Aztec standouts continue to pursue their dream – careers in the NBA

Five former San Diego State players have been released by NBA teams, but at least two appear to be tied to NBA G League teams.

Matt Bradley and Jordan Schakel were signed by the Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics but were waived on Saturday, according to NBA.com.

The Rockets’ G League squad is the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and Boston’s is the Maine Celtics. The teams that begin play in November have yet to release their rosters.

USA Today’s Rocket Wire reported that Bradley would be joining the Vipers, while Hoops rumored Schakel was set to return to the Celtics’ G League squad.

The San Antonio Spurs parted ways with two former Aztecs, Malachi Flynn, whom they signed two months ago, and Nathan Mensah. The Minnesota Timberwolves waived Jaedon LeDee on October 2nd.

Bradley, an SDSU transfer from Cal, was part of the 2023 team that made it to the championship game in the NCAA Tournament. Schakel, a four-year Aztec, played in two tournaments during the 2020-21 season.

LeDee broke out last season as SDSU reached the tournament’s Sweet 16, while Mensah was a defensive standout in the 2022-23 season.

Flynn led the star-studded 2019-20 team that missed March Madness due to the onset of COVID-19 lockdowns. The guard, who was drafted by Toronto in 2020, had NBA stints with the Raptors, Knicks and Pistons.