The 2023-24 NBA Playoffs officially started on Saturday, and the Arkansas basketball program was well-represented with seven former Hogs on team rosters.
Patrick Beverley, Ricky Council IV, Daniel Gafford, Isaiah Joe, Bobby Portis, Jordan Walsh and Jaylin Williams round out the group looking to make a deep run to the NBA Championship, while Anthony Black, Mason Jones, Moses Moody, Nick Smith Jr. and Stanley Umude have each concluded their respective season.
Joe and Williams are part of an Oklahoma City Thunder team that finished with the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference after concluding the regular season with a 57-25 (36-16 West) record. Walsh has already won his first playoff game as a member of the top-seeded Boston Celtics, though the former second-round pick isn't expected to be a part of the rotation going forward.
With the playoffs set to potentially run all the way through June 23, HawgBeat takes a look at each Pro Hogs' position in the race for the NBA crown along with stats from the regular season:
Patrick Beverley - Milwaukee Bucks
Arkansas career stats: 36 GP, 34.9 MIN, 12.8 PTS, 5.1 REB, 3.9 AST, 2.1 STL, 3.0 TO, 45.3% FG, 30.1% 3PT, 70.5% FT.
NBA stats (2023-24): 73 GP, 20.3 MIN, 6.2 PTS, 3.3 REB, 2.9 AST, 0.6 STL, 0.8 TO, 41.7% FG, 34.1% 3PT, 83.1% FT.
Best game - April 9 vs Boston Celtics: 26 MIN, 20 PTS, 10 REB, 3 AST, 61.5% FG, 50.0% 3PT.
Playoff picture: 3-seed vs Indiana Pacers, Bucks lead 1-0 in series
Ricky Council IV - Philadelphia 76ers
Arkansas career stats: 36 GP, 34.1 MIN, 16.1 PTS, 3.6 REB, 2.3 AST, 1.1 STL, 2.1 TO, 43.3% FG, 27.0% 3PT, 79.4% FT.
NBA stats (2023-24): 32 GP, 9.0 MIN, 5.4 PTS, 1.4 REB, 0.5 AST, 0.3 STL, 0.2 TO, 48.2% FG, 37.5% 3PT, 74.6% FT.
Best game - Feb. 10 vs Washington Wizards: 29 MIN, 19 PTS, 10 REB, AST, 53.8% FG, 62.5% FT.
Playoff picture: 7-seed vs New York Knicks, 76ers down 1-0 in series
Daniel Gafford - Dallas Mavericks
Arkansas career stats: 67 GP, 25.5 MIN, 14.3 PTS, 7.4 REB, 0.7 AST, 0.7 STL, 2.1 TO, 63.5% FG, 0.0% 3PT, 56.2% FT.
NBA stats (2023-24): 74 GP, 24.0 MIN, 11.0 PTS, 7.6 REB, 1.6 AST, 0.8 STL, 1.0 TO, 72.5% FG, 0.0% 3PT, 65.6% FT.
Best game - April 9 vs Charlotte Hornets: 25 MIN, 26 PTS, 7 REB, AST, 2 BLK, 100.0% FG, 0.0% 3PT, 50.0% FT.
Playoff picture: 5-seed vs LA Clippers, Mavericks down 1-0 in series
Isaiah Joe - OKC Thunder
Arkansas career stats: 60 GP, 32.7 MIN, 15.2 PTS, 3.4 REB, 1.7 AST, 1.5 STL, 1.5 TO, 39.0% FG, 42.9% 3PT, 82.7% FT.
NBA stats (2023-24): 78 GP, 18.5 MIN, 8.2 PTS, 2.3 REB, 1.3 AST, 0.6 STL, 0.6 TO, 45.8% FG, 41.6% 3PT, 86.5% FT.
Best game - Nov. 16 vs Golden State Warriors: 25 MIN, 23 PTS, 5 REB, STL, 100.0% FG, 100.0% 3PT, 66.7% FT.
Playoff picture: 1-seed vs New Orleans Pelicans, Thunder up 1-0 in series
Bobby Portis - Milwaukee Bucks
Arkansas career stats: 70 GP, 28.5 MIN, 15.0 PTS, 7.9 REB, 1.3 AST, 1.1 STL, 1.4 TO, 52.6% FG, 36.5% 3PT, 73.7% FT.
NBA stats (2023-24): 82 GP, 24.5 MIN, 13.8 PTS, 7.4 REB, 1.3 AST, 0.8 STL, 1.1 TO, 50.8% FG, 40.7% 3PT, 79.0% FT.
