The Louisville Cardinals have given us all so much to be thankful for

Former Cards

Donovan Mitchell, Terry Rozier, and Montrezl Harrell

There had been a narrative under the old regime for so long that Louisville does not put guys in the NBA. This was true to an extent. However, I believe that narrative is starting to change. Last year, Donovan Mitchell would take the NBA by storm as he would make an instant impact for the Utah Jazz. What is neat about Donovan Mitchell’s story is how he is following in the footsteps of another former Louisville and Jazz great, Darrel Griffith. Mitchell would leave everyone in awe night in and night out with his shear athleticism and skill. He would be a finalist for the Rookie of the Year award and be the first NBA Dunk Contest champion for Louisville in a decade.Mitchell would not be the only one however that would make waves in the NBA.

Terry Rozier would solidify his role in the league filling in for the injured Kyrie Irving for the Boston Celtics. Rozier would help lead his team past the Giannis and the Bucks in the playoffs and eventually past the 76ers before falling to a LeBron James led Cleveland team. Rozier would earn the name “Scary terry” as he became a dominant figure in the 2018 Eastern Conference playoffs. The success did not stop there for formal Louisville players.

Montrezl Harrell has taken the NBA by storm these past couple of weeks with his production of the bench for the Los Angeles Clippers. His efficiency on the floor is insane for someone who is not in the starting lineup and was recently tabbed as the Dennis Rodman in today’s NBA by Stephen A. Smith. His energy and intensity was seen clearly during his time at Louisville and there is no doubt that it has translated to the NBA. These three guys alone have almost killed the narrative that was tabbed for the Louisville program for so long.

Gorgui Dieng

While not seeing the floor much on a loaded Minnesota team, former card Gorgui Dieng has made us proud to be Louisville fans in a different way. Dieng has helped the world in many ways by giving back to his country of Senegal.

Though various camps and different community service projects, Dieng has made a lasting impact on the lives of those around him and it has made me proud to call him a former Louisville great. The 2013 team will forever be shrouded in a cloud of controversy following the vacated title, but I think it is important to recognize the people who respected not only themselves, but others in the community as well. Dieng is the model citizen in my eyes and is someone we should all try to emulate when it comes to helping others.

Lamar Jackson

How could we not be thankful for this guy? Louisville’s only Heisman trophy winner deserves all of the thanks in the world for what he was able to accomplish here. I cannot recall another player that I scheduled my time around to watch play. He was one of- if not the most- electrifying football players to step foot on campus

Every Saturday seemed to have produced a new highlight reel and for the course of two years, he would produce a majority of the content for Sportscenter’s top 10 plays. The way he would float around the field so effortlessly and make defenders look like they belonged in a pop-warner league was something I had never seen before come through UofL.

There is a saying that is along the lines of “you don’t know how good you have it until it’s gone” and that has not been more apparent than this season. I really look forward to watching Jackson play in the NFL because as many people that were doubting him he is able to do the same thing he did in college, in the pros. I am thankful for Jackson as he took the program to new heights and it is awesome to watch him in whatever he does and be able to say, he was a cardinal great.