How 7 NBA Huskies Fared on Their Opening Nights

Dejounte Murray had the top outing among the former University of Washington players turned pros.

Dan Raley | Oct 20, 2021

How 7 NBA Huskies Fared on Their Opening Nights /

Another NBA season got under way on Wednesday night for most teams in the league, and seven former University of Washington players turned up in the box scores, including four as starters.

San Antonio Spurs point guard Dejounte Murray (UW, 2016) had the most well-rounded night of the ex-Huskies, picking up 15 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals in a 123-97 victory over the Orlando Magic in the Texas city.

In the same game, 6-foot-6 swingman Terrance Ross (UW, 2011-12) came off the bench for the Magic, played 27 minutes and scored 15 points on 5-for-10 shooting.

Ex-Husky Terrance Ross had 15 in Orlando's opener. — Former Husky Terrance Ross had 15 on opening night for Orlando. :: Scott Wachter/USA TODAY Sports

However, Orlando point guard Markelle Fultz (UW, 2017) wasn't ready to play on opening night, still recovering from ACL surgery 10 months earlier.

In Detroit, 6-foot-9 Isaiah Stewart (UW, 2020) started at center, played 26 minutes, connected on 6-of-9 shots and supplied 12 points and 8 rebounds. Yet his Pistons came up a 94-88 loser to the Chicago Bulls in their opener.

At home in Minneapolis, Jaden McDaniels was an opening-night starter for the Minnesota Timberwolves. While the 6-foot-9 forward finished with modest numbers of 4 points and 4 rebounds over 26 minutes, McDaniels (UW, 2020) showed off his defensive prowess with 4 steals and 3 blocks. Best of all, his team beat the Houston Rockets decisively, 124-106.

Guard Jaylen Nowell (UW,2018-2019) made a brief appearance for the Timberwolves and scored 2 points in 6 minutes.

Isaiah Stewart drops in a layin on opening night for Detroit. — Isaiah Stewart drops in 2 of his 12 points for Detroit on opening night. / USA TODAY Sports

On the road, defensive-minded Matisse Thybulle turned in a similar performance for the Philadelphia 76ers in a 117-97 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. The 6-foot-5 guard (UW, 2016-2019) came off the bench for just 2 points but he picked up 4 steals in 27 minutes.

Justin Holiday started at forward for the Indiana Pacers, who lost a tough one on the road to the Charlotte Hornets, 123-122. Holiday (UW, 2008-2011) provided 11 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.

Former Husky forward Marquese Chriss was waived by the Portland Trail Blazers on Oct. 16, failing to make it to a sixth NBA season since leaving school (UW, 2016).

Go to si.com/college/washington to read the latest Husky Maven stories as soon as they’re published.

Find Husky Maven on Facebook by searching: Husky Maven/Sports Illustrated

Follow Dan Raley of Husky Maven on Twitter: @DanRaley1 and @HuskyMaven

Published Oct 20, 2021

DAN RALEY

Dan Raley has worked for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, as well as for MSN.com and Boeing, the latter as a global aerospace writer. His sportswriting career spans four decades and he's covered University of Washington football and basketball during much of that time. In a working capacity, he's been to the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the MLB playoffs, the Masters, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and countless Final Fours and bowl games.