Best game - Dec. 16 vs Detroit Pistons: 27 MIN, 31 PTS, 12 REB, AST, 61.1% FG, 57.1% 3PT, 100.0% FT.
Playoff picture: 3-seed vs Indiana Pacers, Bucks lead 1-0 in series
Jaylin Williams - OKC Thunder
Arkansas career stats: 63 GP, 25.2 MIN, 7.9 PTS, 7.7 REB, 1.8 AST, 1.0 STL, 1.4 TO, 46.1% FG, 25.5% 3PT, 73.1% FT.
NBA stats (2023-24): 69 GP, 13.0 MIN, 4.0 PTS, 3.4 REB, 1.6 AST, 0.4 STL, 0.5 TO, 41.7% FG, 46.8% 3PT, 80.5% FT.
Best game - Dec. 2 vs Dallas Mavericks: 15 MIN, 14 PTS, 3 REB, TO, 66.7% FG, 80.0% 3PT.
Playoff picture: 1-seed vs New Orleans Pelicans, Thunder up 1-0 in series
Anthony Black - Orlando Magic
Arkansas career stats: 70 GP, 34.9 MIN, 12.8 PTS, 5.1 REB, 3.9 AST, 2.1 STL, 3.0 TO, 45.3% FG, 30.1% 3PT, 70.5% FT.
NBA stats (2023-24): 69 GP, 16.9 MIN, 4.6 PTS, 2.0 REB, 1.3 AST, 0.5 STL, 0.8 TO, 46.6% FG, 39.4% 3PT, 61.3% FT.
Best game - Dec. 26 vs Washington Wizards: 33 MIN, 23 PTS, 6 REB, AST, 4 STL, 5 TO, 69.2% FG, 66.7% 3PT, 100.0% FT.
Moses Moody - Golden State Warriors
Arkansas career stats: 32 GP, 33.8 MIN, 16.8 PTS, 5.8 REB, 1.6 AST, 1.0 STL, 1.6 TO, 42.7% FG, 35.8% 3PT, 81.2% FT.
NBA stats (2023-24): 66 GP, 17.5 MIN, 8.1 PTS, 3.0 REB, 0.9 AST, 0.6 STL, 0.7 TO, 46.2% FG, 36.0% 3PT, 78.5% FT.
Best game - Dec. 2 vs LA Clippers: 32 MIN, 21 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST, 38.5% FG, 40.0% 3PT, 90.0% FT.
Nick Smith Jr. - Charlotte Hornets
Arkansas career stats: 17 GP, 25.8 MIN, 12.5 PTS, 1.6 REB, 1.7 AST, 0.8 STL, 1.6 TO, 37.6% FG, 33.8% 3PT, 74.0% FT.
NBA stats (2023-24): 51 GP, 14.3 MIN, 5.9 PTS, 1.4 REB, 1.2 AST, 0.2 STL, 0.8 TO, 39.1% FG, 43.2% 3PT, 86.7% FT.
Best game - April 14 vs Cleveland Cavaliers: 33 MIN, 24 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST, TO, 45.0% FG, 54.5% 3PT.
Mason Jones - Sacramento Kings
Arkansas career stats: 65 GP, 31.5 MIN, 17.6 PTS, 4.6 REB, 3.1 AST, 1.2 STL, 2.5 TO, 43.1% FG, 35.8% 3PT, 81.9% FT.
NBA stats (2023-24): 5 GP, 5.6 MIN, 1.4 PTS, 1.0 REB, 1.0 AST, 0.2 STL, 0.4 TO, 25.0% FG, 28.6% 3PT, 50.0% FT.
Best game - March 26 vs Dallas Mavericks: 5 MIN, 6 PTS, REB, AST, TO, 66.7% FG, 66.7% 3PT.
Stanley Umude - Detroit Pistons
Arkansas career stats: 37 GP, 27.8 MIN, 11.9 PTS, 4.6 REB, 1.1 AST, 1.0 STL, 1.6 TO, 46.0% FG, 37.1% 3PT, 72.4% FT.
NBA stats (2023-24): 24 GP, 12.8 MIN, 5.3 PTS, 2.1 REB, 0.5 AST, 0.3 STL, 0.6 TO, 44.0% FG, 45.3% 3PT, 90.6% FT.
Best game - Nov. 19 vs Toronto Raptors: 25 MIN, 19 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST, TO, 83.3% FG, 66.7% 3PT, 87.5 FT.