Although West Virginia has not been known to produce a high volume of NBA prospects, there are two Mountaineers still currently in the NBA playoffs, with a chance to face one another very soon.
Joe Mazzulla, the head coach for the Boston Celtics, is in his third straight playoffs in his two-and-a-half-year tenure. He has brought a winning attitude to Boston, which led them to the title last season.
Mazzulla has helped lead the Celtics to a 182-64 record in the last three seasons, including 29-12 in the playoffs. He has become one of the premier head coaches in the NBA.
During his time at West Virginia, Mazzulla led the Mountaineers to the final four in 2010 under Bob Huggins. Although he only averaged close to 8 points per game, he was a tenacious defender who barely saw the bench during their incredible run.
Miles McBride is another Mountaineer in the NBA playoffs. This is McBride’s fourth straight playoffs with the New York Knicks, where he has seen his minutes increase every year. McBride averaged 9.5 points and 2.9 assists in the regular season while shooting 40.6% from the floor. He has become a key bench player for the Knicks over the years and is beloved by their passionate fan base for his hustle on the court.
In his final season at WVU, McBride averaged 15.9 points per game while shooting nearly 50% from the field. He was the best player on a ranked West Virginia team and will be forever remembered by all Mountaineer fans.
As the Celtics head to game three with a 2-0 series lead, and the Knicks to game four up 2-1, keep an eye out for these two Mountaineers who are representing their alma mater well. If nothing changes, they will be facing one another in the second round in what will be an incredible series.
Image courtesy of WVU Athletics
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