#ProTops: NBA Season Ends For Former Toppers

On Wednesday, the New York Knicks defeated(!!!) the Cleveland Cavaliers, 110–98, and with it, bringing an end to the 2017–18 NBA season for…

On Wednesday, the New York Knicks defeated(!!!) the Cleveland Cavaliers, 110–98, and with it, bringing an end to the 2017–18 NBA season for former Hilltoppers in and around the league.

This year saw three ProToppers participate in the either NBA or G-League (and in one case, both), the most since 1976, when Jim McDaniels, Clem Haskins and Greg Smith all played at least one game in the Association. (I understand this research is fudging things a bit with including G-League service time, but dammit, it’s by blog so it’s also my rules.)

Courtney Lee

CLee wrapped up his ninth year in the league, and posted some solid numbers in his second year with the Knicks. While seeing a slight decrease in minutes played (he finished this year logging 30.4 per night as opposed to 31.9 last year) and shoot 45.4% from the floor while averaging 12 points a game, his most in a season since averaging 12.5 with the Nets in his second season back in 2009–10.

Lee played in 76 games for the Knicks and started 69 of them. While he may not be the force that drives the Knick train, he’s a consistent presence on the floor for them, which is a role he’s struggled to find as a professional journeyman.

Here’s to hoping he isn’t shipped off this summer, especially after he inked a four-year deal with NYK in July of 2016.

Jeremy Evans

The other recent ProTops mainstay on the hardwood is Jeremy Evans, who spent a majority of this year with the Erie BayHawks in the GLeague, and started 37 of the 39 games he played in in Western Pennsylvania.

With the BayHawks, Evans averaged 15.3 points in 30.7 minutes on the floor and 9.9 rebounds.

Evans also appeared in one game with *my* Atlanta Hawks (who the BayHawks are affiliated with, and with who he spent time in the preseason), where he did this to make my heart very happy.

I’m still on the lookout for either a jersey or shirsy of that City Edition with Evans’ name and number.

In the process of playing with Atlanta, Evans became the first former Topper to suit up for Atlanta, and just the second to do so in the Hawks organization.

All in all, for the hand Evans was dealt this year, he seemed to make the most of it, as he was a key figure on that BayHawks squad that had one of their best campaigns in team history.

TJ Price

It still baffles me that neither I, nor any of our writers, knew TJ was playing in the GLeague until HIS LAST GAME OF THE YEAR.

TJ held his own in his first year of pro stateside ball, starting 47 games of the 49 he played, and averaged nine points and 2.2 assists per game. While he may not have eye popping numbers, he did log the 55th most points in the league, so there’s that.

Hopefully this isn’t a fling of an affair for TJ and the Magic, and we can expect to see more (and actually know what he’s up to this time) next year.