Kentucky wildcats

Insane stat proves 2024 NBA Playoffs dominance of former Kentucky basketball players

Former Kentucky basketball players are dominating scoring in the NBA Playoffs.

A new statistic highlights how dominant Kentucky basketball players have been in the NBA, as they have had multiple players enter the league in recent years. According to statistical genius Andrew Weatherman, former Kentucky players lead the way in points scored by colleges in the 2024 NBA playoffs. As of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, 1,831 points had been scored by former Wildcats.

The five universities with the highest total point totals from the 2024 NBA Playoffs to the G1 Finals

Duke basketball is ranked second, not too much behind Kentucky basketball, which is ranked first. This postseason, former Duke basketball players have scored 1,251 points. Former players from Villanova, Gonzaga, and Georgia complete the top five. Kentucky and Duke are the only two schools to have more than 1,000 points on the list.

The stat is simply eye-popping. Not only does Kentucky have the no. 1 spot, they are pouring in points from a number of distinct participants. Just three names on the list are former Wildcats Anthony Davis, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Karl-Anthony Towns. According to the statistics, Towns, Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jamal Murray led all Kentucky players in scoring.

The players on the list were all under the coaching staff of John Calipari, the former head coach of Kentucky who departed after the 2023–24 NCAA basketball season. The numbers genuinely demonstrate how effective a recruiter Calipari was at Kentucky. After winning a national championship in Lexington, Calipari is currently at Arkansas. Many people think that the fact that his teams had struggled in the previous few years’ early NCAA tournaments was the reason he left the university.

Changing of the guard at Kentucky

University of Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart and new men’s basketball coach Mark Pope hold a new basketball jersey up during Pope’s press conference on Sunday, April 14, 2024.
 

Kentucky basketball now has a new coach in Mark Pope, who has big shoes to fill. Pope is tasked with not only bringing elite talent to Lexington while winning national titles. Big Blue Nation anticipates quick success, particularly considering that the squad hasn’t advanced to the NCAA Final Four since 2015. The good news for Pope is that he can work with a sizable NIL budget, as supporters have given millions of dollars to support the school’s recruitment of elite athletes.

Pope has successfully signed a number of elite transfers this offseason. In addition to other players, Kentucky currently boasts point guard Kerr Kriisa, forward Jaxson Robinson, and center Brandon Garrison. At BYU, Robinson was a member of Pope’s team, and a number of his fellow transfers are also very skilled athletes. According to 247 Sports, the Wildcats have the fifth-best transfer class in the nation.

Arkansas and Coach Cal

But Arkansas is the best team on that list. At his new school, Calipari is up to his usual tricks, drawing the best students in the nation. Several of his former Kentucky basketball teammates agreed to move to Fayetteville with Calipari. This includes Zvonimir Ivisic, who played under the coach at Lexington, and DJ Wagner, who was once considered a blue-chip talent.

In addition, Calipari is taking a number of his five-star recruits from high school to his new location. Boogie Fland and Karter Knox, who were scheduled to perform at Kentucky, are included in this. You shouldn’t be shocked to see even more points scored in the future from Calipari’s prior team because he most likely has a number of future NBA stars on his squad this season.


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