DePaul University Athletics
Next Level: Chandler, Richardson and Simmons Open NBA Season
10/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Oct. 28, 2010
NBA.com: Wilson Chandler | Quentin Richardson | Bobby Simmons | Trevor Booker
CHICAGO - Three former Blue Demons begin their respective NBA seasons this week as the league opened the 2010-11 campaign Tuesday night. Wilson Chandler and Bobby Simmons started their seasons on Wednesday while Quentin Richardson begins his 11th NBA season on Thursday.
Chandler came off the bench and scored a team-high 22 points to lead the New York Knicks over the Toronto Raptors, 98-93, on Wednesday night. Chandler, who played at DePaul from 2005-07, starts his fourth NBA season with the Knicks. He was selected as the 23rd pick overall by the New York in 2007 NBA Draft. In his 59 games over two seasons in Lincoln Park, Chandler averaged 13.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
Simmons started his ninth NBA season Wednesday night with the San Antonio Spurs. He signed with Spurs after playing the last two years with the New Jersey Nets and has totaled 437 career games in the NBA. Simmons started his NBA career with the Washington Wizards (2001-03) before playing for the Los Angeles Clippers (2003-05) and Milwaukee Bucks (2005-06, 2007-08). He was named the NBA's Most Improved Player in 2005. Over his three seasons at DePaul (1998-01), Simmons became the only player in school history with over 1,000 points, 700 rebounds, 200 assists and 100 steals. He totaled 1,263 points and was selected in the second round of the 2001 NBA Draft.
Richardson and the Orlando Magic open their 2010-11 season Thursday night against the Washington Wizards. Richardson begins his 11th season and his first with Orlando against the Wizards. After being selected as the 18th overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2000 NBA Draft, he played from 2000-04 for the Clippers. Richardson also played for the Phoenix Suns (2004-05), New York Knicks (2005-09) and Miami Heat (2009-10). He holds career averages of 11.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in 677 NBA games. At DePaul (1998-00), Richardson was the 1998 National Freshman of the Year and Conference USA Player of the Year and averaged a double-double of 17.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in his two seasons.
In addition to the three former Blue Demons, former Oliver Purnell player Trevor Booker makes his debut Thursday against Richardson and the Magic after being selected as the 23rd overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. Booker was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves before his draft rights were traded to Washington. Booker played four seasons for Purnell at Clemson and finished his career with 1,725 career points and 1,060 rebounds while leading the Tigers to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and a school-record 93 victories.