Pro Hoop Hogs report (NBA weeks 11-13): Moody, Portis, Walsh, Council earn recognition; updates on 7 others

By Kevin McPherson

LITTLE ROCK — The bulk of former Arkansas Razorbacks basketball stars put their imprints on NBA games in weeks 11, 12, and 13 (Jan. 1-21) of the regular season with various levels of production and impact.

Before a calf injury sidelined him for several games in mid-January, third-year Golden State guard Moses Moody (6-5, Little Rock native) had back-to-back 21-point games, including against the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 7 when Moody finished with 21 points (7-of-9 field goals, including 4-of-6 from 3, and 3-of-3 free throws), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in 22 minutes in a 133-118 loss.

For his performance, Moody earned Pro Hoop Hogs Player of the Week recognition for NBA week 11 (Jan. 1-7). Moody has now won three PHH POW honors this season, and he was PHH Co-Player of the Preseason.

On the season, Moody has 4 starts in 34 games played and is averaging career bests of 8.7 points and 3.1 rebounds in 18.0 minutes while shooting 48.2% from the field, including 35.8% from 3, and 78.9% from the free throw line. He’s scored 21 points in each of three games on the season.

Ninth-year pro Bobby Portis (6-10, Little Rock native) averaged a double-double — 20.0 points and 10.0 rebounds — spanning the Milwaukee Bucks’ 3-0 run (wins over Boston, Golden State, and Sacramento) in week 12. His best performance in that stretch was in a dominating win over the Celtics, 135-102, when Portis registered 28 points (11-of-18 field goals, including 5-of-6 from 3, and 1-of-2 free throws), 12 rebounds, 1 steal, and a boxscore plus-15 in 22 minutes.

For his outstanding play, Portis earned Pro Hoop Hogs Player of the Week recognition for NBA week 12 (Jan. 8-14). He has captured five PHH POW honors so far this season.

Portis — an NBA champion (’20-21) and NBA Sixth Man of the Year finalist (’22-23) — has played off the bench in all 43 games for the Bucks (30-13), averaging 12.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assist in 23.3 minutes while shooting 50.6% from the field, including 36.6% from 3, and 77.1% from the free throw line.

Two Pro Hog rookies – Jordan Walsh and Ricky Council IV – recently made their NBA debuts, and each recently recorded their first NBA statistics. Walsh (6-7, DeSoto, Texas) pulled down 4 rebounds with 0-of-1 shooting from 3 in 3 minutes in his NBA debut (and so far his sole NBA appearance) in Boston’s 117-98 home win over the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 17. Council scored his first NBA point (and so far his only NBA point) on 1-of-2 free throw shooting in Philadelphia’s 124-109 road win over the Orlando Magic on Jan. 19. Council has appeared in three NBA games, totaling 1 point in a combined 9 minutes while shooting a collective 0-of-2 from the field, including 0-of-1 from 3, and 1-of-2 free throws.

By virtue of “getting on the board,” so to speak, in NBA games after having produced well throughout the G-League season, Walsh and Council have earned Pro Hoop Hogs Co-Players of the Week recognition for NBA week 13 (Jan. 15-21). Each has now captured two PHH POW honors this season.

Here’s a look at what the other 7 Pro Hoop Hogs have accomplished so far in the 2023-24 NBA regular season … fifth-year center Daniel Gafford (6-10 center, El Dorado native) has started in all 37 games he’s played in for the Washington Wizards (7-35), averaging career highs in points (10.5), rebounds (7.6), blocks (2.1), and assists (1.6) in 26.2 minutes while shooting 68.5% from the field and a career-best 72.7% from the free throw line … fourth-year guard Isaiah Joe (6-4, Fort Smith native) has played off the bench in all 42 games for the Oklahoma City Thunder (29-13) is averaging 9.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 19.3 minutes while shooting 45.4% from the field, including 90-of-212 from 3 for 42.5%, and 83.3% from the free throw line … second-year forward / center Jaylin Williams (6-9 forward / center, Fort Smith native) has played in 34 games for the OKC Thunder and is averaging 3.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 11.5 minutes off the bench while shooting 38.5% from the field, including 24-of-69 from 3 for 34.8%, and 14-of-15 from the free throw line for 93.3% … rookie guard Anthony Black (6-7, Duncanville, Texas) has started 29 of the 41 games he’s played in for the Orlando Magic (23-21) and is averaging 5.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 19.2 minutes per game while shooting 49.1% from the field, including 35.1% from 3, and 62.7% from the free throw line … rookie guard Nick Smith, Jr. (6-4, Jacksonville native) has played in 26 games for the Charlotte Hornets (10-31), averaging 6.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 15.0 minutes while shooting 42.3% from the field, including 35-of-77 from 3 for 45.5% (leads all NBA rookies), and 75.0% at the free throw line … second-year guard Stanley Umude (6-6) Umude is on a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons and appeared in 15 NBA games earlier in the season, averaging 5.0 points and 1.9 rebounds in 10.9 minutes per contest while shooting 45.5% from the field, including 14-of-27 from 3 (51.9%), and 21-of-23 from the free throw line (91.3%) … 12th-year guard Patrick Beverley (6-2, native of Chicago, Ill.) has played in 39 games with one start for the Philadelphia 76ers (29-13), averaging 5.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 18.5 minutes while shooting 42.3% from the field, including 31.4% from 3, and 76.1% from the free throw line.