first round of the playoffs, starting on Saturday, April 20. The NBA's first-round playoff format features a best-of-seven game series. Anderson, now in his 10th NBA season, was drafted in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft from UCLA, after his sophomore season (2013-14). This marked his second season playing for Minnesota.
Amari Bailey (Charlotte Hornets)
1st season in the NBA
PPG: 2.3
RPG: 0.9
APG: 0.7
Games: 10
Minutes per game: 6.5
Bailey was a second-round NBA Draft selection by the Charlotte Hornets last summer and agreed to a two-way contract with the organization. He spent time playing in the G League with the Greensboro Swarm and competed in 10 contests with Charlotte.
Lonzo Ball (Chicago Bulls)
7th season in the NBA
Ball was unable to compete during the 2023-24 season due to injury. He has averaged 11.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists in five previous NBA seasons, playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans and Chicago Bulls. Ball was the No. 2 selection in the 2017 NBA Draft after his freshman year at UCLA.
Jules Bernard (Washington Wizards)
1st season in the NBA
PPG: 3.9
RPG: 1.4
APG: 0.8
Games: 19
Minutes per game: 7.8
Bernard played in 19 games for the Washington Wizards, agreeing to terms on a two-way contract with the organization. He also excelled with the Capital City Go-Go in the NBA's G League during his second professional season.
Moses Brown (Portland Trail Blazers)
5th season in the NBA
PPG: 3.4
RPG: 3.9
APG: 0.3
Games: 22
Minutes per game: 9.1
Brown played in 22 games for the Portland Trail Blazers, his fifth year in the NBA and his second stint with Portland's organization. Brown also spent time during the 2023-24 season with the Rip City Remix in the NBA's G League.
Jaylen Clark (Minnesota Timberwolves)
1st season in the NBA
Clark was unable to play during the 2023-24 campaign, as he continues to recover from an injury he sustained late during the 2022-23 season at UCLA.
Aaron Holiday (Houston Rockets)
6th season in the NBA
PPG: 6.6
RPG: 1.6
APG: 1.8
Games: 78
Minutes per game: 16.3
Aaron Holiday played in 78 games for Houston during the 2023-24 season, shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from 3-point distance. This marked his sixth year in the NBA and his first season with the Houston Rockets.
Jrue Holiday (Boston Celtics)
15th season in the NBA
PPG: 12.5
RPG: 5.4
APG: 4.8
Games: 69
Minutes per game: 32.8
Jrue Holiday has helped the Boston Celtics secure the No. 1 seed in the East with an NBA-leading overall record of 64-18. Now in his 15th year in the NBA, Holiday and the Celtics are preparing to face the Eastern Conference's No. 8-seed, to be determined this week. Selected in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft, Holiday averaged 12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 69 games for Boston during the 2023-24 season.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Miami Heat)
1st season in the NBA
PPG: 11.9
RPG: 3.8
APG: 2.6
Games: 75
Minutes per game: 28.2
Jaquez Jr. and former UCLA standout Kevin Love have helped the Miami Heat enter the NBA's postseason play-in tournament this week as the No. 8 seed in the East, facing No. 7 seed Philadelphia on Wednesday. The winner of that contest will advance to a first-round series against the No. 2 seed New York Knicks, starting next weekend. Jaquez Jr. averaged 11.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in his rookie campaign, averaging 28.2 minutes per game (the third-highest minutes per game average of any Bruin in the NBA this year).
Johnny Juzang (Utah Jazz)
2nd season in the NBA
PPG: 7.2
RPG: 1.8
APG: 1.2
Games: 20
Minutes per game: 18.6
Juzang concluded his second season in the NBA in 2023-24, spending time with the Utah Jazz and the organization's G League squad (Salt Lake City Stars) on a two-way contract. He appeared in 20 contests for Utah and shot 41.6 percent from 3-point distance (32-of-77).
Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls)
10th season in the NBA
PPG: 19.5
RPG: 5.2
APG: 3.9
Games: 25
Minutes per game: 34.9
LaVine played in 25 games for the Chicago Bulls, his 10th year in the NBA and his seventh year with the Chicago organization. LaVine's season was limited due to injury, but the former freshman standout at UCLA averaged 19.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. LaVine was selected No. 13 by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2014 NBA Draft.
Kevon Looney (Golden State Warriors)
9th season in the NBA
PPG: 4.5
RPG: 5.7
APG: 1.8
Games: 74
Minutes per game: 16.1
Looney has helped the Golden State Warriors secure a spot in the upcoming NBA postseason play-in tournament as the No. 10 seed in the West. Golden State will face No. 9 seed Sacramento on Tuesday, April 16, at the Golden 1 Center (in Sacramento). The winning team advances to another play-in game, while the losing team's season will end. Looney is now in his ninth season in the NBA, all with the Golden State Warriors.
Kevin Love
16th season in the NBA
PPG: 8.8
RPG: 6.1
APG: 2.1
Games: 55
Minutes per game: 16.8
Love and former UCLA standout Jaime Jaquez Jr. have helped the Miami Heat advance to the NBA's postseason play-in tournament as the No. 8 seed in the East, facing No. 7 seed Philadelphia on Wednesday. The winner of that contest will advance to a first-round series against the No. 2 seed New York Knicks, starting next weekend. Now in his 16th year in the NBA, Love averaged 8.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 55 games for Miami in 2023-24.
Norman Powell
9th season in the NBA
PPG: 13.9
RPG: 2.6
APG: 1.1
Games: 76
Minutes per game: 26.2
Powell and former UCLA star Russell Westbrook have played major roles in leading the Los Angeles Clippers to the No. 4 seed in the West. The Clippers will square off against the No. 5 seed Dallas Mavericks in Los Angeles starting on Sunday, April 21. Powell has now spent nine season in the NBA, including portions of three years with the Los Angeles Clippers. This marked the fifth consecutive year in which Powell has averaged at least 10.0 points per game.
Peyton Watson
2nd season in the NBA
PPG: 6.7
RPG: 3.2
APG: 1.1
Games: 80
Minutes per game: 18.6
Watson has helped the Denver Nuggets earn the No. 2 seed in the West with a record of 57-25. A first-round draft pick (No. 30) by Denver as a freshman at UCLA in 2022, Watson averaged 6.7 points and 3.2 rebounds in 80 games last season. Denver will take on the No. 7 seed in the West, out of a play-in contest that takes place on Tuesday evening (No. 7 New Orleans Pelicans vs. No. 8 Los Angeles Lakers).
Russell Westbrook
16th season in the NBA
PPG: 11.1
RPG: 5.0
APG: 4.5
Games: 68
Minutes per game: 22.5
Westbrook and former UCLA standout Norman Powell have helped the Los Angeles Clippers to the No. 4 seed in the West. The Clippers will take on the No. 5 seed Dallas Mavericks in Los Angeles starting on Sunday, April 21. Westbrook averaged 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 68 games this season with the Clippers. He has averaged at least 10 points per game in each of his 16 NBA seasons.