The Week In Review: Illini in the NBA

Since it is never easy to keep up with the performance and news surrounding former Illinois players in the NBA while you are also watching your favorite NBA team and keeping up on your fantasy team's performance, IlliniBoard.com thought a nice new feature to add would be a recap on the relevant news surrounding former Illinois players in the NBA over the past week.

FRANK WILLIAMS - NEW YORK KNICKS

Frank Williams Attempts to Pass the Ball During Preseason This Year (AP/Bower)

For the first time in his New York Knicks career, Frank Williams has been given the opportunity to start at the point guard position for the New York Knicks. In Frank's three starts as Knicks' point guard, the Knicks have tallied three lop-sided victories over Miami (twice) and Orlando.

Since the last Illini in the NBA update provided by IlliniBoard.com on December 23rd, the Knicks are 4-1 with the only loss coming to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Frank has 12.4 points per game while also contributing 5.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds per game.

With New York Knicks acquiring another point guard in Moochie Norris from the Houston Rockets for Clarence Weatherspoon, the point guard situation with the Knicks is still in flux. The one expected constant at point guard for the Knicks is the continued starting of Frank Williams. The two players that look to be the odd men out in the point guard position for the Knicks are the highly paid veterans, Charlie Ward and Howard Eisley.

Here is a link to a very good read about Frank and his mother, Mary Williams from the Newark Star Ledger.

FRANK'S STATISTICS FOR THE WEEK OF DEC. 23
Date	Opp	Result	Min	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	ST	TO	PTS
Dec. 30	vs. Heat	102-73 W	26	3-9	0-1	0-0	2	7	2	2	6
Dec. 29	@ Magic	114-86 W	22	7-9	4-6	0-0	2	5	2	2	18
Dec. 27	@ Heat	100-80 W	29	5-8	2-4	2-2	2	4	2	3	14
Dec. 26	@ Grizzlies	98-94 W	25	8-15	0-2	2-2	1	3	0	5	18
Dec. 23	vs. T'Wolves	92-98 L	15	2-4	0-0	2-2	1	3	0	1	6

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BRIAN COOK - LOS ANGELES LAKERS
The Lakers activated Brian Cook on Tuesday, December 23rd. To make room for Brian on the active roster the Lakers placed second-year player Janero Pargo on the Injured Reserve with patellar tendinitis.

In his first action ever as an NBA player, Brian Cook saw four minutes in the Lakers 105-82 victory over the Boston Celtics on December 28. Brian scored two points in his first ever appearance in an NBA game.

BRIAN'S STATISTICS FOR THE WEEK OF DEC. 23
Date	Opp	Result	Min	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	ST	TO	PTS
Dec. 28	vs. Celtics	105-82 W	4	1-3	0-1	0-0	0	0	1	0	2

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KENDALL GILL - CHICAGO BULLS

The Chicago Bulls went 2-3 over the past week with victories over the Washington Wizards and Cleveland Cavaliers and losses to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, and New Jersey Nets.

Over this week, Kendall averaged 12.4 points per game while also contributing 1.2 steals, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.

Kendall Gill Attemps a Shot Earlier This Season Over Orlando's Drew Gooden (AP/Carrera)

KENDALL'S STATISTICS FOR THE WEEK OF DEC. 23
Date	Opp	Result	Min	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	ST	TO	PTS
Dec. 30	@ T'Wolves	93-98 L	39	6-15	0-3	3-5	6	3	3	2	15
Dec. 29	vs. Heat	83-90 L	35	5-14	1-2	1-2	7	0	0	2	12
Dec. 27	vs. Wizards	100-86 W	36	3-14	0-2	3-3	6	4	3	2	9
Dec. 26	@ Cavs	87-80 W	39	9-18	0-0	3-4	5	1	0	2	21
Dec. 23	@ Nets	78-95 L	18	1-6	0-0	0-0	2	1	0	0	13

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ROBERT ARCHIBALD - ORLANDO MAGIC
Robert Archibald is now on his third NBA team in less than two years playing in the league as it was officially announced on Friday, December 26 that Robert was traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Orlando Magic for a conditional second-round pick in thge 2005 NBA Draft.

Robert ended his tenure with the Phoenix Suns after only appearing in one game and scoring one point.

In his first game since being traded to the Orlando Magic, Robert played four minutes in the Magic's 114-86 loss to the New York Knicks scoring two points.

ROBERT'S STATISTICS FOR THE WEEK OF DEC. 23
Date	Opp	Result	Min	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	ST	TO	PTS
Dec. 29	vs. Knicks	86-114 L	4	1-2	0-0	0-2	1	0	1	0	2