Pro Cougs NBA players played very well this week and outshined all other Pac-12 alumni. Jaylen Wells looked like Klay Thompson and Klay looked like he was in 2016 all over again. Cedric Coward had a down week but still played with high effort and Mouhamed Gueye played well for the Hawks. Here is how all the NBA Cougs did in their matchups last week.
Jaylen Wells (Grizzlies) –He is BACK. After struggling all season to shoot the ball well he had his best week all season. Against the Nuggets, Wells dropped 22 points, five rebounds and three assists while shooting 50% from three. He followed up the performance with 25 points, three rebounds, one assists, one steal and one block against the Pelicans on 83% shooting from three. Wells’s shooting came back down to Earth against the Clippers where he shot 16.7% from three with 13 points, six rebounds and two assists. To finish the week Wells had 15 points, three rebounds and one assists on 100% shooting from three.
The Grizzlies going 3-1 last week and Wells’ play elevating is not a coincidence. He is vital to the team’s success. In his last six games Wells is averaging; 16.2 PPG, 54.5% FG (9.2 FGA), 50.0% 3PT (5.0 3PA), 3.8 RPG, 2.2 APG, +70 plus/minus.
BRANDON WILLMAN
Jaylen Wells shoots the ball over a Colorado defender during the Cougs win, Jan. 27, in Pullman, Wash.
Klay Thompson (Mavericks) –Thompson started off the week against the Heat and scored 13 points and two rebounds on 33.3% shooting from three. Against the Lakers Thompson shot 50% from beyond the arc but it only amounted to 10 points, one rebound and one assists. Thompson had his best game against the Clippers scoring 23 points, three rebounds and one assist on 60% shooting. While watching the game you saw glimpses of prime Thompson when he was with the Warriors catch and shooting.
Thompson’s shooting has picked up but so has his trash talk. The Coug got into another argument this week this time with Myron Gardner who is in his first year in the NBA and averages 1.5 points…
“Who the f**k is you,”Thompson said. “You can’t sit at my table. There’s only a few who can, and they’re up there!”
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Klay Thompson played for WSU from 2008-2011 and was the 11th pick in the NBA Draft selected by the Golden State Warriors. Thompson’s jersey will soon be retired at WSU.
Cedric Coward (Grizzlies) –The up-and-rising Coug struggled severely this week shooting week lows for the first time all season. Against the Nuggets, Coward had 5 points, three rebounds and two assists on 33% shooting from the field. He followed the performance with a near double-double, 12 points, nine rebounds and four assists on 50% shooting from the field and 0% from three. Against the Clippers Coward could not find his jump-shot shooting 30% from the field. He finished with 7 points, four rebounds and one assist. To end the week against the Kings where he shot 36.4% from the field and 0% from three once again. Coward scored 10 points and seven rebounds with two assists. Coward’s play has been impressive but this week, he struggled. However, his comparisons to great NBA players has made him compartmentalize.
“For me, I can only be where my feet are at the moment. I can only enjoy the process,”Coward said.
BRANDON WILLMAN
Cedric Coward celebrates after a WSU basket, Nov. 9, in Pullman, Wash.
Mouhamed Gueye (Hawks) –Gueye was the most consistent Coug aside from Wells. Against the Wizards he scored seven points, five rebounds and one assist, on 50% from the field. Gueye followed the performance with a stacked box sheet against the Cavs. He scored 12 points, three rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal. To finish off the week Gueye scored 13 points, four rebounds and one block with two steals against the 76ers. Gueye has been arguably the most consistent Coug all season and plays his role well.
HAILEE SPEIR
WSU forward Mouhamed Gueye drives toward the hoop during an NCAA men’s basketball game against Utah, Dec. 4.
Overall, Cougars did well and Wells showed some glimpses of his early rookie season self. Thompson made all Coug fans tear up against the Clippers with a vintage performance and Coward and Gueye played with high effort.