It’s on to bigger and better things for these former Penn State players.
While Penn State doesn’t compare to the likes of Kentucky and Duke when it comes to churning out NBA talent, six talented Nittany Lions still saw playing time in the NBA and G League this season.
Here’s a look at how those players fared this season.
Lamar Stevens: Memphis Grizzlies
Undrafted in 2020, Lamar Stevens’ NBA career began rather shakily. Projected in mock drafts to be selected in the 50-60 range, the former Penn State forward never heard his name called, meaning he’d have to sign as an undrafted free agent and grind to make a team.
Stevens made the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 15-man roster, signing a four year, $5.8 million contract after making an impact with his physical defense and impressive motor.
Rookie Lamar Stevens wins it for the Cavs at the death against Atlanta pic.twitter.com/2kAzqsxh52
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) February 24, 2021
Stevens was traded to the San Antonio Spurs last July in a sign-and-trade package surrounding Max Strus, but he was quickly waived and signed a one-year, partially guaranteed $2 million deal with the Boston Celtics.
After averaging 2.8 points and 1.6 rebounds across 19 games for Boston, Stevens was rerouted once more, this time to Memphis in a package for Xavier Tillman Sr. Stevens posted career numbers with the Grizzlies, averaging 11.5 points and 5.1 rebounds in 23 minutes per game.
Lamar Stevens THROWS it down 💪pic.twitter.com/jCWZ2DlTG5
— Grizzlies Nation (@GrizNationCP) April 2, 2024
LAMAR STEVENS DUNK FROM LAST NIGHT THAT WAS NBA’s #1 play 👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/a6sAllW4sn
— Across The Cavs (@AcrossCavs) April 3, 2024
Jalen Pickett: Denver Nuggets
The architect of Penn State’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2011, Jalen Pickett burst onto the scene with his unorthodox back-to-the-basket play. Pickett was drafted 32nd overall by the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 NBA Draft, becoming the first Penn State men’s basketball player to be drafted since Tony Carr in 2018.
These rookies were UNSTOPPABLE! 🤝Jalen Pickett and Hunter Tyson dropped 3️⃣2️⃣ PTS apiece as @NBAGrandRapids defeated the Go-Go to improve to 6-3 overall. pic.twitter.com/CAF8B8Up1a
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) January 14, 2024
The 6-foot-2 guard signed a four year, $8.2 million contract with the Nuggets that included $5.8 million guaranteed. Pickett appeared in 27 NBA games during his rookie season, averaging 1.6 points in limited minutes, but spent most of his time in the G League where he utilized his effective post game.
Jalen Pickett showing off his POST MOVES! 🔥📺: https://t.co/fLGfbO13fw | @NBAGrandRapids pic.twitter.com/t7bv0tbZfU
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) February 3, 2024
Denver made the playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, falling in Game 7 of the second round to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Pickett played in three of those playoff games, repping Penn State on the NBA’s biggest stage.
JALEN PICKETT SCORES HIS FIRST POINTS IN THE NBA PLAYOFFS 🔥@JalenPickett7 #Road2Gold pic.twitter.com/eScY0CxeO2
— Jalen Pickett Stan (@jalenpickettszn) May 7, 2024
Seth Lundy: Atlanta Hawks
Following a breakout senior season in Happy Valley that saw Seth Lundy post 14.2 points per game on 40% shooting from three, the New Jersey native found his way to the league, as he was selected by Atlanta with the 46th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
30 PTS 💫 8 REB 💫 5 3PMSeth Lundy is a BUCKET! The @atlhawks two-way signee dropped a game-high scoring performance to lead the @cpskyhawks to victory. This was his third 30+ point game of the season. pic.twitter.com/hyWt1pTvbI
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) March 29, 2024
The 6-foot-4 sharpshooter spent most of his rookie campaign with the College Park Skyhawks, Atlanta’s G League squad. Lundy posted 17.9 points per game alongside 6.1 rebounds in Year 1 with the Skyhawks, making strides in multiple areas.
Seth Lundy’s 12 games in the G-League 23.1 pts, 6.8 reb, 2.9 ast, 1.2 blk, 0.9 stl51/42/80 splits (8.8 3PA per game)pic.twitter.com/6Wp0G8UYnA https://t.co/CehDi10deF
— joe schmidt (@Joe_Schmidt07) March 31, 2024
The sharpshooter appeared in just nine games at the NBA level this season, shifting back and forth between Atlanta and College Park. The Penn State alum’s best performance came in the preseason against the Cavaliers, aiding Atlanta to a fourth-quarter comeback win with eight points down the stretch.
Seth Lundy went off down the stretch for the Hawks on the way to their comeback win. 8 points in the last 4:43 including that ridiculous contested 3 with 52 seconds left pic.twitter.com/xqW1Wz2OQb
— Dylan Burd (@Dylan_Burd) October 11, 2023
Andrew Funk: Chicago Bulls
Pure shooters — ones that simply have a God-given talent for putting the ball in the hoop from long distances — are hard to come by. Andrew Funk is just that, an uber-talented long-range sniper that starred for the Nittany Lions during their 2023 NCAA Tournament run.
CAN YOU FEEL THE FUNK 🗣Andrew Funk is 7-8 from three pic.twitter.com/PzI8p8IcIs
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 17, 2023
Following a breakout senior season in which he averaged 12.5 points on an impressive 41.2% from three, Funk went undrafted and signed with the Denver Nuggets. The 6-foot-5 guard joined Pickett in the Mile High city, where he played Summer League ball before being waived prior to the 2023-24 NBA season.
Jalen Pickett ➡️ Andrew FunkLook familiar? pic.twitter.com/IL3ydWzg9B
— Roar Lions Roar (@RLRblog) July 15, 2023
Funk’s free agency didn’t last long, as the former Nittany Lion moved to Chicago on a two-way deal with the Bulls on Feb. 25. Most of Funk’s playing time came in the G League with the Windy City Bulls.
The Pennsylvania native appeared in five games with Chicago but is still searching for those evasive first NBA points.
Izaiah Brockington: New Orleans Pelicans
After a successful two-year stint in State College, Izaiah Brockington finished his collegiate career at Iowa State before going undrafted in 2022. Following a year-long hiatus, Brockington signed a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans’ G League affiliate.
The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 12.6 points and 5.5 rebounds with the Birmingham Squadron. Brockington appeared in just one game for the Pelicans this season, scoring his first NBA bucket on an impressive drive to the rim.
.@GleagueSquadron star Izaiah Brockington made his NBA debut last night for the @pelicansnba and scored his first points on a pair of tough drives to the rack! 💪 pic.twitter.com/kTgJ5nV3yg
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) March 6, 2024
Josh Reaves: Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Josh Reaves went undrafted in 2019, spending most of his career in the G League. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard enjoyed a brief stay with the Dallas Mavericks but didn’t stick around long, appearing in just four games at the NBA level.
Put Buzelis in the spin cycle.....Josh Reaves, I see you.#NBAGLeague pic.twitter.com/JEoD2cwdJ5
— GLeagueHub (@GLeagueHub) December 30, 2023
The former Nittany Lion currently plays for the Houston Rockets’ G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, averaging 5.9 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.
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