University of Maryland Athletics

Alex Len
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Men's Basketball

ProTerps: NBA Playoffs Primer

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The NBA regular season is officially in the books and the 2021 NBA Playoffs are set to begin as four former Terrapins vye for their first NBA Championship. 

Jalen "Stix" Smith is on the highest seeded team of the foursome, as the Phoenix Suns finished second in the Western Conference, while Kevin Huerter and Bruno Fernando are on the 5-seed (Eastern) Atlanta Hawks and Alex Len is on the 8-seed (Eastern) Washington Wizards.

HOW THEY GOT HERE:

Jalen Smith - 1st Season, Phoenix Suns
Smith and the Suns are the No. 2 overall seed in the Western Conference and await the results of the play-in tournament to learn their opponent. It has been a historic season for the Suns, who have won 50 games for the first time in more than a decade and posted their first winning season since 2014-15.

Despite the lack of a Summer League due to Covid-19, the Baltimore native appeared in 27 games on the season and flashed his future potential in the regular season finale May 16 when he posted his first career double-double (11pts/10rebs). It also marked the first career start for Smith.

Kevin Huerter - 3rd Season // Bruno Fernando - 2nd Season, Atlanta Hawks
Like the Suns, the Atlanta Hawks also made a major jump in 2020-21 by winning 41 games and earning the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference. They will face the New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs as Huerter returns to his home state.

Huerter has been a major reason for the Hawks success, starting 49 games in 69 appearances this season. He has averaged 11.9 points, 3.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 30.8 minutes of action, while his turnovers (1.1/g) were an all-time low.

The Albany native was particularly impressive in the month of April, reaching double-figures in 14 consecutive games from April 2 to April 26. He averaged 15.6 points on 52.4-percent shooting as the Hawks went 10-4 during the span.

Fernando, meanwhile, has appeared in 33 games for the Hawks as a reserve forward. The effervescent Angolan flashed his skills in the season finale against Houston, scoring 10 points and adding nine rebounds in a 29-point victory.

Alex Len - 8th Season, Washington Wizards
Len and the Wizards played impressive basketball down the stretch, winning 17 of their final 23 games to lock in the 8-seed in the Eastern Conference. The Wizards will face the 7-seed Boston Celtics tonight (May 18) at 9 pm on TNT in a tournament play-in game. The winner will move on to face the 2-seed Brooklyn Nets, while the loser will continue to fight for their playoff lives.

It has been a renaissance season for Len, who was waived by the Toronto Raptors seven games into the year and promptly picked up on a one-year deal by the Wizards. He has since started 40 games in 57 appearances for Washington, including 35 consecutive starts to close the regular season.

In the 35-game span to close the season, Len has averaged 7.7 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting better than 60-percent from the field.
 
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Players Mentioned

Jalen Smith

#25 Jalen Smith

F
6' 10"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Jalen Smith

#25 Jalen Smith

6' 10"
Sophomore
F