Five former Longhorns ready for NBA Playoffs |Horns Illustrated

AUSTIN, Texas — A total of five University of Texas will be involved in the upcoming 2015 NBA Playoffs beginning this weekend. LaMarcus Aldridge(Portland Trail Blazers), Avery Bradley (Boston Celtics), Jordan Hamilton (Los Angeles Clippers), Cory Joseph (San Antonio Spurs) and Tristan Thompson (Cleveland Cavaliers) are all currently on their team's postseason rosters and will begin pursuit of the NBA Championship, when the first round of the Playoffs starts on Saturday, April 18.

Aldridge, currently in his ninth season in the league (all with the Trail Blazers), averaged a career-high 23.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game while playing in 71 games during the regular season. He converted 46.6% from the floor and 84.5% from the free throw line this year. Portland (51-31) earned the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference and opens its First Round series against No. 5 seed Memphis on Sunday (7 pm Central, TNT).

Bradley, currently in his fifth season in the league (all with the Celtics), averaged 13.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game in 77 contests during the regular season. He converted 35.2% from three-point range and 79.0% from the free throw line this year. Boston (40-42) earned the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference and opens its First Round series against No. 2 seed Cleveland on Sunday (2 p.m. Central, ABC).

Hamilton, currently in his first season with the Los Angeles Clippers after being acquired earlier this year (Feb. 24) and his fourth season in the NBA, averaged 2.7 points and 1.1 rebounds in 8.7 minutes per game in 14 contests during the regular season with the Clippers. Los Angeles (56-26) earned the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference and opens its First Round series against No. 6 seed San Antonio on Sunday (9:30 p.m. Central, TNT).

Joseph, currently in his fourth season with the league (all with the Spurs), averaged 6.8 points and 2.4 assists in 18.3 minutes per game in 79 contests during the regular season. He converted 50.4% from the floor and 73.4% from the free throw line this year. San Antonio (55-27) earned the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference and opens its First Round series against No. 3 seed Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday (9:30 p.m. Central, TNT).

Thompson, currently in his fourth season in the league (all with the Cavaliers), averaged 8.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in 26.8 minutes per game while playing in all 82 contests during the regular season. He converted 54.7% from the floor this year. Cleveland (53-29) earned the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and opens its First Round series against No. 2 seed Celtics on Sunday (2 p.m. Central, ABC).

For more information on the 2015 NBA Playoffs including full series schedules with television information, please visit the official NBA web site.