Tennessee basketball: Two former Vols have strong NBA 2021-2022 season-openers
The 2021-2022 NBA season begins with Tennessee basketball the best-represented it has been in years. Six Vols are on four different rosters for opening week, and on Wednesday, a couple of experienced former UT players made a strong splash.
One is a seasoned veteran, and the other has been developing through the years waiting for his chance. Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris is the veteran. Amidst all the drama with Ben Simmons, Harris stepped up Wednesday to make sure his team still won.
Philly beat the New Orleans Pelicans 117-97, and Harris had a double-double in the process. He came away with 20 points and 12 rebounds in just 28 minutes. Only Joel Embiid had more points with 22, and although Andre Drummond had 17 rebounds off the bench, neither had both 20 and 10, so Harris was the player of the game by a long shot.
In the same division, former Tennessee basketball forward Grant Williams, who has been a role player his first two years, got the start Wednesday night for the Boston Celtics. He had 15 points and five rebounds. Boston lost to the New York Knicks 138-134 in two overtimes, but it could be because Williams inexplicably didn’t play in the overtime.
Both Williams and Harris were standout players for the Vols for different reasons. Harris was a one-and-done five-star back in 2010-2011 under Bruce Pearl. Williams was an overachieving three-star who developed into an All-American during his three years playing for Rick Barnes.
They also each play on teams with other former Vols. Rookie Jaden Springer made his NBA debut Wednesday with the Sixers, although he just played for two minutes. Josh Richardson will likely start for Boston, but he missed Wednesday’s game with a migraine.
Yves Pons is on a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies and Memphis Hustle. He didn’t play Wednesday as they beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 132-121. Keon Johnson, meanwhile, is set to make his debut with the Los Angeles Clippers Thursday, when they open the season at the Golden State Warriors.
dark. Next. Projecting Vol basketball's 2021-2022 starting lineup
Don’t forget that Tennessee basketball still has Admiral Schofield and Kyle Alexander, who have been journeymen players and were waived before this season. Either of them could land with a team if injuries come. Taking all this into account, this is the deepest former Vols have gone in he pros in decades. Wednesday night was just a taste of that representation.