Kansas basketball: Six Jayhawks competing for NBA title in bubble
The NBA Playoffs have begun, and six former Kansas basketball stars are vying for an NBA championship within the bubble.
Many Kansas basketball players have transitioned from college to the NBA and gone on to successful pro careers; however, a Jayhawk hasn’t won an NBA title since Sasha Kaun back in 2016. This season though, six of the sixteen playoff teams feature a Jayhawk, so this could be the season that a former Kansas player gets a ring.
Not only that, but no Jayhawks play against each other in the first round, so nobody will eliminate each other.
Those six former Kansas players include:
- Joel Embiid, Philidelphia 76ers
- Frank Mason, Milwaukee Bucks
- Marcus Morris, Los Angeles Clippers
- Markieff Morris, Los Angeles Lakers
- Ben McLemore, Houston Rockets
- Jacque Vaughn, Brooklyn Nets (head coach)
All six Jayhawks have a legit chance of winning a title, especially the Morris twins and Mason. Those three all play on teams that are a one or two seed in the bracket, giving them the path of perceived least resistance to the NBA Finals.
Even if some of these former Kansas basketball stars don’t make it to the Finals, this is a great opportunity for them to advance their NBA careers. Mason in particular was the G League MVP for this season, and seeing him get a shot with the Bucks is awesome. The same goes for Ben McLemore, who seems to have finally found a role with the Rockets.
While the 76ers are a six-seed in the playoffs, expect Joel Embiid to keep them competitive in their series with the Celtics. Embiid has been phenomenal so far in the bubble, and there’s no reason to think that will change soon.
Brooklyn Nets interim head coach Jacque Vaughn has done an excellent job thus far of leading the Nets to success. They have a tough opening series against the Toronto Raptors, but Vaughn may have already done enough to convince the league that he’s ready for another head coaching gig.
Ranking the top coaches in program history. light. Jayhawks
There is success to be had by these NBA Jayhawks during this strange postseason. Whether that success is ultimately an NBA title, validity in the eyes of NBA general managers, or both, these six Kansas basketball alumni have a chance to do something special.