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Tennessee Basketball: Three Former Vols in the NBA Playoffs

By Caleb Calhoun

Mar 12, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Miami Heat guard Josh Richardson (0) dribbles the ball up court during the first quarter in a game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Toronto Raptors won 112-104. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Miami Heat guard Josh Richardson (0) dribbles the ball up court during the first quarter in a game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Toronto Raptors won 112-104. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the NBA Playoffs set, there are three former Tennessee Volunteers basketball players on teams getting ready to begin postseason play.

Surprisingly, the Tennessee Vols are well-represented in the 2016 NBA Playoffs. With only four players holding firm spots on rosters for the 2015-2016 NBA season, three of them are still playing in the 2016 playoffs.

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All three of them are in the Eastern Conference, and one of them is playing for a significant championship contender.

The best part is one of these players is starting and averaging double figures, and another is a rising star as a rookie. Here is a look at each of the former Vols still in the NBA Playoffs, ranked in reverse order of level of contribution they bring to their team.

3. Jordan McRae, Cleveland Cavaliers

The heart and soul of the 2013-2014 that made the Sweet 16, McRae is holding a firm spot as a reserve for LeBron James’s team as he tries to bring his city and home area a championship. McRae is in his second year and has been able to log significant minutes when needed, including scoring 36 points in the Cavs’ regular season finale vs the Detroit Pistons.

He’s only averaging three points a game on the year, but if needed he can be very lethal as a shooter and a scorer, so don’t count him out.

2. Josh Richardson, Miami Heat

A four-year player at Tennessee who developed every year, Josh Richardson is a rising star for the Miami Heat as a rookie, having recently been named Rookie of the Month and looking more and more like the heir apparent to Dwyane Wade. In the final 10 games of the year that he played, he averaged right around 10 points, and he has shot 50 percent from three while shooting over 40 percent from beyond the arc for the season.

At 6’6″ 200 pounds, Richardson could potentially have an amazing future ahead of him if he develops the way he did his first year in the NBA. But given the way he developed in four years in college, that shouldn’t be too surprising. This guy clearly works hard and always makes sure he gets better. That’s a great trait to have and will keep him focused in the playoffs.

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1. Tobias Harris, Detroit Pistons

He’s on the worst team of any former Vol in the NBA Playoffs and the only one not to stay all four years at Tennessee. In fact, he only stayed one, Bruce Pearl’s final year. But there’s no denying that at this point, Tobias Harris is the best player among former Tennessee Vols in the NBA Playoffs. For the season, he’s averaging nearly 15 points and over six and a half rebounds per game.

Harris has developed into a very solid small-forward with his 6’9″ frame, shooting .335 from the three-point line and .831 from the free throw line. He’s got a post-game and an outside game, and his versatility makes Detroit a dangerous team. Unfortunately for him, with the Pistons as a No. 8 seed, his first assignment in the playoffs will likely be to guard LeBron James.

But hey, Harris is very smart too, and maybe he can give James a few fits. We will have to wait and see.

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