DENZEL VALENTINE

Five former Michigan State players will be in action, with two set to play one another in the first round. Draymond Green, Golden State WarriorsGreen was limited to 46 games due to injury, his lowest total in an NBA season (not including the shortened 2019-20 campaign.) Gary Harris, Orlando MagicIn his eighth NBA season, Harris averaged 11.1 points per game. Xavier Tillman Sr., Memphis GrizzliesTillman averaged 4.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game in his second NBA season, playing 13.2 minutes per game in 53 games. He spent then two games with the Utah Jazz and averaged 2.9 points per game in his fifth NBA season.

Aaron Henry, Philadelphia 76ersHenry has seen action in six NBA games this season for the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring his first NBA basket during a Jan. 7 game against San Antonio. In 44 games, he’s averaging 16.2 points per game and career-highs with 5.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. Xavier Tillman Sr., Memphis GrizzliesTilllman has seen a smaller role in his second NBA season, playing 14.2 minutes per game off of the bench for the Grizzlies. Denzel Valentine, Utah JazzValentine has been well-traveled in his fifth NBA season. For the season, he’s averaging 2.9 points in 9.0 minutes per game.

Once Ricky Rubio was lost for the season with a knee injury, the Cleveland Cavaliers knew it would take someone special to take his spot.

A person familiar with the trade tells The Associated Press the Cavaliers have agreed to acquire veteran guard Rajon Rondo in a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers for swingman Denzel Valentine.

Jaylen Brown scored 34 points and the Boston Celtics beat depleted Cleveland 111-101 on Wednesday night to end the Cavaliers’ winning streak at six.

EAST LANSING – Drew Valentine grew up attending Michigan State games with his dad and brother, cheering from the stands and collecting autographs after. In his fifth game as the head coach for Loyola Chicago, Valentine faces Michigan State in a first-round game at the Battle 4 Atlantis on Wednesday (noon, ESPN). “I grew up around the Michigan State program,” Valentine said on Tuesday. In shaping his own program over the last six months, Valentine said he took many things with him from his days at Michigan State. Michigan State takes a three-game win streak to the Bahamas, with all three wins coming by at least 20 points.

Michigan State will open its 2021 holiday matchup with a difficult matchup and a familiar face. The Spartans will play Loyola Chicago in its Battle 4 Atlantis tournament opener. The winner of that game will play the winner of a matchup between Auburn and Connecticut. The Ramblers are coached by Drew Valentine, the former Michigan State graduate assistant and older brother to former Spartans All-American Denzel Valentine. The Battle 4 Atlantis is part of a non-conference schedule that also includes games against Kansas, Louisville and Butler.

The Atlanta Hawks are planning to increase capacity at State Farm Arena in the postseason, including a new section for fully vaccinated fans.

But it hasn’t stopped a host of former Michigan State players from finding ways to still suit up on the hardcourt. The pandemic appears to have thinned out the ranks of former Michigan State players playing in overseas leagues compared to recent years, but at least eight former Spartans are still suiting up somewhere overseas. And the ranks of former Michigan State players in the NBA is growing, as two new members are set to join the league as rookies. But Green is still there, getting ready for his ninth NBA season after turning 30 earlier this year. He’s played in five countries, most recently in Russia for two years.