Tide in the NBA: Post-draft tally of Alabama players in the association

The 2023 NBA Draft is now complete, and more Alabama players have found new pro homes.

Two former Crimson Tide players were drafted on Thursday, with Brandon Miller going No. 2 to the Charlotte Hornets and Noah Clowney being picked 21st overall by the Brooklyn Nets. That brings Alabama’s all-time draft total to 48 players selected and 19 first-round picks. Miller is tied with Antonio McDyess (1995) as the highest-draft basketball player in program history.

It marks the second time in the past three seasons under head coach Nate Oats that Alabama had two players selected in the same NBA draft (Josh Primo and Herb Jones in 2021). Oats has now coached a total of six NBA draft picks in his four seasons at the helms of the Crimson Tide program, including four first-round selections and three lottery picks, in that span.

In addition to the pair of first-rounders, sophomore center Charles Bediako was scooped up as an undrafted free agent by the San Antonio Spurs, which brought the total number of former UA players on NBA rosters to nine. That total does not include players solely on G League rosters like John Petty or Jaden Shackelford or others that are free agents like Primo, however.

Below is a full list of former Crimson Tide players on NBA rosters before the start of free agency.

Charles Bediako, C – San Antonio Spurs

After two years at Alabama, Bediako elected to test the NBA draft waters and remain in the draft rather than return to school for a third season. The Brampton, Ontario, native was not selected in the 58 picks of the 2023 NBA Draft but did agree to a 1-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs, according to TNT’s Chris Haynes. It is unclear exactly what type of deal it is – two-way, Exhibit 10, etc. – but Bediako should get a chance to prove himself in the NBA Summer League.

Noah Clowney, F – Brooklyn Nets

The Nets selected Clowney with the 21st pick on Thursday night in the city he will call home to begin his professional career. Joining Miller in coming off the board in the first round, it marked the 12th time Alabama has had two or more players selected in the same draft and the first time with multiple first-rounders since 1995. Clowney was an All-SEC Freshman Team honoree in 2022-23 and will look to continue to develop his game after a strong freshman season.

JD Davison, G – Boston Celtics

Davison just completed his first season as a professional after being selected with the 53rd pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Celtics. The rookie spent time with both Boston (12 games) and the franchise’s G League team, where he averaged 13.2 points and 8.7 assists in 31.3 minutes per game. Davison is a restricted free agent this offseason, which means he can sign an offer sheet with any team but Boston can keep him by matching their offer within 48 hours.

Keon Ellis, G – Sacramento Kings

Ellis didn’t hear his name called in the 2022 NBA Draft, but he agreed to a two-way contract with the Kings and spent time with both their G League team and on their active roster. He appeared in 16 NBA games last year as a rookie, where he averaged 1.5 points per contest, but he shined in 23 games he played in Stockton. Ellis averaged 16.1 points per game and shot 44.4 percent from three. Like Davison, Ellis he will also be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

JaMychal Green, F – Golden State Warriors

Green played in 57 games for the Warriors, as well as seven postseason appearances, in what was his ninth NBA season – and with his fifth different team. The veteran averaged 6.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game as he played both the four and five roles for Golden State. A former undrafted free agent, Green will soon be an unrestricted free agent and can sign with any team when the league’s negotiation period officially begins on Friday, June 30 (5 p.m. CT).

Herb Jones, F – New Orleans Pelicans

Jones is in his second year in New Orleans and has started 135 of the 149 games he’s played for the Pelicans, including all 66 this past season. A second-round selection in the 2021 NBA Draft, Jones’ numbers have been consistent in his first two years in the league, averaging 9.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 33.6 percent from three. His signature defense also carried over to the next level.

Kira Lewis Jr., G – New Orleans Pelicans

The first of three lottery picks to wrap up this list, Lewis just finished up his third season with the Pelicans. He played in 25 contests this past year – one more than 2021-22 – and served as a reserve point guard behind starter CJ McCollum. Lewis saw the floor an average of 9.4 minutes per game in Year 3 and scored 4.6 points per outing. This past year was his first time back after suffering ACL/MCL injuries in late 2021, and Lewis will look to build on his progress.

Brandon Miller, F – Charlotte Hornets

Miller was taken with the second overall pick by Charlotte earlier this week, who said the college basketball’s Freshman of the Year was the organization’s “favorite all along.” Miller became the highest-drafted player since McDyess was selected with the same pick in 1995 and brought the Tide’s number of lottery picks to four in the last six drafts. Following an impressive first and only season with Alabama, Miller will look to impress in his rookie year with the Hornets.

Collin Sexton, G – Utah Jazz

Sexton was drafted with the No. 8 overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018 before being signed and then traded to the Jazz in September of last year. As part of the deal, Sexton agreed to a 4-year, $72 million contract with Utah. In his first season in Salt Lake City, Sexton played in 48 games, making 15 starts, and averaged 14.3 points per game, which was ranked third on the team by year’s end. The point guard is now entering Year 6, and Year 2 with the Jazz.

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