Kentucky boasts nation-leading 29 players on NBA opening-day rosters

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The NBA season begins anew on Tuesday night and the Kentucky men’s basketball program finds itself in familiar territory with a nation-leading 29 players on NBA opening-day rosters.

It marks the 13th consecutive season in which the Wildcats have paced the nation in terms of their alumni contingent in the league. The total of 29 players is based off the NBA’s official opening-day roster list and includes all two-way and inactive players.

Duke (24 players) is the only other school with at least 20 representatives on a roster heading into the 2024-25 season.

The Southeastern Conference leads all collegiate conferences with 92 players on opening day rosters. The Atlantic Coast Conference is second with 75.

Of the 30 NBA franchises, 20 feature at least one player out of Kentucky, while eight have multiple Wildcats. The Sacramento Kings lead the league with three UK products on their roster, while the 76ers, Heat, Knicks, Lakers, Pelicans, Suns and Thunder each have two.

A group of four Cats from last year’s Kentucky team joins the NBA ranks this season, led by top-10 draft picks Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham.

Kentucky’s NBA contingent enters the 2024-25 season with significant momentum. Last year, a record-breaking seven UK players earned NBA All-Star nods, while three were selected to All-NBA teams. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished as the runner up for the league’s Most Valuable Player award, while Tyrese Maxey was named the KIA Most Improved Player. Maxey also received the NBA’s Sportsmanship Award and Karl-Anthony Towns was chosen as the recipient of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award.

Wildcats in the NBA (29)

Bam Adebayo – Miami HeatDevin Booker – Phoenix SunsBrandon Boston Jr. – New Orleans PelicansAnthony Davis – Los Angeles LakersRob Dillingham – Minnesota TimberwolvesJustin Edwards – Philadelphia 76ersDe’Aaron Fox – Sacramento KingsShai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City ThunderTyler Herro – Miami HeatIsaiah Jackson – Indiana PacersKeldon Johnson – San Antonio SpursChris Livingston – Milwaukee BucksTrey Lyles – Sacramento KingsTyrese Maxey – Philadelphia 76ersMalik Monk – Sacramento KingsJamal Murray – Denver NuggetsImmanuel Quickley – Toronto RaptorsJulius Randle – Minnesota TimberwolvesAntonio Reeves – New Orleans PelicansNick Richards – Charlotte HornetsShaedon Sharpe – Portland Trail BlazersReed Sheppard – Houston RocketsJacob Toppin – New York KnicksKarl-Anthony Towns – New York KnicksOscar Tshiebwe – Utah JazzJarred Vanderbilt – Los Angeles LakersCason Wallace – Oklahoma City ThunderPJ Washington – Dallas MavericksTyTy Washington Jr. – Phoenix Suns