Some people consider Christmas Day the unofficial start of the NBA season, and with Christmas in the rearview, it seems like a good time to check in on the former Tigers in the NBA.
The NBA season kicked off on October 21, and four former Memphis players started the year on standard contracts. That number dropped to three on Friday after the Pacers waived former No. 3 overall pick James Wiseman.
In addition to the guys on standard deals, three former Tigers are currently on two-way contracts, and eight guys are in the G-League, the NBA’s developmental league.
Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons)
Jalen Duren was drafted with the No. 13 pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2022 draft but was immediately traded to the Pistons in a three-team trade. Duren is in his fourth season with Detroit, and he has turned into a centerpiece for the franchise.
The big man is averaging 18.3 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and a block in 27 games, and he’s shooting 63.2 percent from the field.
Precious Achiuwa (Sacramento Kings)
After spending one season at Memphis, Precious Achiuwa was selected by the Miami Heat with the 20th pick in the 2020 NBA draft. The forward has moved around throughout his NBA career, having spent time with the Heat, Raptors, Knicks and Kings.
Achiuwa, who is in his first season with Sacramento, is averaging 7.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and an assist in 23 games, and he’s shooting 52.1 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from deep.
Josh Minott (Boston Celtics)
After a year with the Tigers, Josh Minott decided to enter the draft and was selected in the second round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He signed a four-year, $6.8 million contract with the Timberwolves, and ahead of the 2025 season, he signed a two-year, $5 million contract with the Celtics.
This season, Minott is averaging 6.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 28 games, including 10 starts, and he’s shooting 50.8 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from deep.
James Wiseman (Free Agent)
James Wiseman’s NBA career has been plagued by injuries, and on Friday, he was waived by the Indiana Pacers after he tore his achilles in the season opener. In his career, Wiseman averaged nine points, 5.5 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in five seasons.
Moussa Cisse (Dallas Mavericks/Two-Way)
Moussa Cisse signed a one-year two-way contract with the Mavericks before the start of the season, and he has played 19 games, including one start, for Dallas. Cisse is averaging 3.1 points and 3.5 rebounds in 10.2 minutes per game.
Nae’Qwan Tomlin (Cleveland Cavaliers/Two-Way)
Nae’Qwan Tomlin played his way into a two-way contract after being signed to a 10-day contract with the Cavaliers last February. Tomlin is averaging 6.6 points and three rebounds in 22 games with Cleveland this season.
David Jones (San Antonio Spurs/Two-Way)
After going undrafted in the 2024 draft, Jones had stops with the Mexico City Capitanes and a two-way deal with the Jazz before the Spurs gave him a two-way deal after an impressive summer league performance. Jones has only played in 10 games this year with San Antonio, and he’s averaging 3.2 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists, while shooting 52 percent from the field and 60 percent from deep.
Lester Quinones (Osceola Magic)
Lester Quinones has bounced around since going undrafted in 2022, and he’s spent time on two-way deals with Golden State, Philadelphia and New Orleans. This season, he signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Magic and is currently with the Osceola Magic in the G-League.
Through 16 games, Quinones is averaging 21.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists, and he’s shooting 50 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from deep.
Tyrese Hunter (Rio Grande Valley Vipers)
Tyrese Hunter is averaging 6.8 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists through 15 games with the Vipers. Hunter is shooting 32 percent from the field and 31.4 percent from three-point range.
Dain Dainja (Sioux Falls Skyforce)
Dain Dainja joined the Skyforce ahead of the 2025 season, and he averaged 10.2 points and 5.6 rebounds through 14 games in the G-League Tip-Off Tournament.
Damion Baugh (Valley Suns)
Damion Baugh signed a two-way contract with the Hornets last February, and he signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Suns ahead of the 2025 campaign. Baugh averaged 23.3 points, 6.5 assists and 1.9 steals through 14 games in the tip-off tournament.
DeAndre Williams (Delaware Blue Coats)
DeAndre Williams spent time overseas before joining the Delaware Blue Coats this season. Williams is averaging 15.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and two assists through 16 games.
Nick Jourdain (Westchester Knicks)
Nick Jourdain is in his first season with the Westchester Knicks, and he’s averaging 9.3 points, six rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals in 16 games.
Jaykwon Walton (Rip City Remix)
Jaykwon Walton is in his second season with the Remix, and he’s averaging 3.6 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 14 games.
Emoni Bates (Texas Legends)
Emoni Bates didn’t finish his collegiate career at Memphis, but it felt like he should be included on this list. After being drafted in the second round by Cleveland, Bates signed a two-way contract, and after two seasons, he signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the 76ers.
Philadelphia waived him to its G-League team, and he was traded to the Texas Legends in December. Bates is averaging 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists in nine games this season between the Blue Coats and the Legends.