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Michigan State basketball: 2 former Spartans made history in NBA this season

By Connor Muldowney

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 25: Miles Bridges #0 of the Charlotte Hornets talks to Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors during their game at Spectrum Center on February 25, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 25: Miles Bridges #0 of the Charlotte Hornets talks to Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors during their game at Spectrum Center on February 25, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Tom Izzo is currently smiling somewhere.

Two of his former players, Draymond Green and Miles Bridges, have made history in the NBA this season.

One became the first player in NBA history to accomplish a pretty wild stat line while the other had an impressive slash-line for his team, becoming the first player in his franchise’s history to record such a line.

Let’s start with the more obscure, yet somehow still impressive, NBA first.

Draymond became the first player in NBA history to finish with more assists and rebounds than points in a single season with a minimum of 50 points.

This comes as no surprise because of his inability to score like he once could in a Spartan uniform, but he is one of the best passing bigs in the league and he’s arguably the best defender in the NBA. He is also a finalist for NBA Defensive Player of the Year once again.

Now onto the young gun. What record did Miles accomplish?

Bridges actually became the first Hornet in franchise history to record a line of 50/40/80 for an entire season. This means that he shot 50 percent from the floor, 40 percent from 3-point range, and 80 percent from the free-throw line in 2020-21. Not too shabby for a third-year player who was widely considered “just a dunker” until this season.

Two Spartans making NBA history in the same year is quite the feat.

Other former Michigan State basketball stars trending up

Xavier Tillman has had an impressive rookie campaign to this point as the Grizzlies’ second-round pick in 2020 helped Memphis past the Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament. He looks like the future in Memphis along with his good friend and college teammates Jaren Jackson Jr.

Although he was injured for most of the year, Jackson Jr. showed flashes and if he can stay healthy moving forward, he should become one of the league’s best young bigs. He has all the potential.

Lastly, Bryn Forbes is playing a key role on the Bucks this season as a deadly 3-point shooter and Milwaukee is currently up 1-0 over Miami in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Spartans in the NBA are showing off this season.

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