Weekly Roundup of Zags in the NBA

October 16 - October 24

It has been over a week since the NBA 2018-2019 season tipped off and the best basketball league in the world has four ex-Gonzaga players who are representing our beloved school. Let’s take a deeper dive into how they are doing...

Domantas Sabonis, Indiana Pacers: 12.5 PPG, 11.3 RPG through four games

Domas is making his case, early on, why he should possibly be named the Most Improved Player of the Year or maybe the Sixth Man of the Year. Sabonis hasn’t started any of the four games he has played in and is putting up double-double numbers in only 22 MPG. He has really improved a lot since his rookie campaign in 2016-2017 as his numbers seem to keep increasing each year. The best part about it, he’s doing it in style while putting several players on a poster. Smile for your kodak moment, Bertans and Lopez.

Johnathan Williams, Los Angeles Lakers: 7.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.5 BPG through two games

From an undrafted rookie to playing in OT with LeBron James. Quite the turnaround. JW3 played significant minutes in his first NBA game against the San Antonio Spurs while putting up 8 points, 4 rebounds and 3 blocks in 14 minutes. With a knee injury to Moritz Wagner still keeping him out and Ivica Zubac only averaging about 3.5 MPG, we should get to see a lot more of Williams playing the backup center role to Javale McGee.

Zach Collins, Portland Trail Blazers: 8.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.7 BPG through three games

No sophomore slump for Collins so far. Although he hasn’t started a game this season, his minutes have increased from his rookie season from 15.8 MPG to 20.3 MPG and he has been proving his worth to the team. Let’s hope Collins can keep it up and maybe find a bigger role on the Trail Blazers.

Kelly Olynyk, Miami Heat: 8.0 PPG, 2.8 RPG through four games

The oldest zag in the NBA at 27 years old (fifth season), the 7-footer has been very consistent from the field while shooting .500% but needs to work on his 3-point shot selection as he is shooting .231%. Olynyk is in a good position though as he has a bit bigger role with the Heat than he did with the Celtics. Can Kelly make a big enough impact this season to push the Heat into the Eastern Conference playoffs? He’s already secured one win for the Heat when he hit a game-winner against the Wizards.

*Arden Cravalho is a senior at Gonzaga University... Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho