Fourteen former Michigan basketball players on NBA rosters to start 2025-26 season

Former Michigan Wolverines basketball players are all across the NBA, with 14 landing on rosters, including five on two-way contracts, meaning they’ll split time with the team’s G League affiliate.

Meanwhile, former Michigan guard Kobe Bufkin (2021-23), the former No. 15 overall selection in the 2023 draft, was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to Brooklyn Nets — where his former head coach at Michigan, Juwan Howard, is an assistant — in September. But he was waived by the Nets Oct. 19 and is now a free agent searching for his next stop.

Bufkin, who originally signed a four-year, $19-plus million contract, has seen his career has been riddled by injuries.

Here are the 14 former Michigan basketball players on NBA rosters:

Colin Castleton (2018-20), C, Orlando Magic

A former Michigan and Florida center, Colin Castleton‘s contract was converted into a two-way contract — filling the Magic’s last available roster spot for the time being — ahead of the season.

Castleton has been up and down between the NBA and G League over his two-year career, but has appeared in 42 games with four starts with various NBA teams.

Moussa Diabate (2021-22), F, Charlotte Hornets

Moussa Diabate inked a three-year, $5-plus million contract with the Hornets in February, with Charlotte converting his two-way deal to a standard agreement with the NBA franchise.

The 6-foot-10, 210-pound France native broke out a season ago, appearing in 71 games with eight starts and averaging 5.7 points and 6.2 rebounds in 17.5 minutes per game.

Hunter Dickinson (2020-23), C, New Orleans Pelicans

The first-ever college basketball player to be named an All-American at two different schools (Michigan, Kansas), according to the New Orleans organization, Hunter Dickinson signed a two-way contract with the Pelicans ahead of the season. The rookie will split time between the NBA and G League affiliate in Birmingham, Ala.

Vladislav Goldin (2024-25), C, Miami Heat

An undrafted free agent, Vladislav Goldin showed enough in the summer league and exhibition games to earn a two-way deal with the Heat.

Tim Hardaway Jr. (2010-13), G, Denver Nuggets

After a productive season with the Detroit Pistons, helping the franchise make the postseason for the first time since 2019, Tim Hardaway Jr. signed with Denver in free agency. Hardaway is on a one-year, veteran minimum deal that includes a base salary of more than $3.6 million.

Hardaway posted 11 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game last season, shooting 36.8 percent from three-point distance.

Caleb Houstan (2021-22), G, Atlanta Hawks

Just before the season, 22-year-old Caleb Houstan agreed to a two-way deal with the Atlanta Hawks. He scored 21 points in a preseason game against the Miami Heat Oct. 13, helping impress the coaching staff.

The 6-foot-8, 205-pounder averaged 4.1 points and 1.3 rebounds in 13.6 minutes per game while shooting 40 percent from three-point range last season.

Jett Howard (2022-23), G, Orlando Magic

A one-and-done player at Michigan, Jett Howard was the No. 11 overall pick in 2023 and is entering his third season in Orlando. He recorded 4.5 points and 1.2 rebounds in 60 appearances last regular season.

Caris LeVert (2012-16), G, Detroit Pistons

Caris LeVert was one of Detroit’s most notable free agency pickups and is now on his fifth team in 10 years, after playing last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks.

In his 64-game season with two clubs, LeVert averaged 12.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. He attempted 9.4 shot attempts per game, connecting on 46.7 percent of them.

Isaiah Livers (2017-21), F, Phoenix Suns

Isaiah Livers was signed by the Phoenix Suns on a two-way contract in July, after an injury-plagued start to his NBA career. He’s appeared in 94 career games with 33 starts. The No. 42 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft hasn’t played in an NBA game since Jan. 12, 2024 with Detroit.

Jordan Poole (2017-19), G, New Orleans Pelicans

The seventh-year pro was part of a three-team deal this offseason, moving from the Washington Wizards to New Orleans. Jordan Poole averaged a career-high 20.5 points, 4.5 assists and 3 rebounds while shooting 43.2 percent overall and 37.8 percent from three-point range in the nation’s capital last season.

Duncan Robinson (2014-18), F, Detroit Pistons

Duncan Robinson‘s long, memorable run in Miami is over, with the Heat dealing him to Detroit this offseason.

The eighth-year pro will add shooting and spacing for a Pistons team full of young talent. Robinson shot the three at a 39.3-percent clip in the regular season last year, averaging 11 points, 2.4 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game.

Franz Wagner (2019-21), F, Orlando Magic

A fifth-year star, Franz Wagner is one of the top players on an Orlando team that made the playoffs as the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs a season ago.

The 6-foot-10, 220-pound 24-year-old recorded 24.2 points, 5.7 boards and 4.7 assists in 60 appearances last regular season. He put up 25.8 points and 5.6 assists per contest in five postseason games, with the Magic losing to the Boston Celtics.

Moritz Wagner (2015-18), F, Orlando Magic

Moritz Wagner is entering his eighth season in the league and sixth with Orlando, where he’s found quite the home and just re-upped with a one-year, $5 million contract over the offseason.

Wagner tore his ACL last season on Dec. 21, forcing him to miss the rest of the year. He appeared in 30 games. He’s out for Tuesday’s opener against the Miami Heat and is still recovering from the injury. He’s still out “indefinitely,” with no exact timetable for his return.

Danny Wolf (2024-25), F, Brooklyn Nets

The No. 27 overall pick in this summer’s NBA Draft, Danny Wolf used his breakout season at Michigan to become a first-rounder and NBA player. The 21-year-old is set to play his first game Wednesday night against the Charlotte Hornets (7 p.m. ET).