The Ohio State basketball program doesn't produce NBA players at the rate of some other programs across the country. The ones that do make the NBA tend to stick around for a while. Ohio State players are able to figure out a way to keep themselves valuable.
On Sunday night, some former Buckeyes had a big night in the NBA. It's late in the season, and some of these players are trying to help their teams either make the playoffs or get better seeding. Others are on tanking teams and are trying to prove that they deserve more playing time.
Former Ohio State basketball players have a big night in the NBA
Mike Conley is the longest-tenured Buckeye basketball player who is in the NBA. He was the fourth overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, and he is still contributing in the NBA. For the Minnesota Timberwolves, Conley had 17 points, two rebounds, and two assists in a win.
Conley is the glue that keeps the Timberwolves together offensively. He's the veteran leader who puts guys in the right spot to be successful. The Timberwolves need him if they are going to make any noise in the playoffs.
Malaki Branham also had a pretty solid night for the San Antonio Spurs. He had 13 points and three assists in just 13 minutes. Branham is trying to prove that he deserves a consistent spot in their rotation. Being efficient in the minutes he's given is a good start.
Another player on a tanking team is Jamison Battle. Battle is a rookie who has had some nice games this season. He had another one on Sunday for the Toronto Raptors, putting up 16 points, seven rebounds, and four threes in a win. Battle has shown that he can still be effective from three in the NBA.
Battle's best asset is that he can shoot from deep. That's a skill that NBA teams love. If he can keep knocking down outside shots, Battle will have a spot on an NBA roster for years to come. It's a skill that Branham needs to hone.