Here we are, 13-15 games in the 82-game NBA season, and we have yet to break out our ‘Hawks in the NBA blog, an all-you-can-eat feature that appears semi-regularly and focuses on the former Jayhawks in the NBA. These days, there are quite a few of them. But I can remember a day, not too long ago, when that wasn’t the case. Right around the time Paul Pierce (and Raef LaFrentz, who actually was drafted higher) was drafted, there were only a few Jayhawks jamming up and down the NBA hardwood. Then, guys like Jacque Vaughn (a career back-up PG), Greg Ostertag (a blue-collar, low-impact center) and maybe one or two others were all Jayhawk fans had to brag about at the next level. Now….. Boy how things have changed. I guess that’s what having five guys drafted in the same year will do for a program. So, with all due respect to the elder statesmen of the Jayhawk Nation, the first blog of the 2008 season is dedicated to catching everyone up on what the newest NBA Jayhawks have been up to during their first few games. From here on out, we’ll use this space to focus on the best performances of the week and any noteworthy trends or tricks the former Jayhawkers have been a part of. Heck, if Steve Nash nabs a quadruple-double or King James puts 80 on the Knicks, you might see us fire up this blog to talk about that, too. For the most part, as the title suggests, this will be about the ‘Hawks in the NBA, but don’t hate us if we fire in a few freebies just to see that sweet logo. So there it is. Your intro to the newest KUSports.com blog. Enjoy, and remember, this is your blog, too, so feel free to check it often and chime in loudly. Mario Chalmers — Miami Heat
He may have slipped to the second round, but the hero of last year’s title game has done anything but slip since joining the Miami Heat. Through 13 games, Super Mario is averaging 7.2 points per game, 4.5 assists per contest and 2.6 rebounds per game. By far the highlight of his young career came on Nov. 5, when he broke the Heat record for steals in a game with nine. That same night, Chalmers added 8 points and 8 assists. Clearly, this guy has proven he belongs. Brandon Rush — Indiana Pacers
Rush has not had the same impact on the Indiana Pacers as Chalmers has had on the Heat, but part of that comes from opportunity. While Mario has started a handful of games, Rush has come off the bench for the Pacers. So far, he’s averaging 6.3 points per game and 2.5 rebounds per contest. Rush’s biggest night came early, when he played 27 minutes and scored 18 points (a career-high for now) in a seven-point, preseason win over Chicago. Rush’s best regular season night to date? A 10-point effort last Saturday against Chalmers and the Heat. Mario took Round 1 of that match-up, as the Heat won 109-100. (Chalmers’ line: 5 pts., 3 steals, 2 reb., 2 assists). Darrell Arthur — Memphis Grizzlies
“Shady” has been anything but that during his first 13 professional games. While starting most of the time, the 6-9 forward has averaged 6.8 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game to go along with 17 blocked shots. Not bad for a guy so many said needed more time in college. Arthur dispelled that rumor right away, as he recorded a double-double — 11 points and 15 rebounds — in his first NBA game, an 82-71 loss to Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets. DA has reached double digits in scoring five times in his first 13 games, including a 16-point, 9-rebound effort last Saturday in a loss to Utah. The sky’s the limit for this guy. Darnell Jackson — Cleveland Cavaliers
Darnell’s first NBA season has yet to get going. Just four games into Cleveland’s preseason, Jackson went down with a fractured right wrist. The 6-foot-8, 250-pound forward was averaging 3.5 points in the exhibition season. He was 7-of-11 from the field and had nine rebounds. The early indications from the Cavs brass were that Jackson was a guy they liked and that he had a real shot to not only stick with the team but also contribute. There’s no telling what the wrist injury has done to that outlook — he’s listed as “day-to-day” and “out indefinitely” on the Cavs’ web site — but those of us who saw him at KU for four years know one thing is certain: Darnell’s still working his tail off. Sasha Kaun — Property of the Cleveland Cavliers, by way of CSKA Moscow (Russia)
Although Kaun was selected 56th overall by the Cavs, he elected to sign a three-year deal for more cash with a team from his native Russia and has spent the season playing overseas. Even though Kaun is not officially on an NBA roster, he did have his first brush with the pro league this summer in an exhibition game against Orlando. Kaun scored two points and grabbed three rebounds in CSKA Moscow’s 94-66 loss to the Magic. Kaun played 15 minutes in the game and made his only field goal attempt. It’s too early to tell if Kaun has a legitimate NBA future or not. But, unlike in Major League Baseball, draft picks are precious commodities and it’s unlikely that Cleveland would have drafted Kaun if they had not thought he could someday become a player in the league.