Here at Razorbackers we truly believe in the adage “Once A Hog, Always a Hog,” so we decided to check in on how former Arkansas basketball players performed during the NBA preseason.
Let’s first check the pure numbers. All stats are courtesy of NBA.com.
Patrick Beverly (Minnesota Timberwolves)-3 out of 4 games played; 18.4 minutes; 5.3 points; 3.7 rebounds; 3.7 assists; 1.0 steal; +3.7; 9.1 net rating
Daniel Gafford (Washington Wizards)-4 out of 4 games played; 24.1 minutes; 10.8 points; 8.5 rebounds; 2.5 blocks; +1.3; 2.3 net rating
Isaiah Joe (Philadelphia 76ers)-4 out of 4 games played; 24.4 minutes; 16.8 points; 2.3 rebounds; 1.8 steals; +11.0; 22.3 net rating
Moses Moody (Golden State Warriors)-5 out of 5 games played; 14.1 minutes; 5.0 points; 2.2 rebounds; 1.0 assists; 1.0 steals; -0.2; -0.6 net rating
Bobby Portis (Milwaukee Bucks)-DNP; Hamstring injury per CBS Sports
Former Arkansas basketball standout Isaiah Joe is our Pro Hog of the NBA Preseason— and it’s not even close.
From a pure data perspective, Isaiah Joe put up easily the strongest numbers.
Joe led the 76ers in points per game throughout the preseason, which is suprising considering it’s a team that features Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris and Seth Curry.
How he led them was the really special part. Not only did Joe shoot 59.3% from three-point range on 6.8 attempts per game, but he also hit the 50-40-90 mark.
The 50-40-90 Club (50% from the floor-40% from three-90% from the free-throw line) is one of the most exclusive in the NBA. The only people to achieve that feat for an entire season in NBA history are Larry Bird (twice), Malcolm Brogdon, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Reggie Miller, Steve Nash (four times), Dirk Nowitzki, and Mark Price.
These numbers are important because Joe also has the most room to grow if he is rewarded with rotation minutes after a strong preseason.
Daniel Gafford and Bobby Portis are both strongly entrenched in their respective lineups, and Patrick Beverly seems destined for backup point guard duties for the Timberwolves. On the flip side, Moses Moody will likely only see spot minutes for a Warriors team that is pushing to win as many games as their veteran presence will carry them to.
Joe, however, definitely has room for upward mobility especially with the 76ers guard rotation being up in the air due to the Ben Simmons trade request. Joe’s play also makes him a potentially attractive asset to the 76ers as they go star hunting.