Kentucky boasts nation-leading 27 Wildcats on NBA Opening Day rosters

There’s a reason we call it the BBNBA around here…

When the 2022-23 NBA season begins on Tuesday night, a total of 27 former Kentucky Wildcats will find their names on Opening Day rosters — the most of any program in the nation. Duke is the second-highest with 24 former Blue Devils on an NBA roster. No other college team has more than 20.

Of the 27 one-time ‘Cats on an Opening Day roster, they’re spread out across 17 of the NBA’s 30 franchises. A pair of teams, the Sacramento Kings and Detroit Pistons, boast three former Kentucky players while eight others have at least two.

From All-Star veterans to youthful rookies, Kentucky has players that cover all teams, heights, and positions.

All 27 former ‘Cats on NBA Opening Day rosters

Bam Adebayo | Miami Heat – 6th season
Devin Booker | Phoenix Suns – 8th season
Brandon Boston Jr. | LA Clippers – 2nd season
Anthony Davis | Los Angeles Lakers – 11th season
Hamidou Diallo | Detroit Pistons – 5th season
De’Aaron Fox | Sacramento Kings – 6th season
Wenyen Gabriel | Los Angeles Lakers – 5th season
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder – 5th season
Tyler Herro | Miami Heat – 4th season
Isaiah Jackson | Indiana Pacers – 2nd season
Keldon Johnson | San Antonio Spurs – 4th season
Kevin Knox | Detroit Pistons – 5th season
Trey Lyles | Sacramento Kings – 8th season
Tyrese Maxey | Philadelphia 76ers – 3rd season
Malik Monk | Sacramento Kings – 6th season
Jamal Murray | Denver Nuggets – 7th season
Nerlens Noel | Detroit Pistons – 10th season
Immanuel Quickley | New York Knicks – 3rd season
Julius Randle | New York Knicks – 9th season
Nick Richards | Charlotte Hornets – 3rd season
Olivier Sarr | Portland Trail Blazers – 2nd season
Shaedon Sharpe | Portland Trail Blazers – 1st season
Karl-Anthony Towns | Minnesota Timberwolves – 8th season
Jarred Vanderbilt | Utah Jazz – 5th season
John Wall | LA Clippers – 13th season
TyTy Washington | Houston Rockets – 1st season
PJ Washington | Charlotte Hornets – 4th season

2️⃣7️⃣ Wildcats on @NBA opening day rosters …

The most in the nation (again) 😼 pic.twitter.com/jxgl162mZp

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) October 18, 2022

Kentucky head coach John Calipari has been responsible for 45 of his former Wildcats getting drafted into the NBA. 34 of them were first-round picks, 22 went in the lottery, and three of them were No. 1 overall picks. Calipari holds an active streak of 15 consecutive seasons producing a first-round selection. He is one of just two coaches in the history of college basketball to coach four future No. 1 NBA Draft picks (Derrick Rose, 2008; John Wall, 2010; Anthony Davis, 2012; and Karl-Anthony Towns, 2015)

With the NBA season just a few hours from tipping off (76ers @ Celtics | 7:30 p.m. EST – TNT), you might as well read up on KSR’s two-part preview series. Check them out below.

KSR’s 2022-23 BBNBA season preview roundtable | Pt. 1
KSR’s 2022-23 BBNBA season preview roundtable | Pt. 2