Former Zags Love The Playoffs

As we get into the latter part of the first round of the NBA playoffs, it cannot be ignored any longer... former Gonzaga players are ballin’ out in the ’loffs, boys! The focus here is on the trio of Chet Holmgren, Andrew Nembhard, and Rui Hachimura. All three of these Zag alums are doing it all for their teams... with Holmgren and Nembhard already clinching spots in the second round.

Chet Holmgren, playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder, averaged 18.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks during the four-game first-round sweep of the Grizzlies. He also helped engineer a 20+ point comeback with a hot shooting performance, which included two double-doubles. After an injury-prone stretch, Chet is showing how close he is to reaching that next level of NBA stardom. When healthy, he can absolutely be a top-15 player in the league, I’ll fight you like 100 guys trying to take down one gorilla on this statement. He really can do it all. Yes, he missed one full season and then 50 games this past season, but once again, we’re seeing in these playoffs that he’s a top-15 impact player on the court. We want the Thunder to keep it rolling so we can see more of the Chet Show.

Andrew Nembhard, point guard for the Indiana Pacers, has been a DAWG! While his averages, 15 points, 4.8 assists, and 50% from three, aren’t eye-popping, they don’t tell the whole story. He’s also playing lockdown defense and scoring when it matters most. Nembhard would be the first to admit that his regular season wasn’t what he hoped for after last year’s playoff run. But now, to be able to reset when the pressure is at its highest shows how Gonzaga basketball prepares its players for the league’s biggest moments. With round two underway, the challenge only gets tougher as he’ll be tasked with stopping one of the league’s best all-around scorers, Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers. It should be a great matchup to watch.

Rui Hachimura, forward for the Los Angeles Lakers, unlike the first two, had a pretty solid regular season for the Lake Show. Now in a disappointing playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Rui has still played well, complementing Luka Doncic (you might mean Anthony Davis?) and LeBron James. He went off for a 23-point performance in Game 4. With Game 5 tonight, he’ll be asked to help keep their championship hopes alive. Rui can be a major asset when he’s hitting threes to spread the floor for the big guns. He’s a fun player to watch, hopefully he can help them stay alive tonight.

These three guys are a testament to what Gonzaga basketball is building. They’re not just getting players to win in college, they’re preparing them for the league and its biggest moments, when everything is on the line. If you’re a transfer or a recruit, take notice of the development of these Zags alums and their ability to make a serious impact in the NBA.