Vols in the NBA Update: Jan. 17

As the 2019-20 NBA Season nears its mid-point, eight VFLs have been in action in both the Association and the NBA G League. Check out how all eight former Vols are faring in their respective seasons.

Josh Richardson | Philadelphia 76ers

34 GP, 34 GS, 15.7 PPG, 32.4 MPG, .437 FG%, 3.3 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG, +2.2 +/-

In his first season in a Philadelphia 76ers uniform after being traded from the Miami Heat this past offseason, Josh Richardson (2011-15) is putting together one of the best seasons of his career.

The former first-team All-SEC guard was awarded his first career NBA Player of the Week honor Sunday, being named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for Jan. 6-12.

During the week of his award, the fifth-year pro averaged 22.7 points, 3.7 assists and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 24-47 from the field during the three-game stretch. He missed just one of his 16 free-throw attempts during that span.

His week was highlighted by a 29-point effort in a victory over the Boston Celtics, in which he was a perfect 10-for-10 from the charity stripe.

Harris, third-highest-leading scorer on Philly's roster, has led the 76ers in scoring six times while logging 25 games of double-figure scoring this season.

Tobias Harris | Philadelphia 76ers

42 GP, 42 GS, 19.6 PPG, 34.1 MPG, .487 FG%, 6.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 3.0 +/-

The opening night of the 2019-20 season was a monumental one for former Vols, as the pairing up of Tobias Harris (2010-11) and Josh Richardson in the Philadelphia 76ers' starting lineup marked just the seventh game all-time in which two former Vols started together on the same NBA team. The previous six such games included Ernie Grunfeld and Bernard King on the 1982-83 New York Knicks squad.

Harris and Richardson also are also the seventh VFL duo to play together on an NBA team.

Harris, the longest-tenured active Vol in the NBA, has led the 76ers in scoring seven times this season, including a Jan. 15 comeback victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Harris scored 34 points on 14-of-20 shooting from the floor and went 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. He capped that performance with 10 rebounds and three assists. Additionally, nine of his 11 fourth-quarter points came in the final 2:20 of the game.

Jordan McRae | Washington Wizards

24 GP, 4 GS, 13.8 PPG, 23.0 MPG, .434 FG%, 3.5 RPG, 2.9 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.5 BPG, -1.25 +/-

Just 24 hours after Josh Richardson posted a 29-point performance for Philadelphia, Jordan McRae (2010-14) matched that with a 29-point outing for the Washington Wizards on Jan. 10. McRae has appeared in 24 games this season, scoring in double figures an impressive 17 times. With the season not quite to the halfway mark, he has already surpassed his single-season career-high for games in which he has scored 10+ points.

McRae has been efficient in his second year playing in the nation's capital, bringing an offensive spark to the Wizards. He is on pace to significantly improve on his scoring average from last season (5.9 ppg).

He is also on track to set new career-highs for season rebound and assist averages.

Admiral Schofield | Washington Wizards

24 GP, 2 GS, 3.5 PPG, 12.0 MPG, .405 FG%, 1.4 RPG, 0.6 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.1 BPG

Admiral Schofield's (2015-19) work ethic with the Vols has translated to his professional career. On Dec. 3, he became the first player in Washington Wizards franchise history to play a game for both the Capital City Go-Go, the Wizards' G League affiliate, and the Wizards in the same day.

The rookie VFL has reached double-figure scoring three times with the Wizards this season, with the latest such performance coming on Jan. 8, when he played a season-high 36 minutes and posted 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field.

Schofield also has contributed significantly to the Go-Go during his time in the G League. In 18 games, all starts, he is averaging 17.3 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting a healthy .477 from the field.

Grant Williams | Boston Celtics

38 GP, 1 GS, 3.3 PPG, 15.1 MPG, .376 FG%, 2.4 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 3.3 +/-

Being drafted by one of the NBA's most storied franchises comes with high expectations, and Grant Williams (2016-19) is making the most of his opportunity with the Boston Celtics. His season-high in scoring came on Dec. 20 when he dropped 18 points and went 8-for-10 from the floor in a win over the Detroit Pistons.

In his young career, the rookie forward has already tallied 88 total rebounds, 40 assists, 17 blocks and 14 steals for the Celtics, who currently claim the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.

The two-time SEC Player of the Year is discovering his role with Boston, but his hustle is unwavering, as illustrated by his 31 offensive rebounds this season. He also owns a +3.3 plus/minus average, which is the best among active VFLs in the NBA.

Jordan Bone | Grand Rapids Drive (G League affiliate of the Detroit Pistons)

20 GP, 19 GS, 17.8 PPG, 32.2 MPG, .435 FG%, 3.8 RPG, 7.5 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.1 BPG

Point guard Jordan Bone (2016-19) has certainly garnered some attention while playing for the Detroit Pistons' G League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Drive. Bone picked up right where he left off at UT, shooting at a proficient .435 clip from the field and .392 from 3-point territory.

Bone has dished out 7.5 assists per game, ranking seventh among all G League competitors this season. In fact, his sizzling start to the season had him nearly averaging a double-double through six games with the Drive.

In addition, Bone has taken care of the basketball thus far, holding a 2.14 assist/turnover ratio.

Kyle Alexander | Sioux Fall Skyforce (G League affiliate of the Miami Heat)

23 GP, 21 GS, 10.6 PPG, 25.1 MPG, .692 FG%, 9.1 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.7 SPG, 2.2 BPG

Kyle Alexander (2015-19) continues to make a name for himself early in his NBA career. On Jan. 15, the first-year pro signed a two-way contact with the Miami Heat.

Playing with the Heat's G League affiliate, the Sioux Fall Skyforce, he leads the team with 73 offensive boards and 50 blocks. While nearly averaging a double-double, Alexander ranks 14th among all G League players with an average of 2.2 blocks per game.

His post presence continues to manifest itself, and his shooting percentage has also increased his stock.

Devon Baulkman | Grand Rapids Drive

24 GP, 4 GS, 5.8 PPG, 14.1 MPG, .345 FG%, 1.5 RPG, 0.6 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.3 BPG

A 2016 UT graduate who suited up for the Vols for two seasons, Devon Baulkman (2014-16) is participating in the NBA G League for the third consecutive season. In his first season with the Grand Rapids Drive, he is joined on the squad by fellow VFL Jordan Bone.

In the Drive's latest win, Baulkman scored a team-high 16 points, along with a game-high four made 3-pointers while shooting .462 from the field. Baulkman has registered four starts this season.

University of Tennessee Athletics

Players Mentioned

Kyle Alexander

Jordan Bone

Admiral Schofield

Grant Williams

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