Wisconsin (the state, not the University) basketball fans have had a lot to cheer about in the first two weeks of the NBA season. The Bucks remain the only undefeated team in the league, and with the slumping Green Bay Packers treading water in their 2022 NFL season, sports fans in the state may be shifting their focus in the very near future to other sports and teams… basketball, maybe, and the NBA in particular.
Fans of Marquette basketball will notice that a quartet of the school’s former hoops players are making contributions at the next level. A check of the stat sheets shows that four NBA players with ties to Marquette have scored points in the NBA this season. Here is a quick summary of those players.
Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat
Jimmy Butler is in his fifth season with the Miami Heat and is off to a good start to the 2022-23 season, although his team, the Miami Heat are below .500 at 4-6. Butler is averaging 21.5 points per game (tops on the team) and adding over six rebounds and five assist per contest (both second-best on the team). The 11-year NBA star played three seasons at Marquette from 2008-09 to 2010-11, playing in 106 games. Butler’s NBA resume includes six All-Star Games and a 2014-15 Most Improved Player Award. Of all NBA players who played at Marquette, Butler ranks third behind Dwyane Wade and Maurice Lucas for most points scored in the league.
Sam Hauser, Boston Celtics
Sam Hauser is in his second NBA season with the Boston Celtics. In nine games this season, Hauser, who played his first three college seasons at Marquette before transferring to Virginia, is averaging over 13 minutes per game, and has scored 58 points for the Celts. He recently had a career-high 17 points in a game and has seen his playing time increase to over 18 minutes per game in three of his last four contests.
Wesley Matthews, Milwaukee Bucks
Wesley Matthews is playing in his 15th NBA season and is a solid contributor for the undefeated Bucks. This is his third season with Milwaukee. Playing about 15 minutes per game this season, Matthews is counted on by the Bucks to rebound, play defense, and do all the little things that have kept him in the league for so long. He has over 900 career NBA games under his belt with a career scoring average of 12.1 points per game. On a Bucks team full of NBA experience, Matthews is the second-oldest player on the team. He played four years at Marquette from 2005-06 to 2008-09. He has 31 points in nine games this season with the Bucks.
Juan Toscano-Anderson, Los Angeles Lakers
Juan Toscano-Anderson played four years at Marquette from 2011-12 to 2014-15 and averaged just over three points and three rebounds at the school. He is currently a member of the Los Angels Lakers and has seen action in six games averaging just over 15 minutes of playing time. This is his fourth year in the year; he was with the Golden State Warriors for three seasons before coming to the Lakers this season. He has tallied 18 points in those six games this season.
What about Jae Crowder?
One name missing from the above list is Jae Crowder, a 10-year NBA veteran who spent two years at Marquette. He has been a starter with the Phoenix Suns over the past two seasons and has over 100 playoff games experience in the league. He has been the topic of much trade speculation and has not suited up for a game this season. The Bucks have been mentioned as a destination for Crowder, but nothing has transpired.
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