In news that will undoubtedly warm the hearts of Auburn basketball fans everywhere (I have to assume there are newcomers jumping on the Sharife Cooper bandwagon), Jared Harper and Bryce Brown are reunited in orange and blue:
Your 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟙 Westchester Knicks ⓡⓞⓢⓣⓔⓡ
— Westchester Knicks (@wcknicks) January 21, 2021
Who are you most excited to see?
Full roster ➯ https://t.co/reJeynbBqT#WatchUsRise pic.twitter.com/kNaPlBSdOG
The Westchester Knicks of the NBA’s developmental league, dubbed the G-League, will be the host to the pair’s return to the hardwood as backcourt mates.
Harper is currently on a two-way contract with the Knicks, having seen a few minutes (literally 2.5) of regular-season action with the pro team.
Brown, on the other hand, was a training camp casualty before the season was able to get underway. Previously with the Boston Celtics’ G-League affiliate, double-B ended up losing his home in Maine when the Red Claws announced they were not partaking in the season:
"The Maine Red Claws are opting out of the expected NBA G-League bubble, sources told The Athletic. The G-League does not yet have plans for a second phase of the season, so the team expect to punt on the season unless there are further developments."
Auburn basketball in the NBA
While Harper and Brown remain long-shots to stick on an NBA roster long-term at this point, there are a few other Tigers that figure into their teams’ long-term outlook.
Isaac Okoro is entrenched as a starter with the Cleveland Cavaliers, while Chuma Okeke is signed to a multi-year deal with the Orlando Magic.
Okoro has struggled to find his shot so far in his young NBA career, with a 40/33/63 shooting split being the primary reason he has failed to reach the 10-point per game benchmark of modest NBA production in 37 minutes per game.
Okeke has fared even worse, but he has been unable to stay healthy for all of five games in his two-year career.
Brown and Harper have a chance to further the Auburn basketball legacy in the pros if their stint in Westchester (or, more accurately, the G-League bubble) could be fruitful, and clearly defined NBA roles could be determined by NBA general managers.