North Carolina State University Athletics
Five Former Wolfpackers Start NBA Season
10/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
RALEIGH, N.C. A total of five former NC State basketball players will start the 2008-09 NBA season this week, as the Pack currently has three players and two head coaches on opening day NBA rosters.
Nate McMillan certainly had a successful summer, as served as an assistant coach with the U.S. Men’s Basketball team as they won a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. McMillan enters his fourth season with the Portland Trailblazers and his ninth season as an NBA head coach (he was head coach with the Seattle SuperSonics from 2001-2005). McMillan’s Trailblazers have shown improvement in each of his previous three seasons, going from 21 wins to 32 to a record of 41-41 last season.
Vinny Del Negro joins his former NC State teammate on the NBA sidelines this season, as he takes over the helm of the Chicago Bulls. Del Negro, 41, agreed to a two-year deal that will pay him a reported $2 million per year in June. He spent the last two seasons with the Phoenix Suns front office, serving as Director of Player Personnel for one year, before being promoted to Assistant General Manager prior to the 2007-08 campaign.
Cedric Simmons will be on Del Negro’s first NBA squad this season, as Simmons is in his second season with the Chicago Bulls. Simmons split time last season between the Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers, after he was a 2006 first round draft pick of the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. Simmons appeared in three preseason games, scoring 1.7 points in 8.7 minutes a game.
J.J. Hickson enters his first NBA campaign, as he was the Cleveland Cavaliers first round draft selection this past summer, 19th overall. Hickson came off the Cav’s bench in all eight exhibition contests, averaging 5.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 18.1 minutes per game. He posted highs of eight points, seven rebounds and 28 minutes played in a loss to Boston.
Josh Powell did not have to travel far to join his new team, as Powell will play this season with the L.A. Lakers after playing last season with the L.A. Clippers. During the preseason, Powell played in five games off the bench averaging 4.6 points and 3.0 rebounds in 13.4 minutes an outing. Powell had his most productive season to date last year with the Clippers, as he played in 64 games and made 25 starts. He also posted career highs with 5.5 points and 3.6 rebounds. Powell’s career has spanned four teams, and he has played in a total of 138 games.
Nate McMillan certainly had a successful summer, as served as an assistant coach with the U.S. Men’s Basketball team as they won a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. McMillan enters his fourth season with the Portland Trailblazers and his ninth season as an NBA head coach (he was head coach with the Seattle SuperSonics from 2001-2005). McMillan’s Trailblazers have shown improvement in each of his previous three seasons, going from 21 wins to 32 to a record of 41-41 last season.
Vinny Del Negro joins his former NC State teammate on the NBA sidelines this season, as he takes over the helm of the Chicago Bulls. Del Negro, 41, agreed to a two-year deal that will pay him a reported $2 million per year in June. He spent the last two seasons with the Phoenix Suns front office, serving as Director of Player Personnel for one year, before being promoted to Assistant General Manager prior to the 2007-08 campaign.
Cedric Simmons will be on Del Negro’s first NBA squad this season, as Simmons is in his second season with the Chicago Bulls. Simmons split time last season between the Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers, after he was a 2006 first round draft pick of the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. Simmons appeared in three preseason games, scoring 1.7 points in 8.7 minutes a game.
J.J. Hickson enters his first NBA campaign, as he was the Cleveland Cavaliers first round draft selection this past summer, 19th overall. Hickson came off the Cav’s bench in all eight exhibition contests, averaging 5.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 18.1 minutes per game. He posted highs of eight points, seven rebounds and 28 minutes played in a loss to Boston.
Josh Powell did not have to travel far to join his new team, as Powell will play this season with the L.A. Lakers after playing last season with the L.A. Clippers. During the preseason, Powell played in five games off the bench averaging 4.6 points and 3.0 rebounds in 13.4 minutes an outing. Powell had his most productive season to date last year with the Clippers, as he played in 64 games and made 25 starts. He also posted career highs with 5.5 points and 3.6 rebounds. Powell’s career has spanned four teams, and he has played in a total of 138 games.
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