The NBA season is set to start again tonight, and there are three former South Carolina basketball players ready to make their mark.
The 2019-20 NBA season is set to start on Thursday night, and the Gamecocks are well represented as the league starts to work. Three former South Carolina stars, all from the 2017 Final Four team, will make an impact in this shortened season format.
Sindarius Thornwell, PJ Dozier and Chris Silva are all in the bubble with the renewal of the season. Thrornwell, a member of the New Orleans Pelicans, will be on the court tonight at the opening. Pelicans start at 18:30 against Jazz.
Dozier and Silva will begin their seasons on Saturday, with the Nuggets and Heat clashing in the NBA’s August 1 competition.
Brian Bowen, who enrolled in South Carolina after his resignation from Louisville, is also expected to play this weekend, but since he never managed to play a minute with the Gamecocks, we will leave him off this list.
Here’s what every ex-Gamecock should expect in the shortened season.
SINDARIUS THORNWELL
The former SEC Player of the Year begins his season tonight against Utah, returning to the NBA squad after a stint in the G League. Originally drawn up in the second round of the 17 draft by Bucks, his draft rights were negotiated with the Los Angeles Clippers, where he spent his first two seasons.
Thornwell was with the Cleveland Cavaliers for a brief period, before being signed by New Orleans this summer. Now he has another opportunity to prove that he belongs at the NBA level.
The Pelicans are sitting 3.5 games from eighth place in the West, tied with the Kings. They will be vying for a place in the playoff.
PJ DOZIER
Dozier signed a two-year contract with Nuggets earlier this summer and appears to be an integral part of the organization’s future. The former Gamecock owner has spent most of his time in the G League since leaving Columbia, but he seems to be taking advantage of this new opportunity.
Before the season was shortened in March, Dozier averaged 21.4 points per game with his G League affiliate. The performance obviously caught the attention of the Nuggets board.
Denver is currently in third place in the West Division and appears to be a lockout for the playoffs.
CHRIS SILVA
Silva has been with Heat since the start of the season, after signing a three-year contract with the team after his career as a Gamecock. He is expected to face former teammate PJ Dozier on Saturday.
It also appears to be a blockade for the playoffs, as Miami is currently fourth in the East. In 41 games, Silva has averaged 2.9 points and 2.7 rebounds per contest. He is also shooting at 62% of the field.