How are former Syracuse players doing in the NBA?

Let’s start off first with Mr. 2003 himself, Carmelo Anthony. Well he’s still averaging double digits in scoring, something that he has done his whole career despite father time catching up to him. He is currently averaging 12 PPG and 3.6 RPG (via Basketball Reference) while shooting 92% from the FT line. His efforts has the Portland Trail Blazers sitting at 4-4, just at .500.

Don’t be surprised if Anthony starts going one of those runs where he just can’t be stopped. Last season, he had one of those runs in his first week back on an NBA team for a while and because of that he won Western Conference Player of the Week. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum will be at the forefront of a Trail Blazers winning streak, but Anthony is going to get in on that too.

Next up, we got Jerami Grant. The former Syracuse forward got paid this offseason, rightfully so though because he played amazing last season with the Denver Nuggets, particularly during the postseason. He averaged 11.6 PPG and 3.3 RPG in over 34 MPG via Basketball Reference, but what stood out to everyone was his defensive presence on some of the best in the game like Anthony Davis.

In his new opportunity over in Detroit, he is coming off of a 31 point outburst against the Suns, which led to a 110-105 win. That was only the Pistons second win of the season, they are 2-7. If they want to start winning games, Grant will have to be at the forefront of how things will go down. He averages 24.8 PPG and 6.4 RPG so far via Basketball Reference.

Let’s stop by Utah and see how Elijah Hughes is doing. He’s trying to break into Quin Snyder’s rotation. Being that he’s a rookie, it will take time. Snyder does give the former Orange forward about 4 minutes each game to prove something and in limited time, Hughes averages 2 PPG, 0.8 RPG, and 0.5 APG via Basketball Reference.

Last but not least, we head over to Orlando, the team that just lost out on one of their blossoming point guards. Because of an ACL injury, Markelle Fultz will no longer be available this season. Expect former Syracuse guard Michael Carter-Williams to step up as a result. He’ll share minutes with Cole Anthony at the guard position. In this short lived season, MCW is averaging 5.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 1.7 APG via Basketball Reference.

The Magic’s ideal season has them competing in the playoffs. If they want to do that, they will have to use what they got right now, building chemistry, and just compete every night no matter who the opponent is to stay in contentions.

After winning an NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers last season, Dion Waiters has yet to be picked up by an NBA team. Waiters has contemplated retirement, stating his distaste for politics in the league.