Fourteen Texas Longhorns on NBA opening night rosters
Texas ranks third nationally in most players on 2021-22 NBA opening night rosters.
AUSTIN, Texas — A total of 14 former University of Texas men’s basketball players will appear on NBA rosters when the league opens the 2021-22 regular season on Tuesday, Oct. 19. UT ranks third nationally in most players on 2021-22 NBA opening night rosters.
The Longhorns’ 14 active roster players are: LaMarcus Aldridge (Brooklyn Nets), Jarrett Allen (Cleveland Cavaliers), D.J. Augustin (Houston Rockets), Mohamed Bamba (Orlando Magic), Avery Bradley (Los Angeles Lakers), Greg Brown (Portland Trail Blazers), Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets), Jaxson Hayes (New Orleans Pelicans), Kai Jones (Charlotte Hornets), Cory Joseph (Detroit Pistons), Jericho Sims (New York Knicks), Tristan Thompson (Sacramento Kings), P.J. Tucker (Miami Heat) and Myles Turner(Indiana Pacers).
A seven-time NBA All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection, Aldridge begins his second year with the Brooklyn Nets and 16th season overall in the league. Allen starts his first full season with the Cleveland Cavaliers and fifth year in the league, and Augustin begins his first full year with the Houston Rockets and 14th year overall in the NBA. Bamba, the No. 6 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, starts his fourth season with the Magic, and Bradley begins his second year with the Los Angeles Lakers and 12th season in the NBA. Brown, the No. 43 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, enters his first year with the Portland Trail Blazers.
An 11-time NBA All-Star, nine-time All-NBA selection, four-time NBA scoring champion, two-time Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (2017 and 2018) and the league’s 2014 Most Valuable Player, Durant starts his 14th year in the NBA and second with the Brooklyn Nets. Hayes, the No. 8 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, begins his third season with the New Orleans Pelicans, while Jones, the No. 19 selection in the 2021 NBA Draft, starts his first year with the Charlotte Hornets.
Joseph begins his first full year with the Detroit Pistons and 11th season overall in the league, while Sims, the No. 58 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, enters his first year with the New York Knicks. Thompson starts his 11th season in the NBA and first with the Sacramento Kings. Tucker, who was a huge factor in the Milwaukee Bucks’ run to the NBA championship last season, begins his 11th year overall in the NBA and his first season with the Miami Heat, and Turner starts his seventh season in the league, all with the Pacers.
In addition to the 14 former Longhorns on NBA rosters, a pair of former players are assistant coaches in the league. Matt Hill is an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks, while Royal Ivey is an assistant coach for the Brooklyn Nets.
(via UT release)